To look after a real Christmas tree, keep it outside for as long as you can, saw 2 to 2.5cm off the base of the trunk when you bring it in, stand it in water and keep it away from heat. Top up the water every day. A cut Nordmann or Fraser fir cared for this way lasts about four weeks indoors, so a tree brought home in London in early December will still look good on Christmas Day.
That is most of it. The rest of this guide covers the questions we are asked most in December at Boma: when to bring the tree in, where to put it, what to do if it arrives before you are ready, and how a pot-grown tree differs from a cut one.
What To Do When Your Christmas Tree Arrives
When your Christmas tree arrives, take the net off outside, saw 2 to 2.5cm off the base and stand the trunk in water straight away. The fresh cut matters because the old one seals over with resin within hours, and a sealed trunk cannot drink however full the stand is.
- Cut the net and give the tree a shake outdoors to drop any loose needles.
- Saw 2 to 2.5cm straight across the base of the trunk, depending on the size of the tree. A thicker trunk takes the larger cut. A pruning saw or a hand saw does the job. Leave the bark on, as the tree takes up water through the layer just beneath it.
- Fix the tree in a stand that holds water. Our Cinco Christmas tree stands have a built-in reservoir and come in five sizes, for trees from tabletop height up to 12ft.
- Fill the reservoir with plain tap water and let the branches settle for a few hours before you decorate.
Where Should I Keep the Tree Before I Put It Up?
Keep the tree outside for as long as possible. It is much happier in the cold and benefits from a shower of rain. Stand it in a bucket of water on a balcony, back step or side return, and leave the net on. Make the fresh cut on the day you bring it indoors.
Where To Put a Real Christmas Tree
Put a real Christmas tree in the coolest part of the room, well away from radiators, open fires and other heat sources. On underfloor heating, stand it on a board or thick mat so the base is insulated from the warmth. Heat is what makes a tree drop its needles early. A bay window or an unheated corner suits it far better than the space beside the chimney breast.
- Leave a gap between the tree and any radiator, or turn that radiator down for December.
- Measure the ceiling before you order. Allow for the stand underneath and whatever goes on top, which together add around 30cm.
- Keep the tree clear of doorways, where it gets brushed every time someone passes.
- Use LED lights. They give off very little heat.
How Often To Water a Christmas Tree
Check the water in the stand every day and top it up whenever the level has dropped. A freshly cut tree drinks most in its first few days indoors, so look twice a day to begin with. If the reservoir runs dry the cut seals over again, and the tree stops drinking for good.
Plain water is all it needs. A tree that is drinking steadily keeps its needles soft and its scent in the room.
How To Look After a Pot-Grown Christmas Tree
A pot-grown Christmas tree is a living plant, so keep it outside for as long as possible and bring it in late. The RHS advises no longer than 12 days indoors. Stand it on a saucer away from heat, and keep the compost well watered.
After Christmas, leave it in a sheltered spot outdoors for a week so it gets used to the cold again. Then plant it in the garden or pot it on. Our guide to looking after a pot-grown Christmas tree covers each stage.
| Cut Tree | Pot-Grown Tree | |
|---|---|---|
| What Boma sells | Nordmann fir, 3-4ft to 9-10ft. Fraser fir, 4-5ft to 8-9ft | Nordmann fir, 60-80cm to 125-150cm |
| Time indoors | About four weeks with daily watering | No longer than 12 days |
| Before it comes in | Outside, standing in water | Outside, where the rain can reach it |
| When to bring it in | From early December | The weekend before Christmas |
| Watering | Keep the stand's reservoir topped up | Water the compost when the surface is dry |
| After Christmas | Recycle through your council collection | A week in a sheltered spot outdoors, then plant out or pot on |
Which Christmas Tree Keeps Its Needles Longest?
Nordmann fir keeps its needles longest. The RHS describes it as very slow to drop, which is why it is the most popular choice. Fraser fir also holds its needles well, has a stronger scent and a slimmer shape that suits a narrower room. Both are sold fresh-cut at Boma, and our guide to choosing between types of Christmas tree compares them in more detail.
Christmas Trees in London Homes
London flats and terraces are warm in December, and a tree often ends up closer to a radiator than it would like. If the only space is beside one, turn it down and check the water morning and evening. In a top-floor flat, measure the stairwell turns as well as the ceiling.
Boma delivers Christmas trees daily from 23 November to 22 December 2026 to all postcodes within the M25, from £10 depending on postcode. Delivery is to the kerbside. Pre-orders close on 30 November, and after that trees are sold online and in store subject to stock.
Choose Your Tree at Boma
Come and pick your tree in Kentish Town, where we can help you find the right size and stand, or order online for delivery across London. We are at 51–53 Islip Street, NW5 2DL.
Shop Real Christmas Trees See Christmas Tree StandsFrequently Asked Questions
How Long Does a Real Christmas Tree Last Indoors?
A cut Christmas tree lasts about four weeks indoors when it has a fresh cut at the base, a stand that holds water and a spot away from heat. A pot-grown tree should stay indoors for no longer than 12 days before going back outside.
When Should I Buy a Real Christmas Tree in London?
Buy a cut tree from late November to early December for the widest choice of sizes. You can keep it outside in water until you are ready to decorate. Our guide to buying real Christmas trees in London covers sizes, prices and delivery.
Why Is My Christmas Tree Dropping Needles?
A Christmas tree drops needles when it is too warm or has run out of water. Move it away from the radiator and refill the stand. If the reservoir has been dry for more than a few hours, take the tree out, saw 2 to 2.5cm off the base and stand it in water again.
Do I Need To Cut the Trunk if the Tree Was Cut Recently?
Yes. The cut end seals with resin within hours, so a tree cut at the farm days earlier cannot take up water until a fresh 2 to 2.5cm slice is sawn off. Do it just before the tree goes into the stand.
What Do I Do With My Christmas Tree After Christmas?
Most London councils collect real Christmas trees in early January and turn them into mulch. Dates differ by borough, so check your council's website. We have more ideas in what to do with your real Christmas tree after Christmas.
This guide follows the care advice on every Boma tree label, with further guidance from the Royal Horticultural Society.
Written by the Boma team, Kentish Town. Published November 2026.
