The Christmas tree debate — real or artificial?
BY ANITA STIEFEL
EDITOR@
OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
EAST ALABAMA — According to the American Christmas Tree Association’s (ACTA) 2024 Consumer Report, 99% of consumers surveyed intend to display at least one Christmas tree in their homes this year.
“We are encouraged to see that consumer demand for all types of Christmas trees remains high in 2024,” said Jami Warner, ACTA executive director. “Artificial, live, small, tall, flocked, you name it — there’s no such thing as a bad Christmas tree. We recommend that consumers plan and shop now to find the décor, type and style of Christmas tree, or trees, that best fits their lifestyle.”
One question that is raised each year is whether to get a real Christmas tree or use an artificial version. The ultimate goal is to have a beautiful Christmas tree for everyone to enjoy, but deciding which type to use usually comes down to personal preference. To help consumers make an informative decision, the following information outlines the positives and negatives for each type.
Artificial Trees
According to the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA), artificial Christmas trees originated in Germany toward the end of the 1800s. Metal wire trees were covered with goose, turkey, ostrich or swan feathers. The feathers were often dyed green to imitate pine needles. In the 1930s, the Addis Brush Company created the first artificial-brush trees, using the same machinery that made their toilet brushes. The Addis “Silver Pine” tree was patented in 1950.
Artificial Christmas trees are more common than ever in today’s hectic world. The ACTA’s report found that nearly 80 percent plan to put up an artificial Christmas tree, and 22 percent will opt for the real thing.
The major advantage of using an artificial tree is convenience. Many of the newer artificial trees come with built in lights and decorations. Once the holiday season is over, you can just pack it up and store it until next year.
An artificial tree also doesn’t create much of a mess and doesn’t have to be watered and maintained. Since it can be used year after year. Compared to buying a real tree every year, artificial trees can be more economical.
Which brings us to the primary con of artificial trees — they’re fake. And because they’re artificial trees, they don’t have the same natural fragrance and appearance. The ones that do resemble real trees can be very expensive.
Another con is that artificial trees have to be boxed up and stored year after year.
Most fake trees today are made of metals and plastic, and 85% of the ones sold in the U.S. are imported from China, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. The plastic material in fake trees — typically polyvinyl chloride (PVC) — has been boycotted by environmental groups because of its potential source of hazardous lead.
Artificial trees are undesirable because they are petroleum-based products, according to NCTA’s website, which states, “The average family uses a fake tree for only six to nine years before throwing it away, where it will remain in a landfill indefinitely. That’s a pretty hefty, long-term environmental burden.”
Real Trees
In contrast, while they’re growing, live Christmas trees absorb carbon dioxide and other gases while emitting fresh oxygen. Grown like any other crop, Christmas tree farmers plant new seedlings every spring to replace those harvested.
“There are about 350 million conifer trees growing on Christmas tree farms in the U.S. alone,” NCTA states. “Christmas Tree farms stabilize the soil, protect water supplies and support complex ecosystems. And of course, farm-grown Christmas trees can be recycled, whereas fake trees cannot.”
The Alabama Cooperative Extension Service reports there are many positives of using a real one. According to its website, “The beauty of a real Christmas tree is simply spectacular. There are many species to choose from, they offer a natural pleasing fragrance and they come in a variety of textures, sizes and shapes. The most commonly grown Alabama species are the Leyland cypress, Carolina sapphire and Virginia pine. The trees most often sold at retail stores and parking lots are Fraser firs grown and shipped from the North Carolina mountains. Plus, there is something that can be said about the experience of going to the tree farm or nursery and picking out your own Christmas tree — it can turn into a special and memorable family event that is repeated each year.”
Real trees are also biodegradable and can be recycled into mulch or as a fish reef after the holidays.
But, ACES experts point out, real Christmas trees also have some negatives. Purchasing a good looking, better-quality tree will cost you — they aren’t cheap unless you want a cheap looking tree. The cost you put into a real tree or two can sometimes be about the same cost of an artificial one.
