Christmas trees For many homes the Christmas tree epitomises the true spirit of the festive season. With its roots in pagan rituals and celebrations, today the evergreen tree plays a starring role in the decorations and festivities of a British Christmas.Ancient Roots Todays Christmas celebrations have their roots in a variety of ancient festivals from a wide-ranging source and together have evolved into the seasonal festivities that we see today. The Romans celebrated Saturnalia, a celebration of the God of Sowing and Planting lasting for up to a week and starting around the winter solstice. Fir trees were decorated with red baubles and gift giving, feasting and visiting friends were all part of the celebration. The Christmas tree is thought to come from Germany where evergreen trees were used to span the gap between winter and spring to symbolise hope for the arrival of spring. Evergreens represented life eternal, a sign of life and vigour during the dark months of winter and played a huge part in decorating homes for the festivities.Plastic or real? Real trees are the more eco friendly choice. Although artificial trees last for many years they are made from materials that require large amounts of energy to make them, and also create a variety of harmful by-products. The average life of an artificial tree is just 6 years and as they arent biodegradable they will persist and may pollute a landfill site for many years. That, coupled with the transport costs, both financial and environmental, make them a questionable choice. By contrast real trees are carbon neutral, absorbing as much carbon dioxide during their growth cycle as they will emit when burnt or left to decompose. They are also a great habitat for wildlife habitat and a renewable resource. If youve the room they can be planted in your garden after Christmas and then potted up and used again next year. Or they can be shredded and recycled into a useful garden mulch.Care of Christmas Trees If you care for your tree properly and it is in good condition when you buy it, it should last for about 4 weeks. [] All evergreen trees will drop their needles, this is a natural process - to reduce needle drop you need to prevent the tree from drying out. Most trees that are sold have been freshly harvested from Christmas tree farms, you can order from specialist outlets, or choose your own tree from a farm or garden centre. [] Choose your cut tree with care; avoid trees with dull or dried needles, brittle branches or any that are dropping needles when the tree is gently shaken. [] Place the cut end in a bucket of water and keep the tree outside in a cool and shaded spot until you bring it inside. [] When you are ready to decorate, cut off about an inch from the bottom of the trunk to enable it to draw up water. [] Use a water-holding stand and top up daily. [] Keep your tree away from draughts, radiators and direct heat. To know more about greenhouses and growing plants in your greenhouse visit growhouse-greenhouses.co.uk/greenhouses.php
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 15:17:23 +0000
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