For many Britons, putting up their tree is the ritual that marks the official start of Christmas, with the second week of December a popular time to deck the halls.

While surveys suggest that about two-thirds of the population will opt for an artificial tree, millions of real ones will be sold this month. As usual, the competition is fierce on the high street, with some supermarkets selling the most popular tree – the Nordmann fir – for under £15.

B&Q says it is experiencing growing demand for bigger real Christmas trees, “with more customers looking for statement centrepieces in their homes”, while “mini trees” are becoming more popular for decorating multiple rooms, desks and for gifting.

What you end up paying will depend on where you live and the local competition.

“The price of trees always varies regionally and between individual retailers,” says Russell Parkins, the chair of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA), who runs a tree farm in Hertfordshire.

“An average 6ft British Christmas tree takes about 10 years to grow, and so the price of a tree today reflects a decade of production costs,” he adds. “As with all sectors, business costs have risen considerably in recent years but ultimately, prices depend on individual growers and how they manage their margins.”

The Nordmann fir is most common choice for real tree fans these days, mainly because its soft, dark needles are slower to drop than those of the Norway spruce, the traditional tree from Victorian times.

At Parkins’ Dane End Christmas Tree Farm, for example, prices start at £39 for a 4ft Nordmann and £26 for the same-sized Norway spruce.

Opting for a British-grown Christmas tree is a way to support local farmers and reduce your “tree miles” – ensuring a fresher product with a lower carbon footprint. The BCTGA has an online directory to find your nearest grower.

“A real tree brings a wonderful, traditional atmosphere to the festive period, complete with the fresh scent of pine,” says Mark Sage, the lead outdoor buyer at B&Q. However, with most trees cut at about the same time, he advises heading to the shops “sooner rather than later”.

He says: “For minimal mess, choose the Nordmann fir, which has excellent needle retention. For those seeking a fragrant option, choose the Fraser fir, which has a fantastic citrus-cedar scent.”

B&Q is selling real trees in selected stores as well as online, although for orders under £75 there is a £6 delivery charge. Its range of Nordmann firs starts at £20 (4ft), rising to £60 (7.5ft). If you want to spend more (and have a high ceiling), you can order a 10ft Fraser fir costing £250.

For those who plan to pick out their own tree, Sage’s top tip is the “bend test”. He says: “The needles should be bright green, flexible and stay firmly attached to the branch when gently touched.” Experts also say a heavier tree generally means it is well hydrated and freshly cut.

Christmas trees are sold as cut trees or in pots.

“Our cut Christmas trees are 99% Nordmann fir because of their superior performance and longevity,” says Andy Little, the Christmas tree buyer at British Garden Centres, where prices start at £30 for a small tree in its 73 stores.

“We offer Fraser firs in select garden centres, typically only in the taller sizes, as that’s when they look their best, and these often work out about £5 cheaper than the Nordmann firs of the same size.”

If you have a garden, consider buying a container-grown one that can be planted outside afterwards.

“For our pot-grown tree range of Nordmann firs, they work out at about £15 more expensive than the cut tree of the same quality and height,” Little says. “In our garden centres you can pick up a 5ft premium-grade cut tree for £44.99, whereas the 5ft premium pot-grown tree is £59.99.”

If you are on a tight budget, the big supermarkets are running cut-price promotions.

Tesco is selling “half-price” Christmas trees that it says are comparable with garden centre ones costing £50-£60. They start at £15 for small pot-grown Nordmann and £20 for the cut version (5-6ft). Asda also has trees at £15.

As usual, Aldi and Lidl have gone one step further, charging £14 for a medium Nordmann (5-6ft) and £20 for a large (6-7ft).

It is also worth checking if there is a tree sale at your local Ikea. A £20 voucher is up for grabs when you buy a £29 Christmas tree, but this deal is only available at a handful of outlets: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Gateshead, Leeds and Bristol. Customers receive £20 off a minimum spend of £40 on their next in-store visit (valid from 5 January to 13 February).

Before setting off, Little advises you take a moment to measure the area where the tree will stand. They appear smaller outdoors in the shop’s plant area, and you need to allow for a stand and an angel or star on top. “You don’t want to trim branches at home and lose that lovely natural shape.”

With the right care, a real Christmas tree should still look healthy come New Year’s Eve. The advice is to cut the bottom before putting it in water (this removes the sap “plug”), allowing the tree to absorb water efficiently.

“To ensure a tree lasts all festive season, it is crucial to ensure enough water is provided; however, not too much,” warns Sage, who says useful kit includes the £44 Krinner stand with its built-in water well.