Where can I buy a good, cheap, REAL Christmas Tree?

A question about : Where can I buy a good, cheap, REAL Christmas Tree?

Hello there

Last year, thanks to a recent installation of wooden flooring, we bought our first real Christmas Tree. I'd only had artificial trees up to this point, so had no clue what to look for, where to look, what price is reasonable, what type of tree is appropriate etc. After asking around, we finally ended up buying a tree from J Deen in Cardiff (just the other side of the motorway from Cardiff Gate Business Park). Unfortunately, since we'd spent several weeks faffing about, they only had a handful of trees left (it was the 22nd December ...). However, one of them was perfect for us, and, if I remember correctly, was only Ј15.

Anyway, I thought that perhaps having a thread sharing information on prices/condition/availability of tidy Christmas trees might be beneficial at this time of year. Are some better at retaining their needles than others? Are Homebase trees better than B&Q trees? Is it worth spending a tenner more to get a better tree? Are there any smaller, non-corporate giant Christmas Tree vendors hidden away?

I haven't started looking this year yet, but will be popping back to J Deen to look at their prices - from what I remember they seemed reasonable compared with B&Q, and I do prefer to give money to smaller family-owned businesses!

I'm in the Cardiff area, so would love to hear others' recommendations for trees in this area. However, feel free to add information for the whole of Wales!

Best answers:

• I usually get mine from the Deri in Rhiwbina, they aren't cheap-cheap but are usually around Ј25 for a nice 6 ft tree.
  Last year I thought for a change I go and have a look at a tree farm out near Bridgend, but quickly came scuttling back when they told me the trees started at Ј40 for a 3ft version that would have looked more at home in my garden.
• I can suggest a place for the Good and Real bit of your question, as for cheap I haven't got a clue how much they cost-mum and dad always paid!
  I know it's quite a way from Cardiff, but my family have always bought our trees from Salem Christmas Tree Farm near Llandeilo.
  https://www.salem-christmastrees.co.uk/
  It's a small family-owned place where they send you out with a pair of wellies and a hacksaw! Or if you don't fancy that there are always some freshly cut ones. They can also advise on the best trees for (lack of) needle dropping etc. We always went for a Nordman Fir if that's any help!
• I paid Ј3 per foot last year. An American lady sells them from a yard in Brynna, near Llanharan. Always very fresh - needles last really well if you water the tree.
• Salem Christmas Tree farm sounds fantastic! According to their website, prices start at Ј3 per foot for a Norway Spruce. Excellent information there about the different types of tree too. It seems that a Fraser Fir would be more suitable for me too, as opposed to a Nordmann Fir.
  Ј25 for a six footer from Rhiwbina sounds pretty reasonable to me too (and very local), but sadly I don't think I have room for one that size.
• Well I had always bought mine from the forestry commission between Bonvilston and Cowbridge on the A48 but a couple of years ago the same guy who sells them on the old garage site about half a mile away, towards Bonvilston, took over the forestry site too and the cost is now astronomical.
  In fact, last year I left it until December 20th, which is traditional in our family, and had a tree for half price. Even so, it was still a lot of money so I'm thinking of getting an artificial tree for the first time ever.
  Are there any good fake trees out there? Any to avoid?
• Two years ago we had a lovely tree from 'no frills' near merthr tydfil. It was Ј9.99 for about 8 ft of tree, there was a fixed price for any of the trees, I think we picked the biggest! I don't know if they still do them for that much, but I will certainly go and have a look.
• We got a bargain last year from Countrywide. As the kids weren't going to be home for xmas, we hadn't bothered getting a tree, but popped into Countrywide on xmas eve to pick up some dog food and they were selling off the trees for Ј1 each!
  We're planning on looking there again this year to see if they're doing it again. (We have a small fibre optic tree as a back up!)
• We get our Christmas tree on the top of Wentwood, which is just past Newport. Go through Langstone and look for the signs on the left after a few miles. On the map it is on the top of the ridge between Usk and Caldicot/Magor.
  I just got a 7 foot tree for about Ј24, but the best thing is that it is in the middle of the woods there and you can get a hot choc and feel all Christmassy. It is a beautiful place there at the moment with all the wintry stuff.
• You could try Ikea in Cardiff, prices are from Ј20 upwards for a 5 to 6 foot tree
• We bought a small tree from B&Q in cardiff y'day for Ј16. It is small and comes in a pot, looks quite good in our flat. Will be giving it to our neighburs afetr xmas to plant in their garden.
• If you want a tree from a sustainable source, the nearest Forestry Commission sales point to Cardiff is Beechenhurst Lodge in The Forest of Dean. We went yesterday and got a lovely 7 footer.
  https://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/HCOU-54VGW5
• I bought from scottishchristmastrees.co.uk last year - delivered to the door so no hassle trying to get it into my tiny car. This year it will be a 10ft Fraser Fir for inside and a pot grown one for outside - hopefully keep it alive for a few years!
• Any up to date advice on this subject? Am off on a Christmas Tree hunt this weekend and any advice is much appreciated! We only need a small 2 or 3ft one
• Wentwood as above (they even have a website now) in the forest is a lovely experience, we always went there as kids, might go there today (i'm now 30!) and get one with my children! We used to love it as kids!!
• also Ikea https://www.ikea.com/ms/en_GB/img/loc...TreePrices.pdf
  get Ј5 off with an ikea family card and a Ј20 off Ј60 spend in ikea!! really good prices too, Ј30 for 6-7ft! plus Ј5 off with card!
• Lovely Nordman trees in pots too for just Ј15 at Asda.
• I found this fabulous family run Christmas tree farm, between Bonvilston and Cowbridge. It is called "Ty Cerrig Christmas Trees" and they have a website.
  The daughter welcomes you and explains the site, dad cuts it down, the little son helps net it and mum takes the money. They are so friendly and helpful and have literally thousands of trees growing. You walk through the forest, pick a tree and it is cut down for you. You can't get fresher than that. Last year mine was still as fresh as the day it was cut down at the end of February. I will certainly be going back there again this year.