Try GOLD - Free
Christmas How to pick the greenest tree at the best price
The Guardian
|December 07, 2024
Our comprehensive guide to finding the perfect tree, whether real, potted, rental or artificial. Amy Sedghi measures up the options
Few things make it feel more like Christmas is coming than putting up and decorating a tree. Some fans of the festivities may already have theirs installed, complete with all the trimmings, but many households will be decking the halls this weekend.
If you've yet to hit the shops and are still wrestling with the traditional dilemma over what type of tree to get, we can help.
Buying a real tree that will be discarded come January can seem wasteful, but the alternatives - potted, rented and artificial trees - have both benefits and drawbacks.
The Carbon Trust says: "The most sustainable choice will depend on the tree, your plans for reuse, then options for disposal."
With that in mind, we've delved into each option and spoken to experts to help you make the best environmentally friendly choice for your home and budget.
Real Christmas trees
What you need to know
A real tree looks and smells fantastic, and picking one out is a much-loved Christmas tradition for many people.
These trees are readily available from garden centres, supermarkets and directly from growers. Firs, spruces and pines are the most common types, and the thick, bushy branches and slow-dropping needles of the Nordmann fir make it among the most popular.
The British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) advises finding one grown near to where you live. Its website has a useful search tool where you can find local suppliers by postcode and the types of trees on offer. The Soil Association also has a handy guide to how to source a local, sustainable and organic Christmas tree, with an explainer on what all the different certifications and labels mean.
"Look for one that is fresh - check the needles, as they should be flexible, and the tree should have a vibrant colour - with good overall symmetry," says Mairi Devlin, the head of Christmas at the DIY retailer B&Q.
This story is from the December 07, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Guardian
The Guardian
Check it out How chess has made a move into clubland
One of the liveliest spots on a Tuesday night in Brick Lane, east London, isn't a restaurant or a streetwear pop-up, it's a chess club - or chess club/ nightclub hybrid, to be exact.
3 mins
November 04, 2025
The Guardian
Image of rare white Iberian lynx captured by amateur photographer
An amateur photographer in southern Spain has captured images of a white Iberian lynx, prompting researchers to investigate whether environmental factors could be at play as wildlife watchers revelled in the rare sighting.
1 mins
November 04, 2025
The Guardian
'I love Leeds, but the club couldn't afford for me to stay'
Mark Viduka, 25 years on from four goals against Liverpool, on a journey taking in civil war and owning a coffee shop
5 mins
November 04, 2025
The Guardian
Apec summit Xi shows his lighter side with phone gag
It would take someone with nerves of steel to joke about the security of Chinese smartphones in front of Xi Jinping.
2 mins
November 04, 2025
The Guardian
'We need a bit of help' Frank urges Spurs fans to hold boos and carry team forwards
Thomas Frank has called for better support from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium crowd after revealing that Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence had apologised to him for their reaction to the 1-0 home defeat against Chelsea on Saturday.
3 mins
November 04, 2025
The Guardian
Reeves paves way for tax-raising budget with 'tough choices' talk
Chancellor to give candid speech amid pressure to break manifesto pledge
3 mins
November 04, 2025
The Guardian
Farage backtracks on promise to cut £9obn of taxes as spotlight falls on Reform's credibility
Nigel Farage yesterday retreated from his party's election manifesto promise to cut £90bn of taxes, accusing Labour and the Tories of \"wrecking the public finances\" and saying Reform UK would need to get public spending under control first.
3 mins
November 04, 2025
The Guardian
AstraZeneca's Wall Street move drives a coach and horses through stamp duty regime
It was one of those votes where the majority was always going to be huge.
2 mins
November 04, 2025
The Guardian
Power play Fixation on forward rotation risks rugby clashes turning into damp squibs
There was a time in rugby union when the phrase \"Bomb Squad\" felt novel.
3 mins
November 04, 2025
The Guardian
Attenborough nature series reels in viewers using tricks of TV dramas like Adolescence
David Attenborough's BBC series Kingdom has broken new ground by using the tricks of TV dramas such as Adolescence to immerse viewers in the action with cliffhangers and moving camera shots.
3 mins
November 04, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size