How to make your Christmas tree last longer, according to the man who has sold trees to 10 Downing Street
Samuel Lyle, co-founder of Pines and Needles - a Christmas tree supplier for high-profile clients including One Direction and No. 10 Downing Street -told Business Insider that "this is our busiest week by far."
"We've already sold 50% of our stock online in the last two weeks," said Lyle, "We're likely to sell between 20-25% in this week alone."
Lyle first started selling trees in 1994 when he was just 13 years old, trying to "make a bit of extra pocket money" with his brother Josh by selling Norway spruces that had grown on his father's farm in Scotland.
Today, Pines and Needles sells around 60,000 trees per year online and in-store. The company predicts it will make more than £3 million in sales this year, supplying the essential Christmas decoration to everyone from wealthy private buyers to major venues like London's Natural History Museum.
We asked Lyle how to make sure your tree lasts for as long as possible, from purchase to home maintenance.
Don't buy too early
The British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BTGA) told Business Insider that you should buy your tree from December 1 onwards to get the most out of it. Pines and Needles sells trees in 25 stores across the UK from November 14, but buying early is a risk, and can mean your tree doesn't last up to Christmas Day.
According to the BTGA, a freshly-cut tree could last for up to four weeks, "but it really depends on how you look after them."
Feel for yourself
If you're purchasing your tree in person, Lyle suggests running your fingers along the branches to gauge its quality. "See if any of the needles fall off straight away," he said. "It's a good indicator of how long it's going to stay fresh. If a lot of needles fall off that's not a good one to pick."
The tree farmer said that choosing the right tree is easier than it seems. "You can usually tell if it's going to die early on," he said, adding that you should check for "any areas that are already starting to look thin." If a tree is already starting to dry out and lose its needles, "it won't be able to pull up as much water and stay as fresh."
Keep it cool
Lyle said that Christmas trees need to be kept in a cool place to "stop them from drying out too quickly."
"If it needs to be near a radiator, it's worth turning it down to prevent it from getting too warm," he said. "Keeping it away from direct sunlight and open fires will have the same effect."
Treat it like a flower
"Remember that a Christmas tree is rather like a flower," Lyle said. Just like flowers at home, a tree needs to be watered, so "having a water-holding stand makes a massive difference."
When you get your tree home, The BTGA suggests trimming between half an inch and one inch of the trunk from the bottom to allow it to better absorb water. Then, you can use a water-holding stand to keep it fresh and prevent needles from falling off too quickly.
Lyle added that many people forget to feed their trees, which can add precious days onto your tree's life. "Tree food works just like flower food, and keeps it strong," he said.