How soon can you put up a real Tree

[Teasy]

My daughter wants our tree up next week, 3 weeks before Christmas, will a real tree last that long?

[niki2002]

If you get a potted tree with roots then yes it will However if you get one without roots, the tree will look a very sorry state by xmas.... As mine did last year!!!

[pug100]

Hi Teasy,
If you plan on using a real tree without roots then you need to think carefully where it will be put. With many houses now having central heating, this heat will dry it out quickly and will make your tree shed it's needles. So don't put it near any sources of heat.
Try to go for a tree with thicker neeedles, so they don't drop so easily. If you put it in a bucket you can make it last longer by watering it as you would do with cut flowers. But do take great care with all the electrics around. Do not get any water on the lights.

http://www.thechristmastreefarm.co.uk/faq.asp# e3

http://www.gardenseeker.com/looking_after_chri stmas_tree_care.htm

[Teasy]

Thanks everyone, I quite like the idea of a potted tree. And I do agree it is early, but try telling that to a 4 year old who is so excited about the whole thing.

[Bohne]

Get a tree stand you can water...

I don't put up my tree that early, but I have had it way into January, still looking good!

[kobe]

I Know this reply is late - but try it next year- I did this with my children -
Dec 1st you and your daughter start making things to ( help the faries and Santa - because after all they are very busy - and it's nice to help ) we used to make cards tree decorations letters bows all sorts one little thing every day - now here's the best bit every bed time you place them in a special place for the faries ( we used to put them where the tree would eventually be ) every morning the gifts from your child would be replaced ( you must hide all your gifts )with a small gift back from the faries ( this used to be - a tube of glue or gitter or pens etc - some times it would be the odd lolly pop or chocolate bar ) get the idea - you make stuff they get gifts every day and the faries love them - on Dec 15th when the tree should go up we would leave home made wrapping paper - now the next morning the faries have been ( but todays gift is the Christmas Tree (this does meen that you are up late putting it up ( but how magical is that !!! from now on ( you don't have to make any more "gifts" but every morning you start leaving the gifts you made earlier in the month under the tree so that the children can decorate the house with them ( still much more magical than buying them from the shops ) On Christmas day the children will find that Santa was so impressed with his and the faries gifts that he decided to wrap the chilren's gifts in their special wrapping paper. Sorry this was so long winded but I used to look forward to this as much as the kids - have fun, be inventive, much better than just bunging up a tree ( too early )