Christmas
Trees Limited
Our Nordmann
Story
From Fir Cone To Christmas Tree
When customers choose their Christmas Tree, few of them will realise that it has taken between 13 and 15 years from the time the cone was harvested until the tree becomes the festive centre of attraction in their home at this special time of year.
By choosing the right sort of Christmas tree which is the Nordmann Fir, customers can avoid the problem of their Christmas Tree losing its needles and looking sad, dreary and dejected and having to constantly vacuum away the fallen needles.
The Nordmann Fir is one of the best for needle retention and has a fresh green colour with pretty spreading branches and soft non-prickly needles. For all these reasons the Nordmann Fir has become the favourite Christmas tree for an ever increasing number of Europeans.
The price of the Nordmann Fir is reflected in its outstanding quality and beauty which can only come from the care and attention that each tree is given right from the very start.
From Fir Cone To Christmas Tree
When customers choose their Christmas Tree, few of them will realise that it has taken between 13 and 15 years from the time the cone was harvested until the tree becomes the festive centre of attraction in their home at this special time of year.
By choosing the right sort of Christmas tree which is the Nordmann Fir, customers can avoid the problem of their Christmas Tree losing its needles and looking sad, dreary and dejected and having to constantly vacuum away the fallen needles.
The Nordmann Fir is one of the best for needle retention and has a fresh green colour with pretty spreading branches and soft non-prickly needles. For all these reasons the Nordmann Fir has become the favourite Christmas tree for an ever increasing number of Europeans.
The price of the Nordmann Fir is reflected in its outstanding quality and beauty which can only come from the care and attention that each tree is given right from the very start.
 Collecting Fir cones for drying |
The
best seed provenance comes from fir cones harvested from trees growing
in Georgia, Russia and also from the best Danish trees originally
grown from the Russian seed. The fir cones are harvested in the
months of September and October from the old trees and the seeds
are then separated from the cones. The seed is then cleaned and
the shell and wings removed before drying and then stored at low
temperature. Before sowing the seed is treated in order to retain
the moisture and temperature levels that give the best germination
and is then sown at the beginning of May in sandy nursery beds. |
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 4 Month old seedlings |
 2 Year old tree |
 3 Year old tree |
After germination the plants are continuously cared for while they grow.
Each plant must be kept clear of weeds around them and also need protection
from fungal attacks. After three years in the nursery the small trees
are transplanted into the plantation where they stay until fully mature.
During the growing process the trees are constantly monitored and fertilised
and where necessary bug and insect controlled and watered. The trees are
also expertly pruned during their growth in order to ensure final quality
and spectacular shape for the prime trees that will eventually be cut
for the Christmas season.
 Inspecting trees throughout the year to ensure quality |
 Pruning, weed controland protection from fungal attack |
 Wind break to protect the trees
from frost and wind damage |
 Bottom pruning to improve air circulation |
It takes between 10 and 12 years
for the trees to reach the height of a man. If the grower has been competent
during the trees growth and has been lucky with the weather and other
conditions, then up to 80% of the trees can be used as Christmas trees.
The harvest of Christmas trees begins in November, and the trees are cut with chain saws, all lower branches trimmed to leave room for gifts under the tree. The trees are then netted so that the branches do not break during transportation and palletised before loading on to the trucks that deliver them to us.
The harvest of Christmas trees begins in November, and the trees are cut with chain saws, all lower branches trimmed to leave room for gifts under the tree. The trees are then netted so that the branches do not break during transportation and palletised before loading on to the trucks that deliver them to us.
 The selection of trees before tagging |
 Quality control tagging |
 A tagged tree |
The Nordmann Fir retains its
needles so much better if it is placed in a special stand with a water
reservoir and regularly filled with water whilst inside the house and
will then last until "Twelfth Night" and beyond.
And finally
Need we say more!!
How's about this beauty?