Artificial Vs. Fresh-Cut Trees

Well-made faux trees are difficult to tell apart from fresh cut trees.

Each year, tree lots sell millions of cut trees for the Christmas holiday. Artificial trees made of aluminum came onto the scene in the 1960s, creating an alternative to fresh cut with limited success. During the intervening years, the artificial tree industry advanced to where the visual difference between faux and fresh requires close-up inspection.

Maintenance

An obvious difference between fresh and fake lies in the maintenance required once in the home. Fresh cut trees require regular watering. If they dry out, the needles turn brown or drop. Artificial trees do not need water and if properly cared for, remain green and full throughout the holiday season, or several holiday seasons. If improperly cared for, however, faux trees may also drop "needles." While shed needles are the biggest complaint, fresh trees also carry sap, making hands, ornaments and tree skirts sticky. Artificial trees have no such concerns.

Stability

Advanced engineering of a well-made artificial tree keeps it level and reduces accidental overbalancing. Balance and stability are difficult to achieve for many fresh cut trees, and they are more attractive to pets that like to climb, causing messes and broken ornaments.

Flexibility

Artificial trees also allow for more flexibility in preparing for the season. For those who want decorations set up early, artificial trees are more convenient, as they may be used at any time. Fresh cut tree availability typically starts around the first week of December. Trees set up in tree lots often require drying time if rained or snowed on.

Safety

Faulty wires on holiday lