There is nothing that sums up the magic of Christmas like a beautifully decorated tree.
While many people opt for plastic options, a real Christmas tree is a great way to add extra festive cheer to your home over the holidays.
Justin Davies, who runs the Davies Family Farm in northern Victoria, started growing Christmas trees five years ago. Because the trees take years to grow, it's only the second year he's been selling to the public.
"They really have that big burst of growth in the third year and that's when you really start to fine tune them and they start to look like a really nice Christmas tree," he says.
"In the first couple of years [the trees] sort of get a bit gangly, so you need to keep them in line. They're a bit like teenage kids: some grow faster than others, some look awkward and some look perfect."
If you're considering buying a real tree this year, here's what to know.
From seed to tree
When it comes to growing Christmas trees, it can be a lengthy process before farmers can start selling and making money.
The Davies family have 1,800 trees on their farm, with about 400 available to purchase this year. They use Radiata pine, which is fast growing and a popular option for Christmas trees in Australia.
Seedlings are purchased from Bacchus Marsh, about an hour's drive west of Melbourne, and then planted on the farm in Shepparton.
"We could probably plant 400 or 500 in a day … we've got [it] down pat now."
Mr Davies and his family embarked on farming Christmas trees after a family trip to his wife's birthplace of France during Christmas.
"We walked down the road, got the Christmas tree from the Christmas tree man and carried it home over the shoulder," Mr Davies says.
Feeling inspired, Mr Davies and his family got to work adding Christmas trees to their farm, which has 100 years of history in Shepparton.
"We started off as an apple farm and a beef farm, Dad's been living here for 20-odd years," Mr Davies says.
"My brothers started to do some native edibles in the other paddock … It's all a bit of fun."
How to look after a real Christmas tree
When it comes to picking a tree, Mr Davies says that people shouldn't be put off by trees that don't look picture perfect.
"I like something a little bit different. Obviously, the standard ones look good but last year my favourite one was a tree that had a little bit of a twist in the neck," Mr Davies says.
"Most trees are put into the corner so if there's one sort of bad part of the tree it can tend to be pushed into the corner.
"Each tree has its good sides, like most of us."
To help your tree last as long as possible, Mr Davies suggests purchasing a tree stand, which can be found cheaply at most hardware stores and reused each year.
"Just check the water every day — they have a bucket at the bottom of these tree stands and you just need to make sure every day you're filling it right up to the top.
"The tree will just keep drawing that water."
When looked after properly, trees can easily last for 30 days or more, he adds.
When you need to dispose of the tree, it's important to do it properly in a green waste bin or at a council's green waste facility.
Some Christmas tree sellers will even allow you to return the tree for them to mulch.
While a real tree may be more expensive, it's likely a more sustainable option than a plastic version — especially if the plastic tree is only used for a few years.
The festive family ritual of picking the tree
Mr Davies loves being a Christmas tree farmer and the relationships he makes with his customers and their families.
"It is really fun; it is a good business to have because everyone who comes to get a Christmas tree is happy," he says.
"Just the whole idea of going and getting the tree as a family, it brings people together."
He says some families opt to spend money on a real Christmas tree for their children rather than extra presents.
"We are in our second year this year and we are starting to get a few whispers from some people who are coming back," he says.
"There's one guy … he came and got a Christmas tree and every time I see him at the daycare centre, he says, 'Oh its the Christmas tree man'.
"So, yeah, we enjoy it a lot."
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