Christmas is on the way and for many of us, this means choosing a tree – the mainstay of the festive season at home. But this year more than ever, keeping costs down is a top priority.
The most popular real Christmas tree, the Nordmann fir, a non-drop variety, can cost upwards of £50 depending on size, making a large hole in an already stretched budget.
So, how can you get the best deal on a real Christmas tree?
Shop around
“It’s worth shopping around and searching for deals at supermarkets and other stores to try and find the best price,” says Reena Sewraz, money and shopping editor of Which? (which.co.uk). “In 2020, we found Aldi offered the most competitive price for a 1.5-1.75m cut tree.
“As well as the big retailers, it’s well worth checking out your local garden centre to see what’s on offer,” Sewraz adds. “Keep an eye out for deals too. For example, Ikea will be offering a £10 voucher when you buy a real Christmas tree for £25 over the Christmas period.”
Bag a smaller tree
If you need height but don’t have a lot of space for big branches at the base, consider buying a smaller tree and placing it in its stand on a table or on an upturned pot to raise it up, suggests Marcus Eyles, horticultural director at Dobbies Garden Centres.
The chain has a 4-5ft promotional Nordmann fir for £19.99 and is also offering slim Nordmanns (between 6-7ft) for people with narrow spaces, for £39.99, which is less than the cost of their premium counterpart, he adds. A smaller tree means fewer decorations, which will also save you money.
Rent a tree
“In recent years, there has been an explosion in Christmas tree hire companies, and many plant nurseries and garden centres are now offering a Christmas tree rental service,” says Sewraz.
The trees rented are pot-grown, not cut. You hire a tree, use it for about three weeks, making sure you water it regularly, and then return it to the supplier, who will re-plant it and leave it to grow until the next Christmas. Prices can vary, and you’ll need to pay a refundable deposit (so make sure you look after the tree while you have it) and possibly delivery costs if you can’t collect, which all needs to be taken into consideration when weighing up costs too.
Renting a tree also makes complete sense for sustainability, given the millions of Christmas trees we buy each year, most of which end up in landfill.
Check out companies such as Love A Christmas Tree (loveachristmastree.co.uk) and Christmas On The Hill (christmasonthehill.co.uk) to compare prices.
Make it last
“To ensure your tree remains in good condition over the festive period, buy it as late as you dare – ideally the weekend before Christmas. Look for freshly delivered stock and choose one in good shape,” says Sewraz.
“If you opt for a cut tree, pick one that has at least 30cm of clear trunk at the base. When you get it home, stand trees in a cool part of the room, well away from radiators.”
Use clippings to save on decorations
If you buy a tree which needs trimming, save money by making decorations out of the clippings. Natalie Plumbridge, horticulturist at RHS Garden Wisley, suggests: “Instead of throwing away excess branches and sprigs, use them within a Christmas wreath, along with other evergreen foliage and berries from the garden.”
Spare branches can be used with other evergreen foliage to dress your fireplace, or to give a candle centrepiece the festive treatment.