Each year there is plenty of discussion about what day is best to take down your Christmas tree and here experts give advice on removing it.

As with the dates for putting up a Christmas tree, people tend to choose different days for when to take it down with some choosing to do it quite quickly after December 25 while others wait for the traditional date of January 5 on the eve of the arrival of the Three Wise Men.

Here is advice on when best to take down your Christmas tree to avoid bad luck along with how best to dispose of it and keeping your house safe.

When is the best time to take down the Christmas tree?

David Sumner, sales manager at Christmas Tree World said: "For some, Christmas decorations bring endless cheer and they almost can't bear to part with them once the holiday season ends. Others may be eager to pack away the tinsel and baubles as soon as the festivities conclude, desperate to reclaim their normal living space."

There is no right or wrong time to start taking your decorations down, but many people tend to follow tradition. "Tradition recommends the Twelfth Night as the exact date to get the boxes down from the loft and pack away your tree and other decorations," says Mr Sumner. "Twelfth Night commemorates the eve of the arrival of the Three Wise Men and the end of the Christmas festivities. It is generally celebrated on the evening of the 5th of January."

Is it bad luck to keep up Christmas decorations in January?

Mr Sumner said: "Rushing to take your decorations down before (or after) the traditional festive season can be considered bad luck, so Friday 5th January is a great date to choose."

If you leave it up too long is it harder to get rid of?

Loren Taylor, landscaping and gardening expert and owner of Outdoor Fountain Pros told theLiverpool Echo: "Most local recycling programs and councils set a window for collection or drop-off, usually from the end of December through mid-January. If you wait too long, the programmes close, and you're left figuring out disposal on your own. Many places also won't accept trees that are too dry, because they're harder to process."

However, if you miss this deadline, you could compost your tree in the garden instead. Guy Barter, chief horticulturist at Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) said: "If you're composting it you can remove it to your garden, cut into small pieces and let it feed the soil and wildlife naturally."

What happens to real Christmas trees if they are left up for too long?

Scott Morahan, group nursery manager at British Garden Centres said: "Generally, they will start dropping their needles and, depending on what type of tree and the warmth and dryness of the location they are in, they'll shed them until they are bare." And a dying Christmas tree also becomes a safety hazard.

Loren Taylor said: "A dried-out Christmas tree is a major fire hazard. The drier it gets, the more flammable it becomes, and it can go up in flames incredibly fast. If you're still running lights on a brittle tree, even a small spark or overheated bulb can be enough to ignite it. It's a risk that's easy to avoid by taking the tree down before it dries out too much."

How can we keep a fake tree in good condition for next year?

Mac Harman, CEO of luxury Christmas brand Balsam Hill said: "You need to compress the foliage of each branch in each section and then flip upside down, squeezing the branches into the main trunk. A top tip here is, once flipped, tie up each section using a ribbon so that all the branches are held down together, preventing them from falling open when moving the tree."

A storage bag will also help protect your tree while it's stored. Mac Harman added: "Your bag needs to be large enough to comfortably hold your tree and made from durable material so that it can't be torn by protruding branches. Rip-stop nylon is a great option for this. Store your tree in a cool, dry location as this helps to protect it from moisture and musty odour."