O Christmas Trees!
James’s top five Christmas trees
1. Norwegian spruce
Probably the most common Christmas tree, this species has a lovely scent but does drop its needles quite quickly. Grown across thousands of acres in Scotland, it’s our most common forestry tree.
2. Nordmann fir
A newer species with very dark green needles which are slow to drop, it’s rather more expensive than the traditional Norwegian spruce and is grown in Scotland as a commercial Christmas tree.
3. Blue spruce
After something a little unusual? The blue spruce is an ornamental tree and its needles really are blue! Quite a prickly character, it holds onto its needles well.
4. Korean fir
A compact little tree with a traditional tiered Christmas tree shape, the Korean fir holds its needles well and could be grown on in a pot after the festive season, eventually producing small blue cones in the spring.
5. Fraser fir
Lovely needles (which don’t drop!), a distinctive pine fragrance and a good traditional shape, the Fraser fir is grown commercially in Scotland, specifically for the Christmas market.
Going native
Although not native to Scotland, James’s five top trees are all grown here from seed. Given optimum growing conditions, trees harvested for the Christmas tree market will be between 3 and 10 years of age, although the huge trees that adorn city centres and plush shops and hotels may be as old as 30 years. Scotland’s native favourite is, of course, the Scots pine. Although it could be used as a Christmas tree (it smells wonderful!), it doesn’t always conform to the traditional shape people look for … and it’s in the habit of dropping its needles quickly too!
Looking after your tree
• Put your tree in a bucket and either wedge it into place with bricks or buy a bucket base fitted with large screws that keep the base of the trunk firmly in place.
• Now fill the bucket half-way up with water and add some sugar (or a bottle of lemonade) OR fill the bucket with pointing sand and add water to that. The trick is to keep the base of the tree moist, so water regularly over the festive period.
• Keep your room cool and avoid placing your tree next to a radiator or a draught.
The gift that keeps on giving
• Green recycling is offered by most councils, who collect and process trees after Christmas. As we move towards being peat-free, these trees play an important role in compost and biomass production.
• If you have a log burner at home, dry out your tree and chop it into logs to burn over the next couple of days or weeks.
• Alternatively, and ideal for a smaller tree, chop the trunk and bigger branches into logs and make small habitat piles for wildlife in your garden.
• Plant your tree on. It will take root in your garden but bear in mind that it will grow (a Norway spruce can reach 30m over time!) and that you can’t keep digging it up each year to decorate in your home!
Featured Places
Crathes Castle
Painted ceilings and family portraits adorn this turreted castle, set among sculpted yew trees and nature trails
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