Christmas celebrations have taken on added new meaning in recent years. Climate change, depleting resources, and pollution being some of the more important reasons why we all need to adopt more environmentally conscious Christmases. At the heart of it, stands the Christmas tree, that most well known icon of 20th century Christmas decor and celebrations. And you can opt for either, living Christmas trees, or artificial Christmas trees. So which one’s the better choice?
Going natural with a live Christmas tree.
As you might guess, Christmas trees face very heavy demand each Christmas. Christmas trees are usually of the Fir genus, although there is increasing demand for less conventional species’. It definitely seems like a waste for a tree to have grown for a number of years, only to be chopped, decorated, and then thrown away just a few weeks later. If you’re planning on getting a living Christmas tree, please buy them solely from plantations. Plantation trees have the advantage of being sheared. There are also organically grown Christmas trees (rather more expensive).
For the uninformed, a living Christmas tree is a tree for use in the home during the holidays, but instead of throwing it out after the festive seasons are done, you can plant it in your yard, where it will grow normally just any other tree. Now, you don’t have to feel bad that the tree will die after Christmas is over, and they’ll even serve as a commemoration of that year’s Christmas event.
Another definition of a living Christmas tree, is the outdoor Christmas tree growing in your garden right now. If you have a suitable coniferous tree growing in your yard, there’s no reason why you can’t decorate it with ornaments for Christmas as it is – in the yard. Now, that would be a real natural Christmas decorating idea.
Remember, living Christmas trees usually come in a container with their own soil, and need to be watered regularly while they are still sitting inside your home. Once Christmas is over, instead of planting them outside in the garden, you can also donate these living Christmas trees to public parks and charitable organizations.
You might even be inclined to organize a post-Christmas tree collection drive in your community, and collect any spare living Christmas trees to donate to others in the community. In today’s world where global forest cover is rapidly dwindling, any living tree planted is a step forward.
Some reasons to get an artificial Christmas tree.
Artificial Christmas trees may be convenient for the lazy types; certainly they don’t need any maintenance or watering, and you don’t have to worry about pine needles dropping on the floor. Unlike live trees, these artificial Christmas trees do not come with all the baggage but, they still look like the real thing. You don’t have to buy trees that are starting to fade in color, nor don’t look good anymore – artificial trees ALWAYS look great! And of course, you can reuse them year in, and year out.
The convenience also includes the decoration aspect. You can find some that come already lit, and that can ease some of the tedious decorating work. Hanging ornaments might be fun; hanging lights with twenty feet long wires are not.
Some reasons NOT to get an artificial Christmas tree…
The main drawback of these artificial trees is the PVC material which they are often made out of. These are difficult to dispose of, and contain high lead levels. Artificial Christmas trees are also “dead” things, and do not provide any carbon dioxide absorption benefits. Neither do they have the familiar pinewood smell.
So in conclusion, get an artificial Christmas tree if you are not into tree maintenance, but if you want a more authentic Christmas feel, and also do your bit for the environment, get a live, living Christmas tree. You won’t regret it.
