Christmas Trees, Artificial or Real.

[ginger ninger]

Well, its nearly that time of year again, do you buy a real Christmas tree, do you have an artificial one, no preference or don't you bother with one?? Decisions, decisions.

I love trimming my Christmas tree up with all its lights and babbles, putting all the prezzies under it, unfortunately I can't have a real tree I come out in a rash if I touch one, shame because I love the smell of them.

[seasprout]

Had an Artificial tree for years, its in good nick and I will continue to use it until it becomes too tatty.

Real ones look nice but are expensive every year. (In my opinion.)

[zazen999]

Erm.....we have one of these, the bigger version. It is real [ie wooden] but not real [ie not plastic but real wood]....so can't really vote

muji.jpg (image)

[Florence Fennel]

Mine's artificial, but looks real when it's dressed up. It takes as long to assemble as it does to decorate and cost me a bomb, but it is now in it's 16th year so was well worth it. Would love a real one because of the lovely smell, but cleaned up pine needles for 20 years so wouldn't relish another.

[FionaH]

I got fed up with cleaning up needles a while back so went for an artificial one. I would like to say it is because of green issues but really I just hate housework

[Florence Fennel]

I got fed up with cleaning up needles a while back so went for an artificial one. I would like to say it is because of green issues but really I just hate housework

With you all the way there Fi - far more important things to do.

[Brengirl]

It doesn't matter a tinkers cuss what sort of tree you have. It's where it grows that is important.
Over the years we have had christmas trees of all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours. In my opinion the best ones appear suddenly, as if by magic, on Christmas morning. That is, if you have children to amaze. Nowadays our own kids have taken over the roll to mesmerize and produce the magic. I must admit that once a bit of magic dust drifts our way we are once again caught up again in the wonderland.

[smallblueplanet]

Would like a real xmas tree but modern houses are too hot & dry for them to last well...

[bubblewrap]

The only decs we put up are the cards.

[Florence Fennel]

My Christmas Cards go in a drawer every year until they're recycled. Bah Humbug. Boil me alive with the Christmas Pudding and a sprig of holly in my heart.

[northepaul]

I would love a real tree, but my little one told me its wrong to kill a tree just to make the house look pretty....she's a true eco warrior !

[FionaH]

I would love a real tree, but my little one told me its wrong to kill a tree just to make the house look pretty....she's a true eco warrior !

Oh bless

[sewer rat]

I've got to declare a professional interest in this one - we always had real trees when I was a kid (no-one had invented artificial trees way back then) and after Iona was born 8 years ago we got real trees, until last year when we succumbed to the ease of an artificial tree. However, I now work part time on a private forestry plantation, which includes Norway Spruce, Nordmann Fir and Scots Pine, and was offered a straight 50 / 50 deal on Christmas trees by the owner - I buy the netting funnel and netting, harvest the trees and sell them and we split the money down the middle, so as we'll be at home for Christmas, and Niamh will be old enough to enjoy it this year, and we're having quite a few friends round for dinner we're having three trees - all real - one in the dining room, one in the hall and the last in the living room. The articial tree will stay in the loft !

[sewer rat]

Would like a real xmas tree but modern houses are too hot & dry for them to last well...

A cut tree can drink up to 5 litres of water each day !!

[sewer rat]

I got fed up with cleaning up needles a while back so went for an artificial one. I would like to say it is because of green issues but really I just hate housework

There are ways to help stop needle drop - ensure the tree is fresh but was cut about about 2 days before you put it up. It is also best if the tree was cut after a frost - (-2 will suffice)
If a tree is one of the needle retaining varieties (Nordmann Fir being the best known of these) and is looked after and the water kept topped up there is no reason why you have to return to the bad old days of hundreds of needles falling off a rapidly browning tree.