When to Order a Christmas Tree (and When to Put It Up)

Two questions come up every year: when should I order, and when should I put the tree up? The answers are more flexible than most people think.

Ordering early doesn't mean an early tree

When you order, you choose your delivery date at checkout. We then cut your tree two to three days before that date, so a tree ordered in October is just as fresh on the day as one ordered the week before. Ordering early simply gives you more choice of dates.

Why dates matter

We can only do so many deliveries each day, and popular dates, especially weekends in early December, can book up. If you have a particular day in mind, it's worth ordering well ahead.

• October to early November: the widest choice of dates.
• Mid to late November: most dates are usually still available, but popular weekends may have gone.
• December: we'll still have trees, but you'll have less choice of delivery dates.

This year's available delivery dates are shown at checkout. Before you order, check our delivery information to make sure we cover your area. We deliver across much of Greater Manchester and parts of Lancashire, but not to Bolton, Bury, Wigan or Tameside.

When to put your tree up

There's no right answer, but these are the most popular choices:

• Advent Sunday: the traditional start of the Christmas season, which falls on 29 November in 2026.
• 1 December: popular with families who like the tree up when the advent calendars start.
• The first or second weekend of December: a good fit if you prefer a slightly shorter festive season.
• Closer to Christmas: some households follow the older tradition and wait until the last week, or even Christmas Eve.

Whichever you choose, book delivery for the day you want to put the tree up, or the day before, so it goes straight into water in its stand.

Will it last until Christmas?

Yes. Because our trees are cut just before delivery, a well-watered Nordmann Fir will usually look good for four to six weeks. A tree delivered at the end of November should see you through to Twelfth Night on 5 January, as long as it's in a water-holding stand, topped up every day and kept away from direct heat.

If it starts dropping needles early, it's almost always a water or heat problem. Our guide to why Christmas trees drop needles explains how to fix it, and our care guide covers the rest.

Not sure what size to go for? Read our guide to choosing the right size of Christmas tree, then choose your tree and delivery date.