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All conifers shed as part of their lifecycle and they will accelerate that shedding if they dry out. Not all trees have the same tolerance towards drought. Just follow our tips below to get the best from your tree and maintain its fresh appearance.

• It is vital to re-cut the sawn end of the tree removing another two inches. This will expose fresh plant cells in order to take up adequate water during its time indoors
• Stand the tree in a bucket of water, in a cool shaded spot before the tree is required to be brought indoors. This will re-hydrate the tree to help prevent it from shedding all its needles
• Use a tree stand that holds water which can easily top up, (your tree can drink more than a pint of water a day)
• Do not place your tree near a heat source
• Treat a Christmas tree as you would treat fresh flowers in the home
• Don’t worry if your tree appears flat on one side as this is unavoidably happens during transit. Once inside a warm room the branches will soon regain their natural shape
• If your tree was netted, it is a good idea to remove it as soon as you possibly can so the branches can spread out naturally.

Pot Grown Trees

• After purchasing your post grown tree, remove it from the protective sleeve and keep it watered like you would any other plant kept in a pot.
• Before bringing our potted tree indoors, immerse it in water for at least 10 minutes to fully saturate the compost. Allow it to drain for a few hours and then bring inside.
• Follow the guideline for fresh cut trees regarding positioning – i.e. keep away from sources of heat.
• Water regularly as you would your other houseplants; don’t allow the compost to become too dry. Keeping the compost moist will also help to provide stability.
• You can repot or transplant the tree into the garden in early spring, just as the growing season starts. Just remember to keep watering it.

All our trees are grown in commercially managed plantations specifically to be sold during the festive season. This means that more trees replace those cut down and sold. Depending on the size of your tree, it may be up to 7 years old!

1. Clear up fallen leaves – especially from lawns, ponds and beds
2. Raise containers onto pot feet to prevent waterlogging
3. Plant tulip bulbs for a spring display next year
4. Prune roses to prevent wind-tock
5. Plant out winter bedding
6. Cover brassicas with netting if pigeons are a problem
7. Insulate outdoor containers from frost – bubblewrap works well
8. Stop winter moth damage to fruit trees using grease bands around the trunks
9. Put out bird food to encourage winter birds into the garden
10. Use a seasonal bonfire – where this is allowed – to dispose of excess debris unfit for composting. Please check for any wildlife before lighting.

Cut leaves off Christmas type hellebores to make way for the flower.

Now is the last chance to plant out winter bedding. Flowers such as Viola, forget-me-nots, Bellis and wallflowers.

Apply an Autumn mulch to protect plants that are borderline hardy.

Tidy up leaves from around the borders and pop them in the compost pile.

Apply an autumn feed if your grass needs a boost – do this after scarifying and aerating but before applying a top dressing.

Remove fallen leaves so they do not smother the grass.

Lay turf onto prepared soil. Avoid walking on newly laid turf – leave for several weeks to allow the roots to establish.

Mow recently sown areas of grass.

Remove any algae reducing measures, such as straw bales or pads from the pond. Be sure to set these aside for 24 hours before composting to let the pond insects find their way back to the water.

Rake out fallen leaves and shake off any that have fallen onto any protective netting.

Any aquatic plants that are not fully hardy should be taken into the greenhouse.

It is an ideal time to plant roses. Be sure to avoid planting new rose shrubs where previously grown, as this can introduce replant diseases.

Protect newly planted trees, hedges and shrubs from the wind and cold by netting windbreakers.

Climbing roses should be pruned by now, these are usually done much earlier in the autumn.

Autumn is officially here! The leaves are turning along with the weather. Let’s tidy up the garden a little.

1. Move tender plants, including aquatic ones, into a greenhouse or conservatory
2. Cut back perennials that have died
3. Divide herbaceous perennials
4. Divide established rhubarb crowns to create new plants
5. Plant out spring cabbages
6. Harvest apples, pears, grapes and nuts
7. Prune climbing roses
8. Finish collecting seeds from the garden to sow next year
9. Last chance to mow lawns and trim hedges in mild weather
10. Renovate old lawns or create new grass area by laying turf

Raise patio containers on to bricks or purpose-made pot feet. This will prevent the pots sitting in water during winter.

Continue to plant spring-flowering bulbs.

As the soil is still warm, it’s a good time to plant new herbaceous perennials.

Lift and divide any poor flowering or overcrowded herbaceous plants.

Apply an autumn feed if your grass needs a boost – do this after scarifying and aerating but before applying a top dressing.

Remove fallen leaves so they do not smother the grass.

Lay turf onto prepared soil. Avoid walking on newly laid turf – leave for several weeks to allow the roots to establish.

Mow recently sown areas of grass.

Place nets over smaller ponds to keep fallen leaves out.

Clear any debris, weeds and excess oxygenating plants. Leave them to the side of the pond for 24hrs to allow any wildlife to go back in to the water.

Remove pumps or fountains and removable lighting systems, clean them and store over winter.

If the weather is dry, keep watering early-flowering shrubs such as camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas, so that flower buds are initiated for spring blooms.

Check tree ties and stake before winter winds cause any damage.

Place healthy fallen leaves on the compost heap. If you shred the leaves first they will break down faster.