Don’t sweat it—we’ve all been there. You wake up early on December 1st, bright eyed and eager to cut down the perfect Christmas tree and fill your home with classic country Christmas cheer.
Except that by mid December, your once-lush evergreen isn’t so green, and you’re suddenly pulling brown pine needles out of the soles of your cozy wool socks and weighing the benefits of going plastic.
If you just can’t wait to set up your tree—or if you’re one of those Christmas kooks who doesn’t discard it until St. Paddy’s Day, here are seven tips to put the “ever” back in evergreen, courtesy of Mike Merry of Merry Farms in Lynden, Ontario.
How should I approach telling my neighbours we’re renting out our cottage
Watch this video for a primer on how to buy Crown land for your new cottage build
Cottage Q&A: What’s the difference between 2WD, 4WD and AWD?
Cottage Q&A: What should I feed birds over winter in Canada?
Cottage Q&A: How to find and fix a frozen pipe
Red flags to look for when buying vacant land
Cottage Q&A: Do the northern lights make noises?
Cottage Q&A: The reason behind late-season mosquitoes
Cottage Q&A: How to sleep better at the lake
5 simple tips for tapping a maple tree
Cottage Q&A: Donating my property
Everything you need to know about relocating squirrels
Cottage Q&A: The reason behind the outhouse door crescent moon
Cottage Q&A: How to dispose of your fireplace ash
Think twice before you use a bristle BBQ brush
Avoid these mistakes when cleaning your barbecue
Here’s how to deal with a fallen tree on your shoreline
Here’s what to do if your dog falls through the ice
Why the off-season is a great time to buy a cottage
How to deal with a dead tree on your property
How to keep mice out of your cottage
What’s the best way to identify shoals?
Tips to get started with stand-up paddleboarding
Unusual uses for lemons at the cottage
How to deal with sulphur-smelling water at the cottage
Sunscreen essentials with Michelle Kelly
How to soothe your cottage sunburn
Protect yourself—and your dog—from Lyme disease with these tick-fighting tips
Can a cottage ever have too much wood?
5 tips for easy spring cleaning at the cottage
