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When it comes to holiday decorating, regardless of the colour combination, style or theme you chose, what is underneath all the colour is important.
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Whether you choose a fresh tree or an artificial one, make sure the base is chosen with care.
In the case of a live tree, you need to keep the tree well watered. Depending on its size, it may need four liters of water a day. The better hydrated the tree, the fewer needles it will drop in your house. I suggest letting a fresh stand naked, undecorated, in the home for a day or two to allow the branches to fall back into place. When the trees are shipped, they are tied up tightly for a long period of time and the tree needs the chance to relax before we decorate.
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In the case of an artificial tree, you need to fluff your tree once it is taken out of the box. You need to shape your tree, if only just a little bit. Start layer by layer from the bottom and look at each branch and spread out the branches in a triangle shape, such as one up and two down. You will see the offshoots are attached in threes down the length of the branch. The next one would be two up and one down. This will help the tree look full from the inside out. When you reach the end of the branch you should have five offshoots, which you want to be open just like the palm of your hand.
If your tree is pre-lit, then you should be ready to start decorating. The best way to light your tree is to start at the main stem and begin weaving the lights in between the smaller branches on each main branch. You need to go up one side and back down the other to the main stem and then move to the next branch. There should be 100 lights for every 30 centimetres a tree is tall. Do not buy strands of lights that have more than 50 bulbs in the strand. When you get 100 lights, it is two strands of 50, and if one strand burns out, you have half a strand that works.
In my world, there is no such thing as too many lights.
Just remember: do what makes you happy in this season. If less is more, great. Or, if you go over the top, why not?
Denise Hodgins is a professional gardening coach in London. Send your questions to coaching@diggendirtdesigns.com
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