Should You Get A Real Or An Artificial Christmas Tree?

Having a beautiful Christmas tree is one of the most enjoyable and important parts of the holiday season. A Christmas tree holds all of your favorite ornaments, can help make your home more festive and is a place for family and friends to gather around. But you have a big decision to make when it comes to your Christmas tree: should you get an artificial tree or a real one? Your friends at Harvest Lawn Care of New Jersey have a handy guide to help you navigate all the pros and cons and find the perfect option for your family this Christmas. 

An Age-Old Debate

The first documented use of a Christmas tree was in Latvia in 1510, when a local group of merchants decorated a tree in the market area with artificial roses, held a dance around it, and then set fire to the tree. The tradition became more common in Germany throughout the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, when they were decorated with apples, sugary edible ornaments, and red paper strips.

In the 1800s, Christmas trees were introduced to the United States, as well as glass ornaments and strings of toys. Throughout the 1900s, as the population of evergreen trees in the United States began to decrease, people were encouraged to use artificial “trees” made of simple deciduous tree branches covered with “snow” made from cotton. Some manufacturers made trees out of goose feathers, but others like the Addis Brush Company pioneered the first modern artificial trees. Christmas tree farms that more responsibly managed how trees were cut down for Christmas trees and planted new trees were also established to allow people to continue using real trees in their homes. 

Pros And Cons of Artificial Christmas Trees

• Artificial trees will last longer, so you can put them up earlier and take them down later 
• You won’t have to buy a new tree every year
• Setting up and tearing down an artificial tree can be easier and less stressful than buying a real tree, cutting it down, and transporting it back to your house
• You can buy a pre-lit artificial tree, so you don’t have to worry about getting tangled in strings of lights or breaking branches when you’re stringing lights on a real tree
• You won’t have to clean up fallen needles or make sure an artificial tree has plenty of water
• Modern artificial trees are made with fire-resistant materials, making them safer for strings of lights
• You can easily pick out an artificial tree that meets your exact color, size, and fullness expectations
• Artificial trees are reusable but not as environmentally friendly as real trees because they are usually made of plastic and will need to be used for at least eight to nine years to reach the same low environmental impact as a real tree
• Most artificial trees are imported and don’t support the local economy 
• You can’t recycle artificial trees

Pros And Cons of Real Trees

• Real trees bring the beauty of the outdoors into your home, they smell great, and they look amazing
• Picking out a real tree can be a fun, family experience and a wonderful Christmas tradition
• There are a lot of different types of trees available with a variety of colors, needle texture, and scent, so you can choose the one you like the best, and that is the best option for your house
• Real trees are biodegradable and can be reused and recycled as wood chips, mulch, compost, etc. 
• Buying a real tree usually supports the local economy and often family-owned, small businesses
• Real trees can take a lot of work to cut down, transport, and maintain
• You will have to clean up fallen needles from around the base of your tree
• A real tree can be a fire hazard if not properly set up and well-maintained

For All Of Your Other Trees, Call Harvest Lawn Care

Whatever you choose for your Christmas tree this year, the trees and shrubs outside your New Jersey home will still need dedicated care. Especially during the winter, when trees and shrubs are highly susceptible to damage from dryer conditions and winter weather, your plants will need some extra care from the tree and shrub professionals at Harvest Lawn Care.

We offer a comprehensive six-step tree and shrub care program directed by a certified arborist and a tree expert. We know how to keep all of your trees and shrubs looking beautiful and healthy so you can enjoy them all year round. To find out more about our tree and shrub care program and all of our other lawn care, pest control, and commercial service options, visit our website, fill out our contact form, or request a free quote. You can also give us a call at 800-800-LAWN. And don’t forget to keep reading our monthly blog for more helpful articles on lawn and garden care!