CHRISTMAS TREE

There are some cultures that decorate sticks instead of Christmas trees. This sounds as if it should be very disappointing for the people concerned but it can be quite the opposite. Many people now are opting for a minimalist effect in their home, with little or no furniture and ornaments. There are even homes being built that don’t even have a kitchen, too much clutter. What better way to complement this effect than to have a stick in the corner of the room with a couple of baubles hanging off it and a string of fairy lights wrapped around the bare stems. I actually tried this one-year and found the effect very satisfying. Visitors had other thoughts though and every one that visited took pity on me and offered to go out and buy me a tree that had a bit of greenery on it. I declined of course and insisted that I was ahead of my time.
Christmas trees, whether they are real or artificial are as popular as ever. The plastic trees with the fibre optics in them are proving to be especially well liked. For some people though there is no substitute for the real thing.

CHRISTMAS TREES
One important factor to take into consideration when choosing a real tree is to make sure that it comes from a managed source. Coillte, yet again are the safest bet to get a decent tree from and as usual they have a very wide range. Here is a rundown on the three most popular.

Norway spruce: These have the sharp needles and are the ones most prone to needle drop. When buying, make sure the leaves are fresh and green. Place the tree in a watertight container and secure with bricks or stone. Fill the container with moist sand; this will help supply the tree with water, which will slow down the needle drop. These trees are best suited in the porch or outside. Top up with water regularly avoiding the electrics.

Lodge pole pine~ These have softer needles and hold their needles; they have a loose growing habit and are good for indoors.

Noble fir These have a tighter growing habit, they have blue green needles and hold them very well.

Seee other article below for more tree types.

HOLLY

The story of the holly bush could have gone in the Up the Garden Path section but I thought that it needed a mention here, as there is a prediction that the holly bush could become an endangered species in Ireland. I have witnessed first hand the damage that can be done by people wanting to make money out of selling the twigs at Christmas. I was in a wood recently and saw that whole bushes cut to the ground so a few twigs with berries on at the top could be cut. Like the trees, make sure you buy holly from sustainable sources. I have noticed that the birds have already been busy picking the berries from the holly. This might give the bushes a chance to re grow as the cuttings aren’t as sought after without them.

CHRISTMAS CALF

CHOOSING A CHRISTMAS TREE

Christmas tree, Brisbane.

CHRISTMAS TREES

Did anyone buy a real cut Christmas tree when they first came into the shops about three weeks ago? If you did please let me know if it is surviving the long wait until Santa comes. Maybe people have started to buy two trees, one for the run up to Christmas and another for when that one looses all of its needles on the front room carpet. We like to buy our tree quite close to the holiday, that way there should still be a few bits of green left on the branches to hang the chocolate ornaments. The only drawback to buying the tree later is that we tend to be left with one that is a bit miss-shaped, so the pruning shears have to come out to perform some cosmetic surgery. The amputated branches can be used for decorating the table and around mirrors though, so nothing goes to waste as it can all be mulched in the New Year (Definition of mulching- throwing at the bottom of the garden and left to rot down!)

KEEPING IT REAL
The real Christmas tree is a living resource, which can be recycled, while the plastic tree consists of metal and plastic materials, which cannot be broken down naturally. This impacts the environment during manufacturing and after use. Plastic Christmas trees are often made of PVC, which also has many negative environmental qualities. They do look pretty though and you don’t have to vacuum the dropped leaves every day!

SELECTION AND CARE OF YOUR TREE
When you are selecting your Christmas tree always bear in mind where you are going to place it in the house. Make sure the size suits your home and the room you are going to put it into. For most modern homes a 6ft Christmas tree is very suitable.

Make sure it has a straight stem, even dense branches and a fresh colour. When you bring your Christmas tree home, cut an inch or two off the bottom of the stem and stand it outside in a bucket of water. Shake off any loose needles before you bring it inside and stand it in a special Christmas tree stand or in a bucket of wet sand with a water bowl to which you should add a pint of water daily (avoiding the electrics!). Try not to let the tree dry out, as the base will re-seal itself and stop taking in water. Water is important as it prevents the needles from drying and dropping off and the branches from drooping. Water also keeps the tree fragrant. Place the tree in the coolest part of the room away from fires and radiators, as central heating is the worst enemy of a tree.

