What Kind of Christmas Tree Is Best?

What Kind of Christmas Tree Is Best?

'Tis the season for shopping and baking and visiting with friends and family members. It’s also the season for putting up a Christmas tree! Some families swear by real trees, cut down at the nearest Christmas tree farm, and others prefer artificial trees that can be used year after year. If you don’t have strong feelings about it either way, you might not have decided which type of Christmas tree is best. Here are some considerations to think about as you make your decision:

  • Cost If you were to go out right now and purchase a tree, you would pay more for an artificial tree, unless you found a phenomenal deal. That’s not all there is to it, though; a real tree, you need to replace each year. So although you might spend double or triple for that artificial tree, it will pay for itself within just two or three years. Consider also, that some artificial trees come with the lights already included; you will need to buy lights for a real tree. And with a real tree, you will need some sort of tree stand in order to keep it upright. Artificial trees typically just need a tree skirt to hide the base.
  • Tradition Procuring or setting up the Christmas tree is a great family tradition that your kids will pass down to their own children someday. Tromping through a snowy field with the whole family to pick out the perfect tree is one tradition. So is bringing down the box containing the tree from the attic and putting it together, piece by piece. Either way, you can include a fireplace, Christmas songs and special snacks with your tradition!
  • Environmental Friendliness An artificial tree can be used from year to year, and a real tree needs to be replaced each year. On the other hand, an artificial tree is not biodegradable, while a real tree is. If you do not go to an organic tree farm for your real tree, chances are good that all of the trees are treated with chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Artificial trees have their own problems, though; they can be made out of plastics that contain potentially hazardous chemicals. This is a debate that goes back and forth, so if you want to have a Christmas tree that is as environmentally friendly as possible, you might consider an organic real tree, and plan to recycle it later for wood chips or mulch.
  • Convenience Artificial trees tend to be much more convenient. They don’t shed pine needles all over the house and they don’t need to be watered. You don’t usually have to worry about a family of spiders infesting your home after being brought in with the tree. They’re not totally hassle free, however; you do need to set them up and take them apart each year, unless you have the room to store them put together and decorated.

All in all, choosing between the two different types of trees is a personal choice that each family must make for itself. You could alternate back and forth, or simply choose the type that makes more sense to you, based on your top priorities when it comes to picking a Christmas tree.

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