What are the advantages of renting a Christmas tree? We all know the advantages of having a real tree at Christmas, at the top of the list is usually that unmistakable Christmastree smell, however before our Christmas tree rental service was launched they also had the draw backs of needles dropped all over the house, the struggle of getting a tree to your house in the first place and of course what to do with the dead Christmas tree come January. At the Little Tree Company we’ve taken care of the draw backs; as our hired Christmas trees are alive right through the Christmas period they don’t drop needles like cut Christmas trees do, in addition to this with our delivery and collection service there is no need to worry about how you transport your hired tree or how to get rid of a dead tree when the festivities are over. Aside from the advantages above there are huge environmental benefits when you rent a Christmas tree. Our trees are planted out to create woodlands and habitat for British wildlife,  while providing the oxygen that we depend on and cleansing our struggling atmosphere. In fact with every year that you rent a Christmas tree you will offset around 10% of your annual carbon footprint.   How is Christmas tree hire made possible? At The Little Tree Company we use techniques developed for the creation of bonsai to create a Christmas tree perfect for hire.  Caring for pot grown Christmas trees in this way keeps them at a size suitable to rent out and improves the tree’s bushiness and shape with every year that passes.   How do I need to care for my hired Christmas tree? When your Christmas tree arrives at the start of your rental period it will be netted and contained in a box. Take your tree out of the top of the box (do not damage the box as this will be needed when you come to get your tree ready for collection). You may then get your Christmas tree into position before removing the netting. Your Christmas tree must not be placed close to a fire or hot radiator as this will dry your tree out too much and may kill it or cause it too drop needles. Once in position you may remove your Christmas trees netting and gently tease down the branches to get your tree ready to decorate. The pot of the Christmas tree will be wrapped in protective wrapping for transportation purposes. This may be left on if you wish as it will prevent your tree from drying out as quickly. Your Christmas tree must be watered a couple of times a week during the time you rent it; if you have decided to leave the wrapping around the pot you can simply make a slit to pore water through. Your Christmas tree will require around a pint of water twice a week but you can simply check to see if the soil is dry and water accordingly throughout the Christmas period..   How do I need to package my Christmas tree for collection? Once the festive fun is over and your hire period comes to an end you will need to package your Christmas tree ready for it to be collected by our couriers. To do this you must make sure all of the Christmas decorations have been taken off; you then need to open the top of the box that your tree arrived in and drop the tree, pot first, into the box. This will push the branches back up and secure it in its box. You do not have to re-net your rented Christmas tree to return it to us. How does the Christmas tree hire delivery and collection service work? You will be given a choice of 10 week days between Monday the 29th November and Friday the 10th of December to have your Christmas tree delivered, and a choice of 10 week days between Monday the 10th of January and Friday the 21st of January to have your Christmas tree collected. You will need to sign for both delivery and collection. Your signature for the receipt of your rented Christmas tree is your verification to say that you received your tree in good condition. It is therefore important to check that your delivery is not damaged as we cannot replace or refund on any damaged goods after they have been reported as received in good condition. If you are unable to stay home for delivery or collection on any of the given dates you may have your Christmas tree delivered to or collected from a neighbour, simply state your delivery and collection addresses when placing your order. We have also provided a “safe place” field on our order form. This is only to be used in the event that you have no alternative, where a place within your property for us to leave your Christmas tree and to collect it from after the rental period is over. This option is used at your own risk as no signature can be provided to our couriers. If this method fails we can accept no responsibility for the loss of your Christmas tree and your refundable deposit may be held.   How long do I get to keep my hired Christmas tree for? You can keep your hired Christmas tree for anything up to 7 weeks, however we ask that if you do choose delivery and collection dates that mean your Christmas tree hire period is very long, that you keep your Christmas  tree in a safe location outside for the time which it is not required for display in the house. This will prevent your Christmas tree from drying out too much in the hot, dry atmosphere of your home.   What will happen to my Christmas tree after it has been returned to The Little Tree Company? Once your Christmas tree has been returned to The Little Tree Company we will re-pot your tree into some fresh growing medium, trim its roots and remove any leftover Christmas decorations before placing it outside for the summer, here we will nurture and shape the Christmas tree to improve its shape and condition ready for rent next Christmas. Our Christmas trees have a hire service life of around 3-5 years, after which time they are planted out to create woodlands for both the community and British wildlife to enjoy.   Can I hire the same Christmas tree next year? Yes, you may request to rent the same Christmas tree year after year, it can be very enjoyable to see how your Christmas tree has developed over the summer and over the years. However, if you hire a small Christmas tree be warned that our trees are allowed to grow up to 6 or 7 feet before they are stunted, so if you only have room or budget for a small Christmas tree you may need to hire a different tree each Christmas.   Why do I have to pay a £10 refundable deposit? The £10 refundable deposit is held in the unlikely event that a customer rents a Christmas tree and fails to keep obligations as stated in our terms and conditions. This may be failing to be at home when a collection or delivery is booked, it may be failing to return the Christmas tree at all or it may be in the event that the tree is badly damaged due to negligence on the customer’s part. It is highly unlikely that your Christmas tree will be damaged badly as long as you are careful when moving your tree around and remember to keep it away from fires or hot radiators during your rental period. Remembering to water your Christmas tree throughout the hire period is also important and very much appreciated.   Can I come and choose which Christmas tree I hire in person? Our Christmas trees are packaged ready for hire at the end of the growing season so it is difficult to see the trees properly close to Christmas time, however during the summer and early autumn you may visit The Little Tree Nurseries and choose a tree for hire the following Christmas. We also attend several Christmas fares so you can contact us and find out which one would suit for you to come and find a Christmas tree to rent.   Can I personally collect and return my Christmas tree rather than paying for the delivery and collection service? Yes, if you would like to collect and return your Christmas tree yourself you may contact us to arrange a suitable date and time. Our nurseries aren’t open to the public all year round so we will arrange to meet you at your convenience. You will then save yourself the delivery and collection fee, however the £10 refundable deposit will still be payable.   How do I book my Christmas tree for hire? To book your Christmas tree for hire you can simply fill in our order form or contact us. You then need to provide a date for delivery and collection and pay your hire fee.   Do I have to order online? No, you may also order your Christmas tree over the phone by calling 01332 232248, or by post by sending your order along with payment and delivery and collection dates (within the date range stated above) to The Little Tree Company Ltd, 15 Howe Street, Derby, DE22 3ES.   What methods of payment are available to me? You may pay for your Christmas tree hire service via credit/debit card via the website or by calling us on 01332 232248, by Paypal, or by cheque made payable to The Little Tree Company Ltd and sent to 15 Howe Street, Derby, DE22 3ES. If you would like to collect your tree in person you may also pay cash on collection.   If you have any further questions not covered in this FAQ page please don’t hesitate to contact us.