Go green: Christmas tree buying guide — real tree types, choosing the best one and when to buy it

The annual trip to buy a Christmas tree is a special part of the festive tradition. Artificial trees may be convenient but a million Londoners prefer the real thing.

Real trees are greener, too, when grown as a sustainable crop. One study found that you would have to use a fake tree for 20 years to be more eco-friendly than buying a freshly cut tree every year. And nothing compares to the scent of pine needles.

1. WHERE TO SHOP

You can buy Christmas trees from local nurseries, pop-ups on street corners, even pub gardens, and the more local you buy the better. Columbia Road Market is opening on Wednesdays as well as its usual Sundays from now until Christmas.

Check out the site of the country’s largest Christmas tree supplier Needlefresh or the British Christmas Tree Growers Association website postcode finder to locate the retailer closest to you.

2. DELIVERY

Busy Londoners can take advantage of one of the online services that will deliver such as Patch, Good Elf or even John Lewis.

For an extra charge Pines and Needles will erect and decorate your tree for you, either with one of their schemes or using your own decorations. They’ll take it away after Christmas, too, even sweeping up the needles. Many local nurseries and garden centres will also deliver.

3. TREE-CHOOSING TIPS

Don’t forget to measure the height of your room before you go to buy — and leave a bit extra for the tree stand and the fairy. Remember, a cut tree is basically like a giant cut flower. It will need at least a litre of water a day to stay looking good so buy a stand that can hold a couple of litres. If you don’t like the look of the stand, hide it with a willow, wicker or birch skirt (Birchwood Tree Skirt, £39.95 from Sarah Raven; or try John Lewis or big garden centres).

Choose an un-netted tree so you can see its shape before you buy and make sure it has glossy, fresh-looking needles that don’t fall off when you run your hand along a branch.

4. GETTING IT HOME

When you get your tree home, it’s recommended to saw off the bottom inch of trunk so it can draw up water better. But if you can’t do this, just make sure you get it into water as soon as possible. Keep it away from underfloor heating and radiators, and be sure to use low-heat fairy lights so those needles don’t dry out.

5. WHEN IT’S GOT TO GO

Traditionally by January 6, or Twelfth Night — by which time you will be heartily sick of your Christmas tree anyway, bah humbug — it is time for it to go. These days, the process could not be easier. Local authorities will collect trees for shredding. Check your borough website for details of the date, then just remove all the decorations and leave it by your bin.

6. WHAT KIND OF TREE TO BUY

Until fairly recently, the nation’s favourite Christmas tree was the Norway spruce, with spiky needles and a lovely pine scent. It tends to drop its needles though, so these days 80 per cent of Christmas trees sold are the Nordmann fir, with softer needles and the crucial ability to hold on to them so you’re not still vacuuming them up next summer.

For slim spaces, the Fraser fir is a great option since it has a narrower base.

The noble fir has slightly upturned branches that are great for showing off baubles or, if you like a blueish tone to your tree, try a blue spruce.

Expect to pay £50-£70 for a 6ft cut Nordmann fir and a little less for a Norway spruce.

Potted trees are a good choice for tabletops and can be kept going for many years in the garden as long as you remember to water them over the summer — easily forgotten.

7. AND WHEN TO BUY IT

It is best to hold off buying a cut tree until the second week of December, so it can stay looking good for as long as possible and certainly through Christmas week and to New Year’s Eve.

If you have to buy earlier, store it outside in a bucket of water until as late as possible.