O Christmas Tree...

...O Christmas tree, Much pleasure doth thou bring me! And much consternation, if the inquiries we get about whether to buy real, fake, or none at all are any indication. Here are some things to keep in mind when decking your halls:

Cut trees generally come from tree farms. See if there's an organic one near you on this list, or ask around at your local farmers' market. Avoid buying trees with flocking (fake snow) on them, and be sure to have your tree composted or mulched after the holiday season is over. Many cities now offer this type of program; some even provide curbside pickup!

Fake trees are often made of nasty plastics like polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and some even have lead in them. Most are also made in other countries and shipped long distances. If you do decide to go faux, be sure to buy a sturdy one and use it for many years.

Living trees are a good option since they can be kept in a pot on your deck during the rest of the year and planted in your yard once they grow too big to bring inside. Just be sure that the tree isn't an invasive species for your area (check with your state forester or a local nursery, cooperative extension, or tree-planting group) and take care of it properly. Some cities even have programs to collect your potted tree and plant it in a low-income neighborhood that needs more trees.

No matter what kind of tree you choose, string it with energy-efficient LED lights!

Comments

[ccsoleil]

Good tips! Though I personally never bought a cut tree (I don't believe in killing trees for Christmas), it is a good idea to look into the organic tree farms if you really want one.
Trees in pots do survive your Christmas if you take good care of them, so go for it! And plant it right outside your window when it gets too big and dress it up for christmas so you can enjoy it while it is outside having a good time itself!
And there are many other ways to make your home a christmas one without the tree! I made a mobile out of green (used) materials and hang ornaments in it: voila my 'tree'!

[myearth]

This is another decision that requires a lot of thought, and still you're not sure of the answer. Fake trees last pretty much forever unless you want a style change. But, true, they are made of nasty things, then transported. Real trees are often transported long distances, with most coming from Oregon (1,000 to 1,200 miles). The nearest place to cut one here is 30 to 50 miles away, a trip that must be made annually. Native vegetation is often cut to put in a Christmas tree farm. This is a desert, so they require a lot of watering. Fertilizer and probably other chemicals are used. Hmmm, who knows what is best? I'd say that if you have a fake tree or get one, take care of it and use it forever. If you buy a real tree, be sure it is turned into mulch, buy a reasonable size, and try to get it nearby.

[Lerin]

Be sure to read the Warning label on your LED lights. (or any electrical product for the matter- the tag on the cord that says DO NOT REMOVE) My hubby came home with some LED Christmas lights the other day and I read the warning label, they too contain lead. (CA state law- products that contain lead must have a warning label) I know lead is still everywhere, but if everyone protested lead in supposedly earth friendly products (like LED lights), then maybe the companies that make these would get the picture. It's not just about saving electricity, it's about reducing the use of chemicals that make people and the earth sick. Also, on the live tree- it's still the 'greenest' way to go- but you can't keep it indoors more than a week or it's going to aclimate to the warmer temperture indoors and die when you take it outside, unless you live in a really warm climate.

[myearth]

Live tree: Evergreens are quite flammable and are not recommended to be planted in fireprone areas such as Southern California. Also, bark beetles are attacking them and they are dying all over the place in my neighborhood.

[Paul]

We have been trying to find a white-LED pre-lit artificial tree. We've found some fiber-optic ones with an LED source, but none with LED bulbs on the tree. Any ideas?

[Healthy, Green, Natural and Organic Living News]

With all these decisions the stress of the Holidays is rampant. I personally go with the artificial tree and use it year after year or donate an old one to Good Will. Stress does get high during these times so here are some tips to help reduce holiday stress. http://www.mambosprouts.com/enewsletter/hen/dec06/#stress

[Ruth Busch]

I'm a tree farmer. Eastern red cedar and small pines under the maturing trees or on electrical rights of way are doomed. Friends may come and cut them free. You might have such a neighbor. I'm in the South where cedars are popular as Christmas trees. People can bring them back for my compost if they wish.

[carol]

I live in Washington so it's not hard to get Xmas trees here. Problem is, live or artificial, many people want the perfect tree. As the tree farmer mentioned there are many trees that grow in road right of ways etc. that have to be taken down anyway. Because they haven't had perfect growing conditions and lots of fertilizer, they are often sparce of limb compared to farm trees. Where is it written we all need the perfect tree? I let fir trees on my 1/2 acre lot grow a few years, and then cut them (they aren't where I want them anyway). The simplicity of their natural sparceness is actually more beautiful because it's natural, and it contrasts so much with the ostentatious commercial attitude that surrounds us. Also, I hold much of my pruning until December so I have sprigs and branches from lots of different plants, and put together my own wreaths or swags (swags are much easier). There are even some shrubs that, though barren, have red bark (like red twig dogwood) that make great window dressings &, table dressings by adding a few ornaments, ribbons etc. If you end up cutting the bottom limbs off your evergreen, be sure to use those as decorations too. Adding spikes of dried seed pods form your garden plants (like columbine or daylilies can also be interesting.
And it's all free. Just add a little creativity.

[Karen Cairns]

My family always had what my mother called a "Swedish Modern" Tree- an attractive dead branch fallen from a tree, preferably with some nice lichens on it- then hang ornaments from it! I just put my branch, with beautiful lichen, up at my apartment and it's beautiful!

[twong48]

I think it's environmentally irresponsible to advocate buying a live tree every year over a fake one. The energy used to haul out the fake one each year is whatever it takes to walk to the closet where it's stored and pull it out, vs. driving 40 miles or more to an Xmas tree farm, or buying one that someone else drove 40 or 400 miles to get to you. I've had mine since the '80s and it's still as functional as the day it came off the assembly line. And if you don't have a car, how are you supposed to get your tree? I know it's not hip to have a fake tree, but it is a whole lot more energy-efficient.

[Melinda]

Other options are to decorate an outdoor tree, to use a houseplant as your tree, or to buy a rosemary tree. We do the latter. They smell wonderful, they look like a mini pine tree, and they can be planted outside when Christmas is over to bring yummy spices and cute purple flowers for years to come.

[Ace Lamps]

LED lighting is definately a good idea, household bill prices rise dramatically over christmas, not only because of increased heating, but because of the increased used of lighting. using LED lights will help reduce the costs