THIS credit crunch Christmas, you may need to rethink what tree to buy. The price of the popular non-drop Nordmann Fir, imported from Denmark, is likely to be higher than ever this year, thanks to the pound’s weakness against the euro and Danish krone.

The British Christmas Tree Grower’s Association is advising hard-pressed families to opt for different varieties or smaller trees to save money, and buy as close as possible to source.

Expect to pay between £30 and £45 for a 6ft Nordmann.

Association secretary Roger Hay is advising those on a tight budget to go for a home-grown Scots pine or Lodgepole pine, which should be widely available and are likely to cost about £10 less than the same size of Nordmann fir.

He said: “These trees don’t drop their needles and are bushier and have much fuller branches than the Nordmann. You might even get cones on them.”

They also have a strong scent.

Before buying your tree, measure the space you are allocating it, considering both height and spread.

And leave it till the last minute to buy a tree, particularly if you are opting for a spruce, which will drop its needles quicker than other types.

Once you have chosen the type of tree, the next question is: Should you buy a cut, containergrown one or potted tree?

Which? Gardening, the Consumers’ Association magazine, tested cut, containergrown and potted Nordmann fir and Norway spruce last year as soon as they arrived in the garden centres in late November.

Researchers kept them in the office and watered and monitored them regularly for needle drop.

After three weeks they tipped the potted and container-grown trees out and examined the roots.

They found that the potted trees looked dull and lifeless after three weeks and the Norway spruce had lost most of its needles.

Potted (containerised) trees are often planted in containers too small for the tree, making them difficult to water and look after, the magazine warns, and advises they are best avoided.

Container-grown Christmas trees, which have spent their lives in a pot and are the most expensive option, performed best overall in the trial, looking healthy right to the end.

They can survive well outside and are a good investment if you want to keep a tree in the garden for two or three years.

Cut trees, sawn off at ground level and stood in a plastic stand with a water reservoir, performed almost as well as container-grown trees, but usually cost less. If you just want an ornamental tree, a cut tree is the cheapest option. Treat it like a large cut flower and don’t forget to recycle it.

Ceri Thomas, editor of Which?

Gardening, says: “If you only want your tree to last for one Christmas, don’t bother spending money on a re-potted or container-grown tree. Instead, pick up a healthy cut tree from a reputable grower.

“These trees performed almost as well as a container grown tree, and could save you a few pounds.”

So, how can you keep your chosen tree healthy?

If you opt for a cut tree, when you get it home, saw the bottom 3cm off the trunk and stand it in water somewhere cool, topping the water up regularly.

Stand trees in a cool part of the room, well away from radiators.

A living tree will do best in a cool room, porch or conservatory, especially if you intend to keep it.

Stand the pot of the living tree in a deep saucer and keep the saucer topped up with water.