Homeowner Advice

General tips and advice for homeowners covering maintenance, seasonal tips and everyday property care.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree! Top Tips To Keep Yours Green And Healthy

7th December 2018

When it comes to Christmas trees, there are three camps: artificial all the way; nothing beats real; and bah humbug. At Trust A Trader, most of us fall in the second group. Nothing quite beats a real Christmas tree and it doesn’t have to be bad for the environment. Choose a local tree farm, who will cut a crop this year and replant for the future, or buy a smaller, potted tree this year and reuse it until it needs to be planted out.

If, like us, Christmas just isn’t Christmas without a real tree, make sure that you get a good one. If you choose right in the first place, and water it enough, you may just be able to avoid the curse of the pine needles.

Choosing the tree – look, touch, smell.

When choosing a tree, you will be able to tell at first glance whether or not it is healthy; branches should be nice and perky, and full of needles. If a tree passes the “look” test, give a branch a little tug – if there is a shower of needles, move on, but if the tree sheds no needles, it is likely to be a good one. Smell is a good indicator of freshness, too; if a tree has been recently cut, it will smell of pine.

Trim the trunk

Once you have chosen your tree, ask for an inch to be taken off the trunk before you leave. If they can’t do it at the tree shop, saw off a bit yourself. This will give you a fresh base that will be able to absorb plenty of water.

Location, location, location

Where you place your tree is important, too. If the rom is too hot, the tree will wilt more quickly.

Building up a thirst

You’re not the only one that will build up a thirst this Christmas; your tree needs a surprising amount of water, too. Keeping your tree watered won’t only prevent needles from dropping and the tree from turning brown, but it could prevent fire, too. Dry trees can burn in seconds. To start with, make sure that you get a stand that holds plenty of water. The general recommendation is 2 pints of water per inch in diameter of the tree, so if the diameter of the tree is 4 inches, you will need 8 pints every few days. No need for additives or tree food – your tree will be happy with plenty of clean, fresh water, but just make sure that you top it up every day.

If you care for your tree properly, and if you chose a good one in the first instance, a fresh Christmas tree should last for around four weeks. If your tree was cut too early or if you keep your home tropically warm, the tree’s lifespan will be shortened.

Have you put your tree up yet? Send us pictures on Facebook or Twitter.

Do you have a question? Ask a Trader! Send us your questions and we will pass them on to the right people for you.

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Find clear, practical answers to common homeowner advice questions, helping homeowners understand everyday issues, know what checks they can carry out safely, and when it is best to contact a qualified professional.

What home repairs should I never attempt myself?

Gas work - full stop. Any work on gas appliances must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer by law. Structural changes like removing walls, altering roof timbers, or touching anything load-bearing need professional assessment and often Building Regulations sign-off. Electrical work involving the consumer unit or new circuits must meet Part P. And if your property was built before 2000, be aware asbestos may be present - it can only be handled by a licensed specialist.
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There's no universal right answer - it depends on your situation. Moving gets you what you want without living through a building site, but stamp duty, estate agent fees, and moving costs can easily add up to tens of thousands of pounds. Renovating lets you stay put and invest in your own property, but comes with disruption and unexpected costs. The most useful comparison: get a clear view of what your home could realistically be worth after the work, and what a move would actually cost end to end. A local estate agent and a builder's quote can give you those two numbers.
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A survey is an independent assessment of a property's condition carried out by a qualified surveyor - separate from the mortgage valuation, which only tells the lender what the property is worth, not what's wrong with it. A HomeBuyer Report flags visible defects and anything that needs further investigation. A Full Building Survey goes deeper and is worth the extra cost on older, larger, or unusual properties. Given that a house is likely the biggest purchase you'll ever make, skipping the survey to save a few hundred pounds is a false economy - a single missed issue can cost far more to put right.
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Get your paperwork in order before anyone picks up a tool. Check whether you need planning permission or Building Regulations approval. Find out whether a Party Wall Agreement applies. Confirm your home insurance covers you during the works. Get at least three written quotes and make sure the scope of work is clearly agreed in writing with whoever you hire. And have a contingency budget - on almost any renovation, something unexpected comes up. The projects that go smoothly are usually the ones that were properly planned before they started.
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If you own the freehold, you own the property and the land it sits on outright - you can generally do what you like subject to planning rules. If you own a leasehold property (common with flats), you own the right to live there for the remaining lease term, but the freeholder owns the building. This matters for home improvements because many leases require you to get the freeholder's written permission before making alterations - sometimes even internal ones. Always check your lease before starting any work, as doing alterations without the required consent can cause problems when you come to sell.

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