Nov 29, 2011

Christmas Trees- Real vs. Fake

Tis the season to be jolly! Tra la la la laaa la la la laaaaa! Ho ho ho and a bottle of rum! Or maybe just a glass!

But seriously, is the whole Christmas Tree thing eco friendly? It would be a shame to think that all of those thousands of green Christmas trees that get cut down each November are damaging to the environment.

Well if the farms that grow the trees are considering themselves green then they might use organic pesticides and herbicides. And they should plant one or two trees to replace the Christmas Tree. So this can help us keep peace of mind when putting a dead tree in your living room just to throw it away after Christmas.

The transportation of Christmas Trees is surely damaging to the environment. Loads of trees that are sold in the UK are grown in Denmark, Norway or even Ireland. So with all of those thousands of miles that must be consumed to get your tree to you must have a huge effect on the environment.

Buy Locally Grown Christmas Trees! Or Else!

To cut down the pollution caused by the transportation of Christmas Trees each year why not get your tree from a local grower? OK you may still have to get in your car to go to your local Christmas Tree supplier but hey we can’t be hobbits for the rest of our lives! You could even choose a tree that is still in the ground so it can be cut for you! You can’t get much fresher than that!

How Do You Get Rid Of Your Cut Christmas Tree?

Leave it the back garden and hope that it vanishes? Maybe not, you can recycle your Christmas Tree so it gets turned in to a mulch for your garden. Don’t just try and shove it in a bin bag!

Or…. Try A Living Christmas Tree

Go for a pot grown Christmas Tree, not potted because they are just like cut trees that have been shoved into a pot with soil and have no chance of survival after Christmas. If you get a good pot grown tree with roots then you can keep it in the garden for the rest of the year ready for next Christmas (as long as it is not too big for your living room).

Is Plastic Fantastic?

The other option is to go for the plastic fake Christmas Trees which resemble a toilet brush. No matter how much it looks like a real Christmas Tree, it’s really not the same is it? But they last for years and years without the mess.

So which is the greener option? Real or Fake Christmas Trees?

What kind of Christmas Tree do you get?

Know Your Christmas Trees

Norway Spruce- The old traditional type of Christmas Tree. Cheap and cheerful but a bit prickly. And don’t sneeze near them at risk of all of their needles falling on the carpet.

Nordman Fir- Bushy and glossy looking and nicer to touch. And won’t leave a load of needles on your carpet being low needle drop.

Feeling festive yet? It will creep up on us before we know it. But what type of Christmas Tree are you going to get? And is it an Eco Friendly Christmas Tree?

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Aidan (31 Posts)

Internet entrepreneur, web services, marketing consultant, WowWe video marketing rep, eco warrior with Wikaniko and now dabbling with property investing!

About the Author

Internet entrepreneur, web services, marketing consultant, WowWe video marketing rep, eco warrior with Wikaniko and now dabbling with property investing!

11 Comments

Louise Steiner November 30, 2011 at 8:07 am

I hadn't rally gotten around to thinking about Christmas yet, but I guess it is the 1st December tomorrow, so it's only a few weeks away. There is nothing like the beautiful smell of fresh pine when you walk into a room with a real tree. I had a tree with roots for many years that I would plant out in the garden each year and re-use the next. To my amazement it didn't seem to mind. To my mind that is the greenest solution, but of course not very practical if you don't have a garden. Louise Louise Steiner´s last [type] ..FBinfluence – Facebook Marketing Strategies With Amy Porterfield
Ruth Ekblom November 30, 2011 at 12:33 pm

