Artificial Christmas trees vs. fresh Christmas trees
How to choose the right Christmas tree for you
My dad was a logger, and when I still lived at home, we’d trek out together in the snow on our property or along the road allowance to chop down the perfect tree. For years after I left home, I still bought a fresh tree. I would have the guy at the tree lot saw off a couple inches at the bottom so that it could take up water better to help the needles last as long as possible. There’s nothing better than the smell of a fresh, live tree!
Once I got married, we began visiting my husband’s family in Detroit every other Christmas. We had house sitters and didn’t feel comfortable leaving a fresh tree that could dry out and become a fire hazard. So, against my longstanding tradition, I bought a seven-foot artificial tree. We were fortunate to find one that looked so real it actually fools many of our house guests, especially when I tuck fir-scented rods deep within the branches.
Since going artificial, we’ve never looked back. Okay, maybe once or twice I’ve cursed under my breath at the artificial tree, but for the most part it’s been a great choice, especially for a blown-glass Christmas ornament connoisseur like me. Keep in mind, whether you choose fresh or artificial, they each have their pros and cons. This will help you choose wisely!
Pros of an artificial tree:
Stretch the season. You can set your tree up early and take it down late without worrying about dry needles. I used to put my fresh tree up in mid-December. Now I put my tree up in November and don’t take it down until late January.
Lots of lights. It usually comes pre-lit with lots of lights, which is key to a stunning tree. And it can usually hold the weight of more lights better than a fresh tree.
Save time. A pre-lit tree saves you from having to string lights for the first few years.
Nicely shaped. It is uniformly shaped – no holes or gaps to back against a wall or into a corner – and it is designed to easily stand up straight.
Strength. The branches are strong and can hold heavy ornaments.
Bendable branches. The branches are pliable, and you can adjust them to best show off the ornament, ensure it hangs freely and doesn’t clink into other ornaments. For fragile ornaments, you can turn up the tip of the branch to ensure the ornament doesn’t fall off.
Comes in all sizes. If you have a small living space, you can buy a tiny tree or a skinny tree to fit your space.
Pros of fresh trees:
Fun! Picking out a fresh tree is part of the fun and tradition of Christmas.
Scent. They smell amazing!
Natural looking. The tree looks real because it is! Fresh trees look especially great with a natural themed ornaments or in homes with natural and or neutral decor.
Environmentally sustainable. It is a renewable resource.
Support local or causes. It can often be locally grown and sourced and may even support local charities.
No storage required. You don’t have to store it out of season. This is a huge consideration for those who live in small houses and apartments.
Variety. You can get a different kind of tree each year. Pine one year, fir or spruce the next. Big, small, whatever suits your fancy and your space.
Cons of an artificial tree:
Cost. A good one costs a lot (but are worth the investment).
Non-renewable. It is typically made from non-renewable resources.
Too perfect. Most artificial trees are too uniform, and don’t look natural.
Still sheds. Unless it is made completely from molded plastic (which in my opinion doesn’t look that great), it may still shed its fake “needles” – and more so as time goes on.
No smell. For some that could be a good thing. If you love that fresh tree smell, you will have to buy special scented sticks about every other year to tuck inside the tree.
Storage required. You need space to store it – a garage, an attic, basement or storage unit – and it never goes into the box as easily as it came out.
Gets smushed. Before decorating it, you have to “fluff” the tree and readjust branches that were smushed into the box for storage.
When the light strings fail… Your artificial tree will come with some bulb and fuse replacements, but once you run out, you may not be able to get ones that fit it. A string with more than a few lights burned out runs hot and becomes a fire hazard. When (not if) the light string itself eventually fails, you will have to cut the lights strings off the tree with wire cutters. Trust me: cutting off the lights on a pre-lit tree is a miserable job. I ended up with scratches all over my hands and arms, along with very sore hands from using the cutters. I now have replaced the original white lights stings with multicoloured lights that put up and take off each year. I regularly use a repair gun for my strings of Christmas lights to increase their longevity. Note: this is difficult to use on lights that are attached to an artificial tree, and it doesn’t always work.
Cons of fresh trees:
Need water. You have to water them regularly, being careful not to spill water in your living space. This can be challenging with a decked-out tree you have to crawl under.
Limited life. You can’t have your tree up (safely) as long.
