Alan Titchmarsh shares his top Christmas tree tips to make festive shrub last 'far longer'

Graeme Murray & Elysia Taylor-Hearn
·2-min read
Real Christmas trees look magical - but can quickly loose their greenery if not cared for correctly
-Credit: (Image: Getty)


Christmas-lovers must take some simple precautions to extend the life of their tree, according to gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh.

The horticulturalist is a firm believer that live Christmas trees are far superior to their artificial counterparts. Not only are fresh pine trees more atmospheric, but they are also more environmentally friendly because they can be re-grown unlike plastic alternatives, according to Alan.

He told The Mirror: "I know which side of the Christmas fence I come down on. We’ve had a real Christmas tree ever since I was married 49 years ago. Well, you can’t beat the scent, can you? And the excitement of it being real."

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However, the gardener acknowledged that the festive firs also have their drawbacks, as they can quickly shed needles that plague households during the festive season.

To keep your tree looking fresh, and save yourself a lot of cleaning up, Alan recommends following a straight-forward maintenance routine.

He said: "First, spray the tree with an anti-desiccant before you bring it inside the house (a sort of plastic Christmas tree spray that helps it to retain moisture and needles).

Christmas trees can be re-grown in the garden once the festive season is over
Christmas trees can be re-grown in the garden once the festive season is over -Credit:Getty Images/iStockphoto

"Then saw off the bottom inch of the trunk before fixing it to one of those special Christmas tree stands that has a reservoir in the base which can be filled with water."

Alan explained: "If you treat your Christmas tree like a large bunch of flowers – topping up the water in the reservoir every day or two – it will last far longer."

For the best results, the green-fingered broadcaster suggests opting for a Nordmann or Caucasian fir instead of Norway spruce. Alan also encourages people to buy a tree that is already growing in a pot if they only need a small one.

While the tree is in your home, it should be watered like any other house plant. But when the Twelfth Night arrives on January 5, Alan says that you can leave the tree in its pot and bury it to the rim at the back of a flower bed.

He explained: "Water it well in dry spells and it will put on a good few inches each year. Then you can dig it up and bring it back indoors next December."

Alan added that old, rootless trees can be disposed of after Christmas, advising: "Most councils now offer a recycling scheme to residents. Alternatively, you can dry it and burn it on a log fire. Lovely."

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