The Great Christmas Tree Debate. Real Or Artificial?

Has anyone else had a problem deciding on their Christmas tree this year? Maybe it's a little early to think about getting a tree now, after all Christmas is 2 1/2 months away, but I've been thinking about Christmas trees today.

I spend hours on the net looking at lots of gift ideas. And ideas for Christmas, including Christmas trees. I have looked at some artificial Christmas trees lately, and have begun to consider the Christmas tree debate. I have found a good artificial tree lately and written about it here but have now decided to look at the issues surrounding Christmas trees more closely.

Every year there are some 30 to 35 million Christmas trees sold in the US. That's a lot of trees. And there are some implications in this that maybe we should think about.

So, the Great Christmas Tree Debate. Artificial Or Real?

After all, that's what it boils down to. When Christmas comes around do you have a real tree, or do you buy an artificial Christmas tree?

I'm not going to tell you which one to do here, that's not my job, but I'm going to alert you to the issues. A lot of people just get out there and buy a tree, and don't realise that there are some serious issues to consider when it comes to selecting your tree for Christmas.

So lets look at the issues involved in the choice between real Christmas trees and artificial Christmas trees. This is just how I see it, my views only, both from my own Christmas tree experiences and from my reading about it.

Lets look at some data first, from the website of the National Christmas Tree Association, (yes they have their own association.)

30 - 35 mill trees used per annum. Trees are grown on Christmas tree farms in all states of the US, totalling around half a million acres planted. The average time to grow a tree to sale is 7 years. Somewhere close to $2 billion spent annually.

Ok, lets look at some issues.

1. The environmental issues. There's a few of them so one by one.

Artificial Christmas trees are often made of PVC. This is considered a toxic material and can be stabilized with lead. Other trees are made with Polyethelene which can be less toxic, though more expensive.

Generally the artificial trees are non biodegradable. This isn't an issue if you use it over and over but eventually it will outgrow it's usefulness and need to be disposed of. Normally in landfill.

It is claimed that real Christmas trees are carbon neutral. This is hard to prove one way or the other, but it is certainly more likely that real trees are more carbon neutral than artificial ones. The Association claims that an acre of Christmas trees produces enough oxygen for 18 people. Multiply half a million acres by 18, equals 9 million people breathing. For every tree sold 3 are planted, (to allow for attrition.)

Real trees can be recycled, and Christmas tree recycling is common. They can be chipped, used for beachfront erosion prevention and lake stabilization, fish habitat and lots more. If you are interested in more information about recycling Christmas trees click here to read more. Artificial Christmas tree disposal can be an issue.

Manufacture. Real trees are grown, artificials are manufactured. The manufacturing process produces it's own issues and I won't go into that, not being an expert. However there is no doubt that the manufacturing process can often be environmentally unfriendly.

Oil. Many components of the artificial trees are also made from petroleum products which are a diminishing non renewable resource.

Chemicals. There are chemical byproducts of both methods of producing trees. Pesticides are used on real trees, chemicals are produced and released in the manufacture of artificial trees. Again I won't delve deeply into this issue, not being an expert, but it's there.

2. Employment. The Association claims that 85% of artificial trees are made in China. Of course they are promoting their members products which are real trees, however they may still be right. That means that the employment involved in creating artificial trees is in China.

They also claim that there are over 100,000 people employed in the US in the Christmas tree industry, including both full and part time. So US citizens employed in real tree production and sale, whereas it is mainly the Chinese employed in artificial tree production and sale.

Lets look at some more issues.

3. The look. Does a real Christmas tree look better than an artificial Christmas tree?

There's several issues here. Of course a real Christmas tree looks different to, say, an aluminum one in silver, or a fiber optic one. However these artificials are designed to look different to real trees for people who like that.

But for those who like the look of a real tree, does a real Christmas tree look better?

There are now extremely good artificial trees. They are made to look as real as possible and manage this superbly. I wrote about one recently that is so good that it has fooled tree growers.

Modern artificial trees are so hard to tell apart from real ones that making a choice on look alone is probably not sufficient reason to opt for a real one. There have to be other reasons.

4. Mess. I hate mess and I find that a real tree makes a lot of mess. Both from getting it in place, and removing it. And from needles falling off over time. And from trying to keep it looking as good as possible for as long as possible by watering. There is the risk of damage to your carpet from both the needles and from water.

An artificial Christmas tree has no mess. Easily pack it away into it's box and store it. Simple.

5. Decorations. There are now many pre lit Christmas trees available. I find that the decorating process also adds to the mess using a real tree, and so a prelit Christmas tree reduces the need for decorations. However my kids love the decorating, so maybe this is a negative.

6. Price. A real Christmas tree is substantially cheaper than the artificial alternative. Some good artificials can cost up to $1000 or even more. On the other side a real tree has to be purchased every year, an artificial tree lasts for a long time and once purchased no more cost is involved.

7. Living Christmas trees. You can buy a living Christmas tree from a Christmas tree shop or a grower and plant it outside after Christmas so it becomes a garden piece, or even try to raise it in a pot for next year. However it isn't always successful and you need the room to put it and the inclination to look after it. And it won't be too long if you plan to reuse it before it gets too big.

If you're interested in more information on the care of a living (or cut) Christmas tree, or the selection of your real tree, click here.

8. Fire danger. Real trees can dry out and become a fire danger, and some landlords will even prohibit real trees in their houses and apartments. Artificial Christmas trees are usually produced with flame retardent materials.

9. Allergies. Real trees can create allergies. Generally artificial ones don't.

10. Convenience. If you live on the 5th floor a real tree can be an issue. An artificial is delivered to your door. It's boxed and easy to erect, and to take down.

So there's the issues. Like I say, I'm not intending to fall on one side or the other. But I think it's important for you to spend a little time understanding the issues and thinking about them before you make your decision on the tree that's best for you.

And if anyone wishes to add more issues or discuss it feel free to do using the comments form below. Lets get a discussion going about this.

Whatever you choose, enjoy your Christmas tree, and your Christmas. And of course with Christmas coming up you'll need some great ideas for Christmas gifts for your man, so why not read my Christmas gift ideas for him?

And here's a few more hot mens gifts suggestions: