When to buy a real Christmas tree so it lasts until Christmas Day
2 min read
The best time to buy a real Christmas tree depends on the species. Here is when to buy a Nordmann fir or Norway spruce so it still looks good on the day.
The right date depends on which tree you are buying and how warm your home is.
The short answer
- Nordmann fir: any time from the last week of November. With water and a cool spot it will comfortably last four to five weeks indoors.
- Norway spruce: from about the second week of December. It is at its best for two to three weeks indoors.
When most people buy
The first weekend of December is the busiest of the year for tree sellers, and delivery slots for that weekend go first. If you want a particular day, order ahead.
Buying early does not mean a staler tree. Cut trees are harvested from mid-November onwards and kept outdoors in the cold, where they stay fresh. What shortens a tree’s life is time spent in a warm room.
If you want it up early
Choose a Nordmann fir, and help it along:
- Keep it outside or in a cool garage, standing in a bucket of water, until you are ready to decorate.
- Saw a thin slice off the base of the trunk before bringing it in.
- Stand it away from radiators and keep the stand filled.
More detail is in how to keep a real Christmas tree fresh.
If you are buying late
Trees are still available in the week before Christmas, but the choice of sizes narrows and the most popular heights, 6 and 7 feet, can sell out. Deliveries usually stop a couple of days before Christmas Eve.
Twelfth Night
Tradition says decorations come down by Twelfth Night, the 5th or 6th of January. A well-watered Nordmann bought in early December will still look respectable by then.