A real Christmas tree with decorations made using ingredients from the garden
I live in a very small flat and don’t have the space for a big, real tree each year. Instead I have an ancient artificial one, older than me, that I inherited and that I love, despite the fact that each year it gets increasingly closer to toppling over for good. However, if you have the space there’s nothing quite like the smell and sight of a real tree. But how can you make sure that you’re sourcing your tree in as sustainable and environmentally-friendly way as possible?
Three things to consider for your Christmas tree:
Choose the right tree for you.There is much debate around whether a real or artificial tree is the best option, with reports showing that you need to use a plastic tree over 10 times to negate its carbon footprint, fine for my 30+ year old specimen, but if choosing a new, locally sourced tree, this may be the better option. Take a look atForestry Englandfor suggestions of local, real Christmas tree suppliers that sell Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) Certified trees. You can also purchase a pot-grown tree that can be brought inside for Christmas but moved back outside afterwards, with some acclimatisation.
Keep it looking its best.The last thing you want, after taking time and care adorning the tree with pretty decorations and lights, is for needles to drop and leave branches looking bare. There are several ways to avoid this. Take care when picking your tree, checking that needles aren't easily coming away in your hand, and inspect the base, too. A tree that was cut more recently will have a paler base and be a safer bet, it will also be heavier, as it contains more moisture than a tree that has been sitting around, drying out for a while. Opt for varieties that hold their needles well, like theNordmann firor Douglas fir. When you get it home, pop the tree in a bucket of water in a shady spot outside to rehydrate it and give the branches a chance to settle. Before placing it indoors, saw off a few centimetres at the bottom to encourage the tree to absorb more water, helping to keep it at its best for longer. Find out more aboutlooking after your Christmas tree.
Once the festivities are over - recycle it!Your tree could have various uses beyond Christmas. Perhaps you might shred branches and leaves and add them straight into your compost, or use it as a mulch. Conifer branches are slightly acidic, so they make an excellent mulch forplants that thrive in acidic soil, however, as they rot down, they become more neutral so the shredded branches can be used as a mulch for most plants. Alternatively, you could chop up the trunk and create a wildlife shelter. Discover more ideas forrecycling a Christmas tree.
1. Radu Sorescu - Petre Tutea. Viata si opera 2. Zaharia Stancu - Jocul cu moartea
3. Mihail Sebastian - Orasul cu salcimi
4. Ioan Slavici - Inchisorile mele
5. Gib Mihaescu - Donna Alba
6. Liviu Rebreanu - Ion
7. Cella Serghi - Pinza de paianjen
8. Zaharia Stancu - Descult
9. Henriette Yvonne Stahl - Intre zi si noapte
10.Mihail Sebastian - De doua mii de ani
11. George Calinescu Cartea nuntii 12. Cella Serghi Pe firul de paianjen…
Această retea este pusă la dispoziţie sub Licenţa Atribuire-Necomercial-FărăModificări 3.0 România Creativ
Pentru a putea adăuga comentarii trebuie să fii membru al altmarius !
Alătură-te reţelei altmarius