Is this now settled once and for all?

For the most fiercely festive households, Christmas trees are already making their annual return, setting the tone for the next two months of festive feels. Some are getting the trees out of the box in the attic, while others hold out for a real one, dreaming of filling their homes with that pine-y scent once more. But – how soon is too soon? We caught up with party decoration supplier, Ginger Ray, and Mark Rofe, owner of Christmastrees.co.uk,  to get their take on exactly when we should, and definitely shouldn’t, be putting our Christmas trees up. “Traditionally Christmas trees should be put up on either the 28th November, 13th December or on Christmas Eve," Rofe explains. "However, since the creation of artificial trees, and newer varieties of real Christmas trees that last longer, people have been putting up their Christmas trees much earlier." He continues: "When Christmas trees first came into use in the Victorian era, many people chose to wait, to ensure that their Christmas decorations would be as beautiful as possible for Christmas Day - but it seems today people aren’t too concerned about this factor.”

How to get your real tree to last

“Truthfully, you can put up your Christmas tree whenever you would like, but like all plants, Christmas trees will begin to wilt a certain amount of time after being cut," says Rofe. "For extra longevity, some types of trees will last longer than others - the Nordmann Fir which is known as the ‘non-drop Christmas tree’ or Fraser Fir are best for this.” Jess Martin, decoration expert at Ginger Ray comments: “Christmas trees are often the most important part of our Christmas decor which we spend valuable time and money on in order to get it just right. “With Christmas festivities beginning earlier every year, more and more trees are making an appearance from as early as the very first day of November. Stars such as Tan France puts his Christmas Tree up on the 31st October every year! “However, it’s important to remember that real trees will only be looking their best for a limited amount of time, meaning that there may be such a thing as too early after all.” Here are Ginger Ray and Mark’s top tips for making sure your Christmas tree has the best possible chance of looking the part for the 25th:

1. Cut the base

When you first get your tree make sure that you saw a few inches from the base, this will allow the tree to take in water more easily.

2. Purchase a tree stand with a water reservoir

Some people will choose to place their cut Christmas tree inside a bucket filled with soil, however, as the tree has no roots this will prevent it from getting the water that it requires. So it’s important you purchase a Christmas tree stand with your tree which is specially designed to not only hold your tree in place but also holds water which keeps the tree hydrated.

3. Keep your tree away from direct heat

Make sure to keep your tree topped up with water and keep it away from direct heat including radiators and avoid rooms with underfloor heating as this will dry your tree out and reduce its lifespan.

4. Choose the right decorations

Whilst it can be tempting to go for maximalist decorations for the tree, you should make sure you aren’t weighing down the branches too much or damaging the needles. Try opting for decorations that can be tied onto the branches to avoid having to thread them on which can knock off the foliage.