Not sure if you want to put up a real Christmas tree this year, but not sure if you want to invest in a fake one either? While it may be an easy decision for some based on previous experience or memories, for others it can be a difficult decision. How about if I help you out with a list of the pros and cons of a real Christmas tree?
For me it was an easy decision to ditch a live tree. While I do have fond memories of me wandering in the woods with my father to find and chop down a live Christmas tree when I was young, the good memories end there. The designated Christmas tree decorator in my home, the memories I remember most of all are of the scrapes and scratches I received from the cedar branches as I painfully placed ornaments on the tree. While I admit the smell of cedar is intoxicating, those little needles getting stuck in our shag carpet and my skin year after year totally outweigh the nostalgic scent of a live Christmas tree.
But that’s just my story, and I know there are a lot of others out there with memories that make them go to the Christmas tree lot year after year in anticipation of finding the perfect real Christmas tree for their home. Since I respect the right for you to make the decision that is right for you and your family, today I’m sharing both the pros and cons of a real Christmas tree. If you’re on the fence and need some help, I hope you will find this list useful.
Pros of a Real Christmas Tree
- Real trees are all-natural and free of synthetic materials.
- Real Christmas trees have a wonderful, woodsy smell that permeates the home during the season.
- Hunting for a real Christmas tree is a great tradition the family can look forward to every year, even if it is just a trip to the tree lot and not the woods.
- Purchasing real Christmas trees is a great way to support local businesses and support farmers in the US.
- No assembly is required to put up a real Christmas tree. Pop it in a stand and it’s ready to decorate!
- Real Christmas trees can be trashed at the end of the holiday season and don’t have to be stored in the attic, garage or basement. It’s less clutter for you and your family and less work lugging a storage container around your home.
Cons of a Real Christmas Tree
- While you may pay money for a fake Christmas tree that you can use year after year, real trees are only good for a season. Money for a new tree every year adds up over time and could cost more than a fake one.
- Depending on the climate in your area, real trees may not last as long as a fake one. Sometimes real trees only last a few weeks while a fake one can be left up from Thanksgiving through Old Christmas.
- Unlike fake trees where you set it up and forget about it, real trees required more care. They have to be watered and if your pets like to drink out of the tree stand, that could become quite a chore.
- As the leaves and needles dry up on a real Christmas tree, the combination with heat from the lights becomes a potential fire hazard in your home.
- If you are prone to allergies, a real tree could trigger them and you could spend the holiday season with the sneezes and sniffles.
- Clean up for real Christmas trees may require a trip to the dump if your garbage collector won’t pick it up. It’s not as easy as packing a fake trip back up in the box.
There you have it, the pros and cons to a real Christmas tree. So, which one will you choose? Real or fake? Let me know by leaving a comment below.
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