The Pros and Cons of a Real Christmas Tree

Growing up, my family was really into Christmas. We were a family full of Clark Griswolds! The trip to pick out our Christmas tree kicked off the holiday season each year.

As an adult with my own family now, I have continued many of my family’s traditions, including getting a real Christmas tree each year. I absolutely LOVE getting a real tree every year, and don’t plan on ever going back to an artificial. However, real trees are not for everyone. If you are considering making the jump from an artificial to a real tree, here are some pros and cons of real Christmas trees that might help you make your decision!

Pros of a Real Christmas Tree

Fun family tradition

For us, picking out a Christmas tree isn’t just a task…it is an entire event in itself! We visit the a local tree lot each year and take our time picking out the perfect tree. If we ever get adventurous, we might one day consider visiting a tree farm and cutting down our own. For now, it is fun to browse the tree lot of pre-cut trees, find the one that we love, and bring it home for a night of holiday music and decorating. We make a night of it with a nice spread of food and a Christmas movie together too.

Larger and fuller

I usually find that real Christmas trees are larger and fuller than most of the artificial ones you see in the stores. They may have a bare patch or two, but there is usually a good side you can face forward while hiding those patches in the back. There are a lot of strong branches to hang heavy ornaments on too!

Change your tree style each year

Once you purchase an artificial tree, you are stuck with that style of tree until you decide to purchase another. Buying a new, real Christmas tree each year gives you the freedom to try different types and styles of trees. There are so many to choose from! Pickyourownchristmastree.org has information to help you choose the tree that is right for you!

That Christmas tree smell

There is just something special about the smell of a Christmas tree. You can purchase a pine scented candle to burn, or you can have the real thing!

Less to store

If you go a little over-board with the Christmas decorating like I do, then you have tubs and tubs or decorations to store in the off-season. With a real Christmas tree, you have one less large box to store! Bonus!

Recyclable

Christmas trees are recyclable, and many communities will pick up your Christmas tree for you. Trees are taken and turned into mulch to use when the weather warms up.

Cons or a Real Christmas Tree

Transporting it home

Transporting the tree from the lot or farm is always the tricky part. You always hope it is tied on securely enough so that it doesn’t fall during the trip. It becomes even more difficult if you have a smaller car.

Balancing the tree

Real trees are not perfectly symmetric like most artificial trees. Because of this, it is sometimes a balancing act to get them to stand up straight in the tree stand. It often requires some additional cutting, trimming and rotating.

Prickly to decorate

Depending on the type of tree you pick, it can sometimes be prickly to put up and decorate a real Christmas tree.

Needles everywhere

Remember when your kids were little (or maybe they still are) and there were Cheerios everyone? Well having a real tree is kind of like that, but with needles. They get EVERYWHERE! Especially as the end of holiday season nears, constant sweeping or vacuuming is necessary so that you aren’t constantly walking on and getting pricked by dead needles on the floor.

Need to purchase every year

The decision to do a real tree instead of an artificial tree means that you are also committing to purchase a new tree each year.

Watering

Having a real tree is almost like having a pet. You have to make sure to keep it fed and watered. If you are going out of town for the weekend, you need to make sure it has enough provisions to make it through. It is sometimes tricky to water the tree depending on how low the branches are and how many presents are already around.

I think real Christmas trees are great, but they are not for everyone! It is a lot of work, but if it is important to you, then it is totally worthwhile!

Learn more about our Christmas traditions at readysetparenthood.com!

What kind of Christmas traditions are important to your family?