The Christmas holidays are approaching, as is the choice of the tree that will decorate your home. But is the end of November a good time to buy this flagship decoration, which delights young and old? We take stock.
Less than a month remains. As the countdown to Christmas begins, gift shopping has already begun, but what about the tree? Very popular every year (according to the Ministry of Agriculture, in 2021, the French bought nearly 6 million of them), these Christmas trees are already on sale at certain florists and large distributors specializing in the plant trade. But is it already the right time to buy your tree, or is it still too early? RMC Conso answers you.
A purchase at the end of November, a good idea?
Consumers have already noticed it, traders already have trees on their stalls. But not all the players in national production have yet delivered their trees. This is the case of the producer Sapins de Chartreuse, who informs our editorial staff that it is still “a little early” at the end of November, if you want to “keep your tree fresh” until the holidays.
“This year, you will have to wait between the first and second week, between December 5 and 10, for your tree to keep its freshness and its needles until the end of the month,” Charlotte Rat explains to RMC Conso -Boss, co-manager of Sapins de Chartreuse.
And in the game of conservation, not all species are equal. If you want a tree that is more robust over time, you will have to choose a Nordman or a Nobilis, recommends Charlotte Rat-Patron. Allow between 10 and 15 days of freshness for a Spruce, with more fragile needles, but with a more pronounced scent.
Cut or potted?
But the species of your tree is not everything. Storage conditions have a role to play in the freshness of the tree. If you don’t want to wait to buy your tree, Gamm Vert recommends that consumers who can keep their tree outside for as long as possible. And only bring him in at the last moment to get him used to the temperature of the house.
Some traders also offer cut trees, or in pots. When the first is doomed to lose its thorns, the second will continue to grow as long as it is watered and maintained. In terms of price, there is a difference of 20% between the two types, explains Yves Tarroue, manager of the La Forêt du Sapin nursery (Seine-et-Marne).
Protect it from the heat
Regardless of its species, the enemy of the freshness of your tree remains heat.
“You need to keep it as far away as possible from heat sources such as radiators, if possible at least ten meters away. If your home is heated by the floor, it is advisable to raise your tree,” adds Charlotte Rat -Boss.
Once it is installed, remember to spray your tree regularly, two to three times a week, taking care to remove any electrical garlands to avoid the risk of fire. A final tip is not to place your tree in a busy area, where people risk touching it and thus causing its thorns to fall prematurely.
And if this year you decide to buy your tree at the last minute, the prices should not change between now and the holidays, assures us the manager of La Forêt du Sapin.
