Christmas Trees - Live vs. Artificial

We never have live Christmas trees at our place. So, we have no choice but using the artificial one. However, it is still beautiful with the color lights and decorations. I never did know that you have to water the live tree. I have seen them somewhere on the streets and they are huge. So, did you put them inside the house or outside the house? You may find my question is funny, but I really don't know.

I don't believe I could ever adjust to an artificial tree. It's just my husband and me here now but we go with my daughter and the grandkids every year to pick out trees. The money goes to support one of the school's sports team in a neighboring county so it's for a good cause, too. I love the smell of a real tree, too!

The first time I saw real Christmas trees was when I visited Germany and they looked so nice compared to artificial ones. The only setbact is, at least for me, that they put it up a day or two before Christmas and put it down few days after. I am not used to this because in the Philippines, some people put up Christmas trees as early as the latter part of November. We have one of the longest celebration of Christmas. I can not use artificial trees here for the difficulties of finding a perfectly shaped ones like in western countries so I have to be satisfied with artificial ones. enjoy life!

Well I like both. My last artificial tree become too shaggy so we got rid of it and started hunting down live trees. I don't like to pay for live trees when I have several in the woods to choose from. They might not look perfect but they do the trick. I love the smell of a fresh tree. We always compost ours or put it in a local pond. Now I am thinking about that fresh Christmas tree smell!

Personally, I am for live christmas trees, but limited by space, we have to use an artificial one, which well serves the purpose of decoration. But in our neighborhood, we do have a live one, which has grown up over the past ten years since we moved in. I like to see lights on the tree and along the doorway on holidays.

although my family celebrated christmas in full style we always had an artificial tree as do my family now. Its basically the mess factor!, i cant stand mess, So its artificial all the way for me.

I can only use the artificial trees because of my allergies. My mom had a live tree one year when I still lived at home and it tore my allergies up so bad. My nose kept running and my eyes watered constantly. It made my throat sore and everything. My mom said she would never buy another real tree as long as I lived at home. But even though I'm married with my own family now she still has artificial trees.

I only remember having a live tree once or twice while growing up. However it got to the point that the clean up was too much for us to bear so we switched to artificial and we haven't turned back since. I think they're a great money saver and I plan on trying to get an artificial tree for us this year since it's our first year together. I've got my eye on a rather nice one that doesn't cost much at all and I know that it'll make a nice addition to our place once we get it set up.

I like artificial trees. They are so much easier to take care of, and we don't have to worry about the kids getting into the water and mess. They also last longer than the real ones since you throw out the live ones once the holidays are over.

We gave up having a tree altogether. When the kids grew up on all left there did not seem much point and we moved into a smaller house so there was not much room. I never did like an artificial tree and the price of the real ones become quite expensive. Disposing of the trees was never a problem because the city picks them up in January, grinds them up and uses them for compost. Real trees or more environmentally conscious because the trees are grown on Christmas tree farms on marginal land where nothing else would grow. The trees can be ground up and recycled into compost and returned to the soil. Plastic trees after a few years when they become ragged have to be thrown in the garbage and sent to a landfill where they stay for 1000 years. I guess it is not too early to wish you all a Merry Christmas.

I really prefer live trees, but like you have come to enjoy the convenience of artificial ones. They can be put up when you want and taken down earlier as you pointed out. It saves money and the environment. Although recently there have been some creative ideas on how to help the environment with the used trees.

fake definatly,real ones make way too much mess,i had a real one a couple of years ago,never again,the pine needles get everywhere

I have to say I prefer artificial trees. My parents always had an artificial tree, but a friend of mine had a real one. Her mum as always complaining about the pine needles, and I always remember being uncomfortable playing around it as the needles stuck in you. I have always had an artificial tree and think they are so much easier and less hassle than the real ones.

[b][/b][i][/i]When I was little, I use to love to go Christmas tree shopping, my grandparents use to let me pick out the tree and even let me decorate it, and they'll add the "tree-top angel". But as I got older, they went with the artificial. The real trees would smell so nice, though. But I guess it became a pain to keep it watered and keeping the pine needles off the floor. I have an artificial tree with the color lights attached to it, but I didn't get to put it up, last year. I will put it up this year.[b][/b] [i][/i]

I was the same. When the kids were little I insisted that we have a real tree.....we would all go pick it out and decorate it together...then they grew up. The first year after my son (the youngest) left I had a heck of a time doing all the work myself! LOL...then when it came time to dispose of it and I had to try to carry it myself that was it.....I have two artifical ones now. Last year I even bought a smaller one....but I am hanging on to the larger one so I can change it out from year to year if I want.....I also have two smaller ones I decorate.

i have had a few live trees but i hate the needles that fall off anf the potential for the tree to catch on fire so we have an artificial tree. i used to have a bigger artificial tree but as we have accumulated more and more over the years i never had a place to put it so i have a smaller tree now and it is fine for our needs.

Hi wlee, I don't think trees should be cut down just for a bit of celebration and if they are they are a terrible nuisance anyway with all those needles getting underfoot everywhere. I wouldn't bother at all excpet my son likes to put things onto one so each christas the battered old artificial one gets dragged out. I don't think anyone in Greece cuts down real trees for this as christas isn't really a celebratio here though the tavernas usually also drag out a plastic tree and a bit of tinsel.

Hi Wlee, Here in my country most people (if not all) use artificial Christmas tree, maybe because the live tree is rarely available, unlike in your country. I haven't any experience putting up a live tree, but I guess just the thought that it is live connotes hard work - I think you really have to take care of the tree. As to the artificial tree, it is easier to manage, once it's up and has all the trimmings, it's good to go, up to the Christmas Eve and beyond, without much ado.

My family only had artificial Christmas trees when I was growing up. It was not until I was married that I had my first real Christmas tree. Real ones smell so good but they take a lot of care. They need water so they don't dry out. Also, you have to be careful with some decorations. You don't want to burn down your Christmas tree. Artificial ones just need decorating. We have so many things on our minds during the holiday. Putting up an artificial tree relieves some of the burden.

I would lie to have a real Christmas tree but there far to much hassle little needles all over the place. Hey give me a realistic looking artificial tree any day. :) Had a really unfortunate incident one year with the tree and a rat in it made real trees very taboo in my house. Another pro for the artificial is cost a real tree needs to be replaced every year artificial what maybe once every 4-5 years and another thing is that damn smell from the real trees if thats the smell of Christmas keep it lol.