Real or Fake Christmas Tree? Which is Best?
As my family approaches Christmas this year, we’re once again asking the question, “what kind of Christmas tree should we get?”
For our first few years in this house we bought a live Christmas tree, one we could plant in the ground after Christmas. We liked the idea of having a tree that wouldn’t die for the cause, and we could plant in front of our house so we wouldn’t have to watch the construction going on across the road. There were a few problems with the real trees:
- The bag bugs devoured two whole trees and destroyed half of another.
- We can only enjoy our tree for a week or so before it has to be put in the ground.
- It’s not easy to dig and plant in frozen soil.
- It’s darn heavy and hard to get in and out the door, let alone plant.
- All the needles on my hardwood floor.
Last year we didn’t have it in us to buy and plant, so we picked out a cut tree. It was a beautiful tree, but I had a couple of issues:
The tree would die.
- We would have to figure out how to discard of said tree.
- I can’t stand all the needles all over the floor.
- Live trees aren’t very good for those suffering from allergies and asthma.
- They’re expensive when you consider they’re just going into the chipper shredder.
Of course the live trees can be used for mulch and firewood. But still, I hate the idea of chopping down a tree just to use for Christmas.
This year I think we’re going to get a fake tree. Right now the only problem I see with it is that it doesn’t look or smell like a real tree. From what I’ve researched, fake trees save trees. They’re also expensive to buy at first, but pay for themselves after a couple of seasons. Plus the needles don’t rain down all over your hardwood floor and you don’t have to toss it to the curb or chip it into mulch when you’re done. Most fake trees are easy to put together and take apart and they’re generally pet friendly.
What do you think? Fake or real … and why?
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POSTED IN: Holiday Thrift
13 opinions for Real or Fake Christmas Tree? Which is Best?
Linette
Dec 5, 2007 at 12:47 pm
The only thing I really don’t like about a fake tree is storing it for 11 months of the year.
kathy
Dec 5, 2007 at 1:39 pm
We bit the bullet and bought a fake tree this year, which is something I swore I would never do. However, the only good place to put a tree in my house is in front of a baseboard heating vent, which means the tree is kindling by Christmas, not to mention vacuuming needles for the next 11 months because they get into everything. So, we bought a fake and we’re going to see how it works. As for the smell of the tree, I bought a pine scented candle, which I’ll just burn when I need a “fix” of the pine tree smell!
Jill
Dec 5, 2007 at 2:06 pm
For those of us allergic to pine sap, we have no choice - no real trees, no pine candles, no pine based cleaners. I swell up upon entering a home with a real tree, so I’m always cautious about accepting invites to parties this time of year…
the aesthetic onion
Dec 5, 2007 at 5:06 pm
We’re from Oregon and there’s a lot of trees in Oregon, they’re grown for the purpose of selling them at Christmas, so it’s not like we’re cutting down the forest, they come from tree farms. So we usually do the real tree thing. But since we’re not in Oregon this year we sprung for a small fake tree
http://aestheticonion.wordpress.com/2007/11/25/decking-the-halls/
When we move back to Oregon, we’ll get real trees again and use this tree as a secondary tree in the house. But for now, the plastic one will serve us fine.
Oh, and by the way, these new artificial trees are way easier to set up than older ones. And go for the pine varieties, they look more like real trees.
A friend of mine had a good tip for filling out an old tree. Wrap a bough or tree like garland throughout the tree, it will give it more fullness.
Julie
Dec 5, 2007 at 7:42 pm
We did fake this year, but only because we will be gone for 10 days during the holidays. I don’t want to come home to a dead tree. My husband is the one who prefers the live tree, but I have always enjoyed the fake trees. Less mess, we have family members with allergies and fake trees come with lights attached. How cool is that!?
Melonie @ Workerette.com
Dec 5, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Right now we live in military housing so we’re sticking with my fake tree (or would it be “faux”? heehee). But when we have property of our own I’ll probably go with a live tree we can plant. Or at the very least one that can be mulched.
Everywhere I’ve lived the past 10 years has offered free hauling away of cut trees - the waste management companies take the trees and mulch them and then compost ‘em or sell the mulch. If your garbage company doesn’t offer such a service and you want to use a cut tree, give them a call - they might be willing to give the program a shot. :-)
Feli
Dec 6, 2007 at 2:48 am
Very interesting. I read something over at Simply Green and he/she suggested to get a real tree because and I quote “these farms are using land that’s unsuitable for most crops, except hardy trees. So they’re saving land from development. Plus the trees provide habitat for wildlife and help combat global warming while looking all so charming and idyllic. And unlike a fake tree which is made from petroleum based materials and shipped from overseas, these trees are renewable and easily recyclable. ”
2 very interesting facts.
Amanda
Dec 6, 2007 at 2:58 am
Fake trees come from awful very uneco-friendly material. Made from PVCs. They never appear as beautiful as a live tree. What we’ve done this year is buy a smaller live tree in a pot. This tree was rather inexpensive and while we cant load it down with tons of shiny glittery ornaments we can still use our ornaments elsewhere throughout the house. This year we’ve made recycled ornaments from the kids old smaller toys since our tree is rather small. We also purchased a smaller string of LED lights that could be strung around the tree. Ours came from the Home Depot. We plan on keeping the tree watered and cared for until spring, rather than trying to plant it right away… in the cold hard ground. I highly recommend attaining a smaller tree. Its much better for the environment.
Jennifer
Dec 6, 2007 at 5:50 pm
As long as you use a fake for years it’s ok. But that’s a lot of plastic and icky chemicals used to make it. Real are better from an environmental stand-point unless like noted you do use it forever. I like the smell of real better too — off to look for that recycled house.
Dave
Dec 6, 2007 at 11:39 pm
Real Trees. They smell good and invoke the spirit of Christmas. Fake trees are not easy to assemble or put away. Fake trees come with many parts. If you enjoy a puzzle with the children giving you many pieces, fake trees may be your thing. And you may learn patience.
Joe
Dec 8, 2007 at 8:43 am
everybody sais that fake is better because you dont have to chop down a tree. but what happens when it comes time to get a new one, when the old one is all rusty and broken? you have to throw it away. at least real ones are biodegradeable.
oh and you dont have to store it, you can just put it inthe wood chipper!
fake trees are for people who aren’t willing to vacuum up all the needles, or chop down a tree or (plant it?). i can see if youre allergic or if youre elderly and can’t set up such a big beautiful fir, but otherwwise, fake trees just aren’t supposed to be a part of Christmas. Be the Charlie Brown for once. Get the tree, even if its really little and drops needles. It is still great to have a real tree that actually smells like real pine (and not candle scent).
Deborah Ng
Dec 13, 2007 at 5:47 am
Interesting arguments both for and against. The fake trees are best for my son’s allergies for sure, but real trees are better for the envirnment. I know there are new envirnmentally safe fake trees coming up too.
Thanks for taking up the cause for either side, folks.
The Ng Family Christmas Tree
Dec 22, 2007 at 6:11 am
[…] of my son’s favorite things about Christmas is decorating the tree. We did go fake this year, something we feel will save us money and also help us breathe easier as we all suffer […]
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