Tesco's Half-Price Christmas Trees Spark Timing Warning From Grower

Tesco is selling full-size Christmas trees at half price this week, six weeks before December 25, the retailer confirmed to the BBC. The discount has drawn a warning from at least one grower: buy too early, and the tree will not make it to New Year intact.

Why Are Supermarkets Selling Trees Six Weeks Early?

Tesco told the BBC that more than 90% of its Christmas trees sold out by the end of November last year, a pace pushing the chain and competitors including Lidl to open sales earlier this season. Dobbies Garden Centres is taking the opposite approach, holding its range until the last week of November, according to the BBC.

How Long Does a Real Christmas Tree Actually Last?

A cut tree should last about four weeks with proper care, the Royal Horticultural Society says, while some retailers tell the BBC their trees can hold for four to six weeks. Mick Walker, who grows trees in the Scottish Highlands for Bolton Christmas Trees, is less optimistic about one bought this week. "It might last until the beginning of Christmas, but it won't last the full holiday," he told the BBC, adding that an unpotted tree "is going to be sagging by Christmas Day - big time."

When Should a Tree Go Up, According to the Grower?

Walker's recommended window is tight. "If it was me, I'd put it up a week before Christmas Eve, [and it will] last straight through until New Year," he told the BBC. That timeline would put most purchases in mid-December rather than mid-November. Walker called Tesco's half-price promotion "insane," telling the BBC it is "sucking them into buying something now that isn't going to do the job."

What Keeps a Cut Tree Fresh Longer?

Forestry England recommends sawing roughly half an inch (1.2cm) off the trunk base at home to remove hardened sap and improve water absorption, per its website cited by the BBC. Walker's own tips: keep watering it, mist the needles, and store it in the coolest part of the room, away from radiators. Forestry England also debunks a common fix, telling the BBC that cola or corn syrup in the stand does nothing — the tree "just wants a constant supply of fresh water."

Does a Potted Tree Change the Timeline?

Tesco says its range includes both cut firs and potted spruces and firs, with care labels meant to keep trees "looking their best right up until Christmas Day," the company told the BBC. Forester Richard Cooper of Forestry England told the BBC that storing a cut tree outside in shade before bringing it indoors can extend its life, though he noted the tradeoff depends on "how keen you are to get it up." Tesco said customers unhappy with a tree's condition can return it to the store.

By the Numbers

• 90%+: share of Tesco's Christmas trees that sold out by end of November last year, per Tesco.
• 4 weeks: typical lifespan of a cut tree with care, per the Royal Horticultural Society.
• 4–6 weeks: lifespan some retailers claim for their trees, per the BBC.
• 0.5 inch (1.2cm): trunk trim Forestry England recommends to improve water uptake.

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