I fall into the “allergic” category, so it’s not really a choice. Ironically, my wife and I have yet to buy a tree, since we’ve always ended up celebrating Christmas with family in Michigan, so we didn’t see much point.

As my grandmother just died last night, it’s looking like that tradition may not continue past this year. So it’s likely we’ll pick up a dirt-cheap artificial tree right after xmas, and use it starting next year when we host our OWN Christmas party.

As far as missing the smell, this year we found some scented pine tree plugins at bath and body works that smell exactly like a real tree. We plugged those in and its more like having the real thing now!

I don’t have a strong opinion either way – some people have allergies, so a fake tree is better for them. I prefer real trees, since they encourage people to grow trees and you can recycle them when they’re done. That’s the greenie in me!

If you prefer a sustainable local resource, that’s bio-degradable, and safe then real is the way to go.

With proper care and storage, those fake trees can last many many years without need for replacement.

Real trees obviously need energy for cultivation, energy for transportation and energy (water) to prolong its life in the home and prevent dryness (fire hazard). I know plastic trees are made with chemicals but the thing is, its only once compared to a yearly cycle.

My point is that artificial trees being eco-friendly is a common misconception. Besides what I listed above, artificial trees are made from PVC, a petroleum-derived plastic. So you’re also using non-renewable resources in the tree itself. And as such, it isn’t the sort of plastic that can be recycled or that biodegrades with ease — eternity in a landfill, in this case, isn’t neccesarily hyperbole.

Artificial trees are also prone to containing lead, also used in the manufacturing process. Some even contain warning labels. Not that China ever ships anything our way that may improperly contain lead. Merry Christmas, kids — don’t touch the tree.

Hey, I appreciate cheap, truly. It’s why I read your blog. But, real trees are the winner, by the standards of almost every piece of research conducted by any professional or academic study not performed by the artificial tree industry.

I remember growing up and spending all day driving to the tree farm, cutting it down, bringing it home, mashing it into the stand, putting it up – then untangling 10 strands of lights, figuring out which work and which don’t and putting them on. I’m tired just typing that.

I also like that it is symetrical – I remember always having to figure out what side looked worst, so it could be stuck in the corner. Not a problem with a fake tree – all sides are equally beautiful!

How about this scenario though, we bought our artificial tree used off Craigslist. We in essence rescued a fake tree from the landfill, does that make it greener than buying a live tree? I’m not trying to race towards some ecofriendly finish line or try to be the most ecofriendly person in the world, but I think we should get some credit for a used artificial tree?

Your artificial tree has a transport factor as well, only it’s coming to your living room via China with 99% certainty. It’s also likely to outlast you and your great-grandchildren in the landfill it eventually occupies. Energy is also consumed (and byproducts produced) in the manufacturing of the fake tree, whereas a live one benefits the environment at every stage of its growth — and even after its “consumption”

Again, I don’t consider myself the most green person in the world, but claiming it’s environmentally friendly is one of the lazy and insincere justifications people give for having fake trees. In personal finance parlance, it’s like someone justifying their $4/day latte habit by saying, “hey, I’m helping out the local economy.” Yeah, that’s why you do it.

The one big thing that I like about artificial, and the reason why I have one now as an adult even though I always BEGGED for a real tree as a kid, is that it lasts longer. I like to put up my tree right after Thanksgiving and leave it up til New Years Day (at least). I don’t think real trees last that long, unless you buy the kind in the bucket, but I have no where to plant that afterward.