If you have a big garden, then why not consider buying a rooted tree in a pot. Rooted trees in pots have the best chance of survival if they are kept in the house over the Christmas period. If you water them well they should still be alive at the end of the holiday and you can plant them outside in your garden. I have known people successfully re-use their trees for a couple of years. They were planted into a bigger pot every year and it was a good while before the trees got too big for the house. It can be a lot of work keeping them watered in summer though.


TREE SAFETY
Make sure your tree is properly secured and positioned clear of doorways, stairs, heaters and open fires.
Christmas tree lights can be dangerous if not properly wired. There are a lot of different types to go for in the shops. Look for the approved safety standards sign on the box. Remember to unplug tree lights and other decorations when out of the house or going to bed at night. And if you have a cat, make sure that it doesn’t jump up the tree to get to the shiny baubles and bring the whole lot down.

TREE TYPES
The most popular types of Christmas tree sold in Irish garden centres include:

Norway Spruce - the most traditional looking Christmas tree - has a mid-green colour, a fine, delicate foliage and a distinctive 'Christmassy' scent.

Scots pine - a really fragrant native conifer with attractive blue-green foliage and soft needles

Lodgepole pine - a cheerful green colour, tinged slightly with yellow, and a sharp fragrance

Nordmann fir - has distinctive broad, bold green needles with whitish underside
It’s all down to individual taste as to what tree you like the best, so happy hunting!

Horticultural.

LAWN CARE

This month is a good month to seed or lay new lawns. It is also a good time to fill-in the bare spots of the old lawn caused by children playing or dogs burying their bones.

If the lawn needs moss and dead grass removing (scarifying) then gat a springbok rake which will remove all of these. The existing grass will be able to establish better and if there are any bald patches, these can be re-seeded. Most garden centres stock a range of grass seeds in small quantities, which are ideal for repairs. Fertilise after this is done if you want as this will green up the grass over the winter. It might also mean that you have to go out on Christmas day to cut the grass….you have been warned!

This is a good time to sow new lawns. Sow lawn seed into well-prepared, fine soil. Roll lightly when 1in high if the ground isn’t too wet, and when it has grown again top it off lightly with the mower set at 2in, again only do this when the ground is dry as it could cause nasty ridges in the lawn.

Remove the worst broad-leaved weeds from newly seeded lawns by hand; it is too soon to use selective weed killers.

ME AND MY MOTOR-JOHN BARR

John Barr is better known as a local businessperson than a car fanatic. In fact John doesn’t even know the make of his own van. Better still, on more than one occasion, he has been known to get into the wrong white van and try to start it up! (“They all look the same,” he claims) John might not know what his van looks like but he certainly hasn’t lost his edge as a trader. “I might not know any make of cars on the road but I could tell you the price of anything in 1972”. His van is a 2000 VW Caddy by the way.

John has been trading for thirty years and Barr’s shop has been open in Buncrana for 160 years. As well as clothing and flags, John also supplies a whole range of printing and embroidery items. Whether it is a corporate logo, workwear on a large scale or just a few shirts for a hen or stag night, John can supply the lot. (That’s if he can find his van!)


How long have you had the van?
Let me think….about five years now. I bought it used and as I don’t know the first thing about cars I couldn’t even tell you the registration number.

Any plans to change?
It will get replaced when it stops working.

Is it reliable?
Yes. Patrick Grant here in the town takes care of all of the servicing. He just appears and drives it to his garage then brings it back all serviced and ready to go.

Best and worst thing about the van?
The worst thing is that I have to drive it. The best is that it starts and moves when I want it too.

How often do you wash it?
I have never washed it in five years! It does get cleaned every two years. Patrick cleans it for me before it goes to get an NCT.

What was your fist car?
I had a Fiat 850 bubble car. I bought it for £25 and spent £25 putting in an engine. Putting in the new engine only took a few hours and we were out on the road the next day. It was only small but we could squeeze seven people in it! I drove it for six months until the brakes seized up (at least I think that was the problem) outside the Culdaff Arms. I had to get a lift home but not before I sold the car to someone as it sat on the street for £60. I got a Ford Escort after that but it was a nightmare. I remember it always overheated but I had to travel to Dublin every week. Poor Afke (my wife) had to get out and push many a time - much to the disapproval of the pedestrians on O’Connell Street! I must point out here that I didn’t push because Afke couldn’t drive at the time...honestly!

What would you do to help motorists given the chance?
Do away with cars and get Scotty from Star Trek to beam us where we wanted to go. I think a few good manners on the road will have to do in the mean time.