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Your Christmas Tree - Real Versus Artificial
from: Jacqui O'BrienAlmost all of us who celebrate Christmas will put up a Christmas
tree of some kind. It is one of the most recognisable symbols of
Christmas. If you are considering buying a new tree this year,
should you go for an artificial one or a real tree? Both have
their pros and cons.
A real tree does feel somehow more festive, with the Christmassy
smell of pine and the feeling of having a living thing to
decorate your home with. However a real Christmas tree is a
commitment, if a short term one. The dreaded 'needle drop' can
largely be avoided if the tree is watered regularly - this
applies to both rooted and cut trees, if you keep your cut tree
in a special stand which can hold a water reservoir. Also, if
the tree is allowed to dry out it can be a fire hazard, while an
artificial tree will be fire retardant. The next advantage of a
real tree is its environmental benefits. According to Care2.com,
one acre of trees grown for the Christmas market can produce
enough oxygen for eighteen people. Properly managed Christmas
tree farms will plant more saplings each year than the number of
trees that they cut down, and provide a habitat for birds and
wildlife.
When the festive season is over you do not need find storage
space your tree; a rooted tree can be planted in your garden and
a cut one can be recycled into mulch by your local council or
government. Many provide roadside collection or easy-to-reach
collection centres, open until well into January. The
environmental benefits are however rather negated if your tree
ends up on a bonfire or in landfill.
So what about artificial trees? They are usually much more
expensive than real trees, however since it can last for several
years this can work out to be more economical. You can also keep
it as a standby if, for example, your cat savages the real tree
or you forget to water it and it loses its needles before 25th
December. Modern types of tree which successfully mimic real
trees both look good and even smell vaguely pine like - at least
for the first year. Needle drop is pretty much non-existent and
perfectionists can place every branch at the perfect angle if
they wish.
If however you go for the retro charm of a tinsel tree, you will
find that the tinsel sheds mercilessly and you will still be
vacuuming pieces out of the carpet in July. I have a soft spot
for tinsel trees, having grown up with them, but remember having
to put plastic ends on each sharp metal branch to prevent
injury. These would definitely be best avoided where small
children will be running around. Artificial pine trees tend to
be designed with a clump of needles at the end so that the sharp
part is covered.
Any artificial tree is unlikely to be recyclable in any way, and
so when it is disposed of will inevitably end up in landfill.
Therefore if you choose an artificial tree it should be looked
after and carefully stored so that it gives many years service.
Whatever type of tree that you choose, have a Merry Christmas,
and a Happy New Year.
About the author:
Jacqui O'Brien is the editor of eParenting.co.uk, the online
parenting magazine and information resource for parents, with
free printables and educational software. Visit eParenting at
http://www.eparenting.co.uk/
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