Castles and Burrows

Top Tree Tips

- Eldis_

Christmas is amazing, and having a decorated tree is delightful. GETTING that tree, however, is, in my opinion, an absolute nightmare. But for everyone who, like me, buys a real life Christmas tree, here are some tips and tricks on getting that thing in & out of your home.

Tips I learned this year Put on clothes that are allowed to get dirty. Or put on a pair of waterproof pants over your trousers. That plasticy fabric makes it easy to get mud off

Don't combine buying your tree with buying other groceries, especially not perishables. Getting that tree inside is trouble enough without having to worry about your other purchases.

Don't remove the net around the tree when the tree is standing close to your (white) wall. The bottom of the net will be muddy. It will stain your walls.

Already put up some general decorations (fairy lights, those little Xmas village things, a Christmas plaid on your couch…) before buying the tree! It'll get you in the Christmas spirit and decorating the tree is actually quite a lot of work. So if you already put up the general decorations, it's work you won't have to do when decorating the tree!

Tips I learned last year but forgot until it was too late Don't believe the tree seller when he says that that lopsided tree will balance itself out straight again. Or that you won't see it when it's in your home. Or that you can easily push/ pull it straight again. Once lopsided, always lopsided.

Measure the area where you want to put your tree, so you don't accidentally buy a tree that's too broad, too high, too small… I guesstimated correctly this year, but it was inconvenient!

Don't go tree shopping if your back hurts. Or at least take some ibuprofen before you go. Trees be heavy. Tips I learned last year and remembered Transport your tree wearing proper gloves (not those woolly ones, but airtight ones). Even when it's not that cold. It'll protect you against the pinning needles.

When you move the tree inside, put the bucket you will put the tree in on your doormat. Place the tree in the bucket, and drag the doormat through the house to the place where the tree will go. This'll avoid scratches or muddy drag marks on your floor. Once the tree is in place, carefully shuffle it off of your doormat and voila!

Clean the floor of the spot your tree will go before placing the tree there, and directly after placing the tree (but before decorating). Once decorated, it's a lot harder to properly keep that area clean, and it's a very important area because it's where the presents go!

Keep the net that is around your Christmas tree. Try to keep it as whole as possible when you remove it. That way, when the season is over and you have to move your tree to be discarded, you can put the net back around it for convenient transportation.

Buy a tree that doesn't have too many branches! A tree that's too thick will be difficult to hang decorations in. Don't hesitate to thin your tree out a bit more with some pruning shears.

Tips I learned last year and we'll see if I remember Don't overwater your tree! The water will stay in the bucket and start to stink. Also, it's just not good for your tree anyways. It needs less water than you think!

When it's time to say goodbye to your tree and your municipality has specific pickup days where you can put the tree next to the street and they'll get rid of it for you, don't pick the very final day they do so to put your tree down there. I know the temptation to keep your tree a little longer is very strong, but you never know what might happen that day and taking down the tree whilst stressed isn't a fun way to end the season!

Even after you have to discard your tree, there is no shame in still leaving some other decorations up! The true meaning of Christmas, according to Charles Dickens, is generosity, and that can be celebrated all year round. You can take Christmas music in June from my cold, dead hands.

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate, and a happy new year to you! I hope you all have a lovely holiday season, and we hope to see you in 2022.