The countdown to Christmas is on.
We know what you're thinking, where's the time gone?!
After a year of Covid-19 and lockdowns, many are ready to dive into the silly season early. So, how do you keep your fresh pine tree burly?
To answer that we've written a jingle. Yes - we know, it's a little bit cring(el)
Rows of Christmas trees on a farm. Photo: 123RF
Christmas time is coming near, but how do you ensure there's enough cheer?
As the family gathers and the tree goes up, you must make sure it doesn't slump.
The pine and the bristles need to last the season, and if it doesn't there might be a reason.
Word on the street is water not sand, otherwise it will need a hand
Cantabrian Andrew McAllister from Needles and Fresh has some advice if it needs something spesh.
"If you buy fresh cut Daffodils, the last thing you do is go home and put the cut flowers in dirt.
"So, all you do, it's real simple, it's just water... and plenty of it.
"A large tree 7 to 8ft tree, a customer text me last week and said he couldn't believe how much it was drinking,
"It was a litre and a half a day."
If you get it home and let it dry it's almost a guarantee it's going to die.
Mike from Misa Christmas Trees has done a few tests, and even though it seems simple, water's the best.
"Lemonade, Aspirin, sugar, we've had heaps of that over the years,
"We actually did do a test in the 80's, my uncle and brother took photos of the tree with different things put in the water,
"Nothing made any difference."
Another handy tip for the festive decoration - keep it out of the sun to avoid dehydration.
"When you get it home, cut a little tiny bit off the bottom, just a few millimetres. That will open up the pores at the bottom of the tree and help it drink.
"Then, make sure you get it straight into water and make sure you check it over that first 24 hours, because that's when it drinks the most."
Andrew McAllister has one more clue, it will have you running to Needles and Fresh, form an orderly queue.
"When you cut your tree, you might take it home on your roofracks,
"A real hot day, you going down the road at 100 kilometres an hour, that fresh cut, by the time you get home that resin and gum is going to be crystallising.
"To help the tree, you really need to cut, maybe 5mil off if you are handy with a handsaw."
Now we've answered all questions, let's all sit back and get ready for that Christmas digestion.