I love Christmas trees, and all that goes with them. I get a real lift each year as I think about decorating them. I have in my garden, growing in a pot, last year's pot grown tree. It certainly seems to like my garden as it is several inches bigger than last year, and put on lots of delightful little green brushy growths through the summer. It has to be eco-friendly, as I water it with buckets of cleaning water - having used an eco-friendly floor cleaner in the water first. It does not seem to mind, and the cleaner has a label telling me it is not harmful to the environment. Equally, I have had a plastic tree in the past, when a real tree was not a possibility. It lasted for years, and still looks pretty good. I don't know how eco they would be, but it only counts as eco if it is kept for years I should think. I often wonder though, given the number of plastic trees that are sold each year, in so many outlets, whether people really do keep them for years, or whether they are hidden away in wheelie bins and consigned to the landfill each year. What do you reckon?
Libby December 1, 2011 at 9:36 am

I just think of the smell of our Xmas tree and Im in the 'season' again. Nice post! Cheers Libby Libby´s last [type] ..Disaster Preparedness
Dave and Dawn Cook December 1, 2011 at 4:09 pm

Aidan, Great and relevant post as Christmas has sneaked up on us again, hasn't it? We have had a plastic tree for several years now and don't intend to hid it away in a trash bin. I now though really like the idea of a potted(with roots) tree that can go from the garden into the house for Christmas and then back to the garden. Once it gets too big and tall to come inside, then we could just trim and mulch the excess or get a new potted tree and start the process over again. Ok Aidan, you have gotten me a bit more into the Christmas and the eco-friendly spirit! Thank You!! (Dave) and Dawn Dave and Dawn Cook´s last [type] ..Financial Crisis Creates More Greed!
Aidan December 1, 2011 at 6:44 pm

Hi Dawn, Thanks for popping by! Glad I can inspire you. It is simple small steps like this that can really make the difference. Every massive movement starts from one step at a time as you know. Thanks again! Aidan
Aidan December 1, 2011 at 6:51 pm

Hi Ruth, I would assume that most end up in landfills each year with the comment "Well it doesn't matter about one more Christmas tree in landfill!". I just visited your site, what's the plan? Anything I can help with? Send me an email. Aidan
Sharon Johnson December 2, 2011 at 5:38 pm

Good Day Aidan This was a great post on the Xmas Tree, I do plastic hate to see trees cut down only to be put out on the curb. There are some really pretty fake trees out there. Plus look at the cost every year for a real tree. Have a Very Merry Christmas Sharon Sharon Johnson´s last [type] ..Starting Over On Internet Marketing
Clint Butler December 10, 2011 at 5:37 am

I can't stand the fake plastic trees, my family and I love that smell of fresh pine in the house when you bring a live tree home. I must admit though that I never thought of the potted tree idea. Seems to me you can take it out and plant in a local park or something when the holidays are over and help with reforestation. I know there are areas here in Washington that could use some new trees after the loggers run through. Clint Butler´s last [type] ..3 Ways To Make Videos Without A Video Camera
Peter Fuller MBA December 16, 2011 at 4:50 pm

Like Clint, we love the smell of a real tree. The last few years or so we have gone with a fake tree, that looks realistic, but lacks that authentic smell and the occasional live rodent :) Peter Peter Fuller MBA´s last [type] ..The Easiest and Best Way to Make Money Online
Carla McNeil, Social Media Manager December 16, 2011 at 10:35 pm

It has been so long since I have had a real Christmas tree I can't even remember. In my family we take turns hosting, so I only get a turn once every 3 years. I have had a wonderful 6 foot artificial tree for a long time and you would think that since I have had it so long it would really look fake, but it doesn't. I do miss the smell that a real tree brings into the house, but now I use scented candles instead. My pets, who come with us when we go to my sisters houses love the real trees ~ :-) ~, love them too much. Another reason not to have a real tree. Carla McNeil, Social Media Manager´s last [type] ..Social Media ROI (Return On Investment)
Marcus T Cox December 29, 2011 at 4:23 am

I do not remember ever having a real x-mas tree. We have always used fake ones. I think they work the same. I do like the idea of the small planted tree, that sound like something to look into. Keep ou the good work, TTYL Marcus T Cox´s last [type] ..Creating voids in you life