J’AIME DECEMBER 2021

C H R I S T M A S
‘Tis the season
CHOOSING THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS TREE IS NO EASY TASK, BUT BYRON LEWIS,
FROM LICHFIELD GARDEN CENTRE, HAS SOME TOP TIPS FOR GETTING THE MOST
OUT OF YOUR FESTIVE CENTREPIECE
December is here already (where did the year go?!)
and thoughts turn to Christmas - and Christmas
trees in particular. These form the focal point of
most living rooms, so here are a few tips if you are
thinking of having a real Christmas tree this year.
Choose your variety carefully; traditional Norway
Spruce have a good shape and smell great, but they
are really best suited to unheated rooms or outside
porches, because central heating and warmth will
cause their needles to drop.
Nordmann Firs are by far the most popular tree
today. These are soft to touch, easy to decorate
(not too sharp!) and, best of all, have superb needle
retention. They will still look good into the new year
if looked after correctly. You may also see Fraser Firs
offered at the garden centre. These also have good
needle retention but are generally more compact,
making them great for smaller rooms.
Your tree will need a stand of some description,
Attractive coloured metal stands with a reservoir are
popular – the trunk of your tree will drop into the
stand and can be bolted in position. Plastic buckets
will do the same job, but you’ll need to add some
weight either with stones or gravel and sand.
If you buy a potted or pot-grown tree, these can be
used year after year. Just remember if they are taken
into a warm room for Christmas, they will need
to get used to the outside temperatures again after
Christmas. Put them in a garage or cold greenhouse
for a few weeks.
Last year the operation raised a record-breaking
£60,000! See the St Giles Hospice website at
www.stgileshospice.com for more details.
Houseplants are always popular at Christmas,
either as a treat for yourself or as gifts for friends
and family. Favourites include cyclamen, azaleas,
Christmas cactus and, of course, poinsettia.
If you buy or receive a poinsettia, remember to
always remove any wrapping as soon as possible.
Poor air flow causes the lovely red bracts to fall.
Poinsettia also like warm rooms, away from any cold
draughts. A living room table is a good spot. Water
every few days, and they should look good well into
the New Year.
Enjoy yourselves this Christmas!
BYRON LEWIS, OF
LICHFIELD GARDEN
CENTRE
Other key points:
Your tree will need water – larger trees can take up
to three pints a day, so remember to check your stand
regularly. Keep trees away from heat as best you can;
avoid right next to radiators or fires.
After Christmas, think of the environment and
recycle your Christmas tree. St Giles Hospice are
running their popular ‘Treecycle’ campaign for 2021;
in return for a donation to the hospice, your tree will
be collected and shredded for use as a garden mulch.
30 www.jaimemagazine.com