Miracle-Gro For Christmas Trees

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Millions of families around the UK celebrated Christmas with a beautiful Fir or Spruce tree in their home, but when the decorations are taken down, it’s important that we dispose of trees sustainably.

If you’re buying a pre-cut tree from a retail store, church group, or scout troop, ask how long ago the trees were harvested and where they came from. Many Christmas trees are harvested weeks in advance and shipped long distances to local markets. If the trees were cut more than three to four weeks ago, shop elsewhere. Be sure to inspect the tree by feeling its needles, which should be pliable and firmly attached. Avoid any tree with dry and brittle needles. If money is an issue, Ross Duncton at Columbia Threadneedle Investments suggests speaking to friends and family members so as to “manage expectations with gift-giving to take some pressure off the purse strings this year”. No one will want you to get into financial difficulty to fund the festive period, he says. Once you’ve selected your live tree, you’ll need to take care of it immediately to keep it alive. Tchukki Andersen, a staff arborist for the Tree Care Industry Association, suggests wrapping it in a plastic tarp to protect it on the journey home. If you bought a pre-cut tree, when you get it home, use a handsaw or chainsaw to make a fresh cut to remove about an inch or so of wood from the bottom of the trunk. Pine needles are long, pointed, and small clusters of needles will come from a single point on the stem. Pine cones are hard and woody with larger scales than spruce. The clusters of male cones produce vast amounts of pollen on lower branches in spring. Add the salmon fillets and pour the rest of the spruce mix on top and turn the fish to ensure it is coated with the mixture.The underside of the needle will have two white strips with a green line at the centre and when crushed will have a strong smell of resin or citrus. When setting up your Christmas tree, remember to keep it well away from heat sources, including heat registers, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, space heaters, and south-facing windows, as these will accelerate the drying process.

Alice Guy, a personal finance expert at Interactive Investor, suggests people should “resist the temptation to trade up” if they are trying to keep a lid on costs.If you are thinking about getting an artificial tree, it is worth making a considered choice. According to the Carbon Trust, a 6ft 6in (2 metre) artificial tree is responsible for about 90lb (40kg) of greenhouse gas emissions – which means you need to reuse it for about 10 Christmases to keep its environmental impact lower than buying a real tree every year, depending on the materials used in the fake tree. Replant your potted Christmas tree in a garden to give it a new lease of life. You could also add bird feeders to provide shelter for wildlife For a delicately flavoured roast, place two or three decent sized branches under the joint as it roasts to impart flavour to the lamb. For example, Aldi’s mince pies, which were half the price at 29p, came a close second to Waitrose’s No 1 Brown Butter Mince Pies in Which’s annual mince pie taste test, with both products earning its coveted “best buy” badge of approval. Cover and place in the fridge for 3-24 hours. The longer you leave it, the more firm the salmon will become.

Jane Berry, who runs the Shoestring Cottage money-saving blog, suggests heading to charity shops and getting creative yourself. “You will find a good selection of secondhand decorations in charity shops,” she says. “They bring them out about now and they tend to be very cheap.”According to the British Christmas Tree Growers Association, between six and eight million real Christmas trees are sold in the UK every year; A typical six to seven foot high Christmas tree is between 10 and 12 years old; Nordmann Firs are the most popular in homes, making up 80% of those sold, with Norway Spruce making up 10-15% Real Christmas trees are recyclable and can be shredded into chippings, which are then used in parks or woodland areas. Alternatively you can replant them, meaning you can enjoy your tree for years to come. At Christmas time, many of us get carried away, with cheese, biscuits, chocolate, alcohol and vegetables the foods people often buy too much of. If you are broke but still hosting this year, why not discuss sharing the shopping costs or ask guests to contribute something to the meal. Blend the salt, sugar and spruce tips in a blender until the spruce is chopped up and mixed nicely with the salt and sugar. Pour half the mixture into a bowl or bag. You will need: Dried pine cones, lard or suet, seeds, nuts, raisins, grated cheese, a bowl, string, scissors.