Another disadvantage is they must be watered regularly to keep them looking good and to prevent them from drying out. They can potentially become a fire hazard if they dry out and are near a heat source.
Cleanup can also be a big mess. When the time arrives to take down the Christmas tree, the tree will likely be drier and will have started dropping lots of needles.
There is also the problem of a lot of real trees not being recycled, meaning they wind up out with the garbage and in the landfills.
Christmas Tree Selection and Maintenance
CONTRIBUTED BY ACES
EAST ALABAMA — When looking for a real Christmas tree, it can be a lot of fun to visit a Christmas tree farm or even find and cut a tree on your own property. However, in either scenario, there are a few things that you want to look for before making your selection. The Alabama Cooperative Extension Service offers the following tips on tree selection and maintenance that will encourage the tree to remain healthy for longer.
Where Will You Put the Tree?
Before you leave your home to cut a tree, you first need to decide where the tree will be displayed in the home. Try to select a location away from a heat source such as a fireplace or heat vent. Will the tree be displayed in the middle of a room to be viewed from all sides? Or will the tree be placed in a corner or against a wall? Knowing this information ahead of time will help narrow down your choices. If one side of the tree will not be visible, it may be okay to get a tree with a small bare spot since no one will see it.
Once deciding on the tree’s location, measure the height and width of the space. Plan on purchasing a tree about 1 foot shorter than the ceiling height. Also, measure the tree stand and how large of a tree-trunk diameter can fit in the stand. Remember to take a measuring tape with you when you go to get a tree.
Cutting the Tree
When you get to a Christmas tree farm or place on your property, look for a tree with a straight trunk, so it will fit in the tree stand easily. Measure the diameter of the trunk to make sure it will fit the stand. Do not shave off the sides a trunk just to make it fit the stand. The tree will not take up water efficiently if this happens. Also, measure the height and width of the tree before cutting to make sure the tree will fit the planned location in your home. When cutting, cut as low to the ground as possible. The lower the cut, the more room you will have to properly mount the tree in the stand.
Some Christmas tree farms will have precut trees available to purchase. When selecting a precut tree, feel some of the needles and try to break them. Needles on dry trees will be brittle, whereas needles on fresh trees should bend but not break.
Setting Up the Tree
After selecting the tree, you need to get it home as soon as possible. Immediately after returning home, recut the base of the tree and secure it in the stand. Recutting about ½ inch off the base of the tree will encourage more water uptake. Make the base cut as flat as possible. Place the tree in the desired location and water it immediately. If the tree is wrapped with netting, it may be best to leave the netting on the tree until it is upright in the stand, in its desired location, and water has been added to the stand.
If the tree is too tall for the location, do not cut the base or cut branches off the base. Cutting one branch off the base may result in a major hole in the tree, making the display suffer. If a tree is too tall, selectively thin some branches at the top of the tree to make it the desired height.
If the tree must be stored before it goes into the stand for display, recut the base as described above and place the tree in a bucket of water. Store the tree in a place out of the wind, such as a garage. A windy location will cause the tree to dry faster.
Maintenance at Home
Do not let the tree dry out. Once air gets into the vascular system of the tree, water uptake slows down and cannot be reversed. The tree will drink a lot of water during the first few days, so water levels should be checked often. All stands do not have equal water holding capacities. So, water may need to be checked two or more times per day. When watering the tree, only use water. Do not add sugar, soft drinks, aspirin, etc. to the water. There is no need to spray an anti-transpirant on the tree. Also, do not drill holes in the trunk, as this does not improve water uptake. Remember to unplug the lights on the tree when unattended.
Recycle or Reuse
A well-kept Christmas tree should be able to remain in a home for 3 to 4 weeks. Observe the tree often and remove the tree before the needles dry. Trees can often be recycled or reused for other purposes after they are removed from the home. Some cities will grind the trees into mulch that will benefit other plants. The trees can also be used for animal habitats in certain locations. It is not recommended to burn the tree in a fireplace. The wood can contribute to the buildup of creosote in the chimney.
