Pros and Cons of an Artificial Christmas Tree
Tips for Deciding Between a Real and a Fake Holiday Tree
Nov 4, 2009
For some people, the traditional decoration of a live Christmas tree may seem unnecessary, since reusable artificial trees are less expensive and more convenient. Others strongly prefer live trees for the atmosphere and sense of tradition, not to mention the wonderful smell of fresh pine.
Families debating between an artificial and a real Christmas tree may be aided in their decision by a list of the pros and cons for an artificial tree.
Pro: An Artificial Christmas Tree is a Budget Saver
In the long run, an artificial Christmas tree will be far less expensive than a real one. With freshly cut trees costing in the neighborhood or $30 to $100, it can be an expensive venture at a budget stressed time of year. Artificial trees may be used over and over again, while real trees obviously must be purchased every year, making a fake tree a better choice for the budget conscious family.
A good rule of thumb is to invest $20 for every year the tree will likely be used. In other words, if the plan is to use the fake tree for the next ten years, invest in a good quality tree that costs in the $200 range. Trees that cost in the $30 to $75 range are generally of lesser quality and often only last three years, at most.
Pro: An Artificial Tree is Not a Fire Hazard
An artificial Christmas tree is no more of a fire hazard than any of the other appliances in any given home. A fake tree is manufactured of fire retardant materials and is safe for use indoors. It is important to check the box before purchasing a tree to ensure that it meets all local and federal safety requirements.
On the other hand, a real Christmas tree can be a fire hazard if appropriate precautions are taken. Much care in the set up and ongoing maintenance is required on a freshly cut tree to keep it healthy and safe.
Pro: A Fake Christmas Tree Does Not Shed Needles
Real Christmas trees lose their needles, sometimes seemingly all at once. This can be a problem for homeowners with limited time for upkeep, or with young children crawling around the floors – some needles can be very sharp!
In stark contrast, an artificial tree is set up and can be forgotten about. It will not shed or make a mess and it does not need to be watered every day.
Pro: Quick, Easy and Early Set Up
It’s common slapstick humor in movies: real Christmas trees are hard to set up and in some cases may result in crashes. Too bad that wasn’t just in the movies because it is true in real life as well. One of the benefits of an artificial tree is that it is easy to set up, takes only a few minutes and is not a stressful task.
Also, for anyone who loves to start celebrating Christmas early, a fake tree can be put up anytime, whereas a real tree can only go up 10 days or so before Christmas to ensure freshness and safety.
Con: No Matter What, it is Not a Real Christmas Tree
The main problem with an artificial Christmas tree is that it is artificial. It doesn’t smell of fresh pine, and it simply doesn’t exude the atmosphere that a real tree does. Next to a real tree, artificial trees seem inferior, even cheap no matter how great the quality of the fake tree is.
This is the one major downfall, but with care in artificial Christmas tree decorating it can be an outstanding centerpiece to a room. After all, it is not like it will be sitting next to a real tree for comparison.
Artificial trees have a number of advantages when compared to real ones, and there’s no doubt that artificial is the more practical choice. However, families who traditionally enjoy a real Christmas tree will find themselves reluctant, and understandably so, to make the switch.
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