Safety hazard. The needles dry out and fall off. Sometime before that, they become a fire hazard.
Mind the gap(s). The trees may or may not be uniform, with gaps or holes where you won’t have lights or ornaments (but this is also part of their charm).
Compatibility with tree holder. You have to make sure you select a tree with a trunk size that will fit into your Christmas tree holder. I remember the year I bought an Ikea tree with a fat trunk and had to saw an extra foot off the tree and whittle down the trunk with a jackknife to fit!
Wet mess. It may need to dry off on a porch or in a garage before bringing it into the house, (especially if you have carpet).
Sap, dirt and bugs. Sap may drip from cuts or wounds to the tree (especially with pine trees) or there may be dirt or bark schmutz that gets on your floor or rug. Some also may have the odd bug.
Drooping branches. The branches tend to droop with the weight of the ornaments and your beautiful blown-glass ornaments can fall off and break.
Hard to top. And not in a good way. It can be difficult to put a star or angel on the treetop, let alone have it stand up straight.
Annual purchase and disposal. You have to buy a new one each year and dispose of it when you’re done. I realize you can buy potted trees, but they often don’t survive once transplanted after Christmas, so they end up in the same place.
So, weigh the pros and cons, make your choice and enjoy your Christmas tree!
Here are a few bonus tips for purchasing either an artificial or fresh Christmas tree.
Tips for Buying a Fresh Christmas Tree:
Ask where it was grown. If it’s local, it will likely be fresher and last longer than one that was shipped from far away. You can also ask when it was harvested. If it was more than a month ago, don’t buy it.
Take a 360-degree look. If the tree is wrapped or bundled (and you don’t need it that way for transport), ask to have “opened” so you can make sure you’re getting a nice one. Some places will re-wrap it for you, but make sure you know ahead of time.
Check the trunk size and make sure it isn’t wider than that of your Christmas tree holder. Bring your measuring tape with you.
Cut two inches off the bottom of the tree trunk. A good tree lot seller will do this for you. If not, and you have a saw at home, you can do it there. This will remove the sap at the bottom, which would otherwise prevent the tree from taking up water.
Have the seller trim the tree. And I don’t mean decorate. If the branches are really low on the trunk, have a few branches trimmed off so you can get under the tree to water it.
Check your clearance. When choosing the height of your tree, take into consideration whether your Christmas tree base will add height, and leave enough room between the top of the tree and your ceiling to fit the star, angel or whatever your tree topper is.
Tips for buying an artificial Christmas tree:
Buy the best quality tree you can afford. You want it to last for years and not end up in the landfill. The artificial tree I have is 20 years old. The original strings of white lights are long gone after having burned out, but the tree itself has been great. Unfortunately, it’s starting to lose more “needles,” but it should last at least another 5 years before I repurpose it to make Christmas wreaths.
Do a bit of internet research on brands before you buy. What company makes it? Where is it made? Can you easily get replacement bulbs and fuses? Does it have a good warranty? What are the reviews like? Don’t buy anything with only a one-year warranty – that’s a good indication of how long your tree will last. I bought a second tree (a skinny one) about eight years ago and just ran out of replacement bulbs. The company that made it was based in the United States; I contacted them, and they sent me 50 replacement bulbs for free. They didn’t even charge me for shipping!
Consider an unlit tree. If there’s a good quality tree that is not pre-lit, I would recommend getting it instead of a pre-lit. Otherwise, expect to have to use wire cutters to take the strings of lights off the tree when the strings finally fail. Or give your tree away to someone who is willing to do the work. But please don’t just throw out the tree.
Look for the most natural-looking tree you can find, as it will be easier to decorate. Branches at the same level should not all be the same length. Look for ones with variation, or you’ll end up having your ornaments rest sideways on the tree instead of hanging freely from the branches. And you won’t have space to hang longer ornaments. This last tip is easier said than done. I’ve been checking out the artificial trees in various stores the past few years, anticipating when mine finally drops all its artificial needles. So far, I haven’t found a tree quite as nice as the one I have. But I’m hopeful. So far, the ones that appeal to me most are the:
Enchanted White Spruce from Treetime.com
Faux Twinkling Pre-Lit Alba Fir from Terrain and
Faux Twinkling Pre-lit Norway Spruce from Terrain.
