Around late November every year the Thanksgiving decorations are put away and the Christmas decorations are brought out. The crown jewel of all Christmas decorations is the traditional Christmas tree, so what kind do you want? There is a large debate over real Christmas trees vs artificial Christmas trees and both sides have valid arguments. We can’t make the choice of real vs. fake for you but we can go over the details and benefits and drawbacks of each to help you make an informed decision.
Real Christmas Trees vs. Artificial Christmas Trees
Real Christmas trees are typically cut from an evergreen tree, popular species for Christmas trees in the United States include Fraser and Douglas Fir, Scotch Pine, and Eastern Red Cedar. The type of trees available will depend on your local area.
Benefits of Real Christmas Trees
- Inexpensive
- Traditional
- Authentic: No matter how many scents you use with the artificial tree, you can’t match the look, authenticity, and scent that comes with a real Christmas tree. Most people choose real Christmas trees for the smell alone.
Benefits of Artificial Christmas Trees
Artificial trees have some qualities that you can’t find in real Christmas trees.
- Only have to buy once
- No watering
- No cleanup involved
- Can come pre-strung with Christmas lights
- Multitude of sizes, colors, and lights to choose from
- Eternally uniform appearance
Now that we know some of the positive qualities of each let’s look at some of the disadvantages.
Cons of Real Christmas Trees
- Have to purchase every year
- Must water
- Have to string lights/decorations every year
- Messy, no matter how careful you are, you always be sweeping up needles
- Must find proper way to dispose of tree once season is over
Cons of Artificial Christmas Trees
- More expensive than traditional real Christmas tree, though it will last you several seasons
- Have to assemble
- Have to stow
- May lack the authentic look and smell of real Christmas trees, though newer artificial Christmas trees look very authentic
In the end the decision to purchase a real Christmas tree or artificial Christmas tree is up to you. Look at the pros and cons of each to help decide what type of Christmas tree is right for you this upcoming holiday season.
