December brings festive cheer, mince pies and Christmas trees!

The market for Christmas trees has changed from the traditional Norway spruce to the non-needle drop Nordmann fir which now represents more than 50% of sales. The Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana) has light green leaves which are softer to the touch than the traditional spruce and a fresh scent.

I will briefly touch on the environmental aspect of buying a cut tree as people always assume that it is a wasteful thing to buy a cut tree. At Nicholsons, we shall be stocking Nordmann firs which have been grown in Inverness, on the Moray Firth. Buying a British-grown tree benefits the environment, as no long-haul transportation is involved and the growers ensure that the woodlands are sustainable. Throughout their growth cycle, the tree plantations provide good habitat for wildlife and they also recycle carbon dioxide by turning it into fresh oxygen – just 0.4ha worth of Christmas trees produces enough oxygen to support 18 people.

On the other side are the artificial trees which are non-biodegradable and produce noxious gases in their manufacturing process. When they are thrown away, the artificial trees will spend centuries degrading in landfill sites. The long-haul transport from the Far East will add to increased carbon emissions into the environment. Generally the artificial tree only becomes more cost-effective than a real tree if used for many years.

If you feel like trying something new, why not decorate a box cone or a yew spiral with lights then put in into the garden after Christmas. You could also buy a container grown holly tree in green or variegated leaf colour and plant it out in the garden after Christmas.

A cut Christmas tree will need regular watering if it is to last throughout the festive season. To enable your Christmas tree to take up water, cut off the bottom 1cm of the main trunk after you have got it home. Stand it in a bucket of water outside in a cool but sheltered place and keep the water topped up.

Once it has been brought inside, try and use a stand or bucket, which will still retain water. Position it away from sources of heat like radiators and fires and keep the water level topped up at all times. Expect it to absorb 8 pints of liquid in the first 24 hours and 2 pints a day thereafter.

Freshly cut Christmas trees are classed as garden or green waste by local authorities and can be recycled at all household waste recycling centres. Often the local councils offer a collection date for recycling so watch out for information in your area.

Plant soft fruit now and you will be rewarded with home-grown, organic fruit next summer. We sell a good range from blackcurrants to white currants, blueberries and raspberries. As well as planting up your bare-rooted hedges and trees, it is the right time of year to work on your fruit garden. Raspberry canes and soft fruit bushes are available at this time of the year so plant early to get the varieties that you require. This year there has been good sales on fruit trees and the growers are getting low on stock so plant now to avoid disappointment. A complete list of our frit stock - trees and bushes - can be viewed here.