No shortage of Christmas trees

We still have lots of Nordman fir and Norway spruce Christmas trees in the barn. Our smallest cut Norway spruce have now sold out but we have some lovely little rooted in trees in pots that don't take up much space and can be planted outside after Christmas.
Outside it's a wet and miserable day but because our trees are in a barn you stay dry while you're choosing and you don't have to take home a wet Christmas tree in your car. So come along to see what we have to offer.
We're open Monday to Saturday from 9 until 6 and on Sunday we'll be open from 10 until 4.

Looking for a large Christmas tree?

We've just cut down a magnificent 15 feet high Nordman Fir. If you need a large tree, this is the one to have. On sale from tomorrow.

Nordman Fir or Norway Spruce Christmas Tree

Which type of Christmas tree are you going to buy this year?

Nordman Fir

The most popular trees we sell are the Nordman firs with their deep green, glossy foliage that hardly drops. You must expect to sweep up some needles, but you won’t get the bare branch that sometimes occurs with a Norway Spruce that gets knocked and brushed against. Some Nordman Firs grow very wide, but it’s easy enough to trim them and we also sell Fraser Firs, which aren't quite as wide as the Nordman.

Traditionalists still choose the Norway Spruce with their wonderful smell and a good compact shape. The downside is that they don’t hang onto their needles unless you look after them, which means keeping your tree well watered and not brushing past it too often. They are ideal trees for displaying outside or in a room without too much through traffic.

From 1st December we will be selling cut trees and also pot grown and potted trees with prices starting at £15.

Christmas tree shortage?

Norway Spruce

Did you hear this week that large Christmas trees are going to be expensive? Every year the newspapers seem to run a story about either a shortage of trees or an increase in prices and customers arrive at the farm expecting the worst, only to find that it's service as normal.

In October we start taking orders for large trees over 8 feet high that go to churches, schools and businesses and our regular customers who need large trees tend to come in the first week of December to pick out their tree as we usually sell out of the biggest trees by the middle of the month.

Most of our customers ask for a 6 feet high Nordman fir tree and we're going to have masses of those together with stands, wreaths, garlands and decorations. So don't panic.

To find out more about our trees check out our Christmas Tree pages.

Planting Christmas Trees

Bill has been planting Christmas trees this week. These Nordman firs are only 30 centimetres high but are already four years old. They are raised in one bed for two years, then transferred to another bed for a year, then to another bed for a further year and then transplanted into their growing space. By moving them every year, the root growth is restricted which should stop the tree growing too vigorously and so will produce a tighter tree.

Once the trees have been planted we need to keep the ground around them clear so will hand pull any weeds that appear. Our most damaging pest is the rabbit, so the field is netted to keep rabbits out. Over the years, we will give the trees some fertiliser and prune them to a good shape.

On our heavy soil it will take at least seven years for these trees to grow to 1.25 metres, which is the height we will start to cut them for selling at Christmas time.

Mistletoe & Christmas in a Box

Despite many attempts to get mistletoe to grow on our trees, we've never been successful and we have none growing anywhere on the farm. Luckily we know someone who has masses and today a big box arrived, which has now been bunched up ready for sale.

We are also selling Christmas in a Box containing a snowflake banner, sweetie, bell, balloon and paper star with room to slip in a Gift Card. For details look at www.daisyleyboxes.co.uk.

It looks set to be a busy weekend for Christmas tree buying so the barn is jam packed with Nordman and Fraser firs, Norway and Blue spruce, wreaths and garlands.

Christmas Trees

Outside, the trees are covered in snow but luckily the trees already lined up in the barn are clean and dry, filling the air with a wonderful smell. This year we have some tiny Picea Conica trees in pots that are ideal for tabletop displays, a wide range of Nordman firs, traditional Norway spruce and some Frazer firs and of course plenty of stands for the trees. Blackley Lane was a little snowy under the bridge this morning, but lots of vehicles have negotiated it without mishap so it's not proving a problem. We open from 9 in the morning until 6 in the evenings Monday to Saturday and on Sunday from 10 until 4.