Keep Your Needles on Your Real Xmas Trees.

Jack Straw said:

A method I've always found to help, is this;
Saw a few inches off of the bottom of the trunk to make a fresh, straight, cross-section.
Drill several small holes just a couple of mm deep all around the trunk from the bottom to the level which will eventually be covered in gravel. This is in the hope that the tree is fresh enough to take up water.
Get a suitable sized water-tight bucket or other container.
Get two pieces of wood which fit across the bottom of the inside of the bucket and nail or screw them in to the bottom of tree to make a X shape. This will aid stability.
Stand tree in bucket and fill with gravel.
Fill bucket with water.
Hope for the best!

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Jack Straw said:

A method I've always found to help, is this;
Saw a few inches off of the bottom of the trunk to make a fresh, straight, cross-section.
Drill several small holes just a couple of mm deep all around the trunk from the bottom to the level which will eventually be covered in gravel. This is in the hope that the tree is fresh enough to take up water.
Get a suitable sized water-tight bucket or other container.
Get two pieces of wood which fit across the bottom of the inside of the bucket and nail or screw them in to the bottom of tree to make a X shape. This will aid stability.
Stand tree in bucket and fill with gravel.
Fill bucket with water.
Hope for the best!

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Prince Monolulu said:

Did that, filled bucket with gravel as suggested, water then went all over the floor when I poured it in. Too much water?

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GT49er said:

Or refuse to buy trees that have been cut down (killed) and only buy trees which still have their roots on (these are reusable for several years too, if planted out).

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Cheeky Monkey said:

1/4 fizzy lemonade, 3/4 water solution to prevent needle drop. It's the sugar.

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Cheeky Monkey said:

1/4 fizzy lemonade, 3/4 water solution to prevent needle drop. It's the sugar.

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Westdene Seagull said:

Pure lemonade works very well too.

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Jack Straw said:

I agree entirely but I'm afraid sawn-off trees will be with us for some time yet...................

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GT49er said:

Until people stop buying them, I suppose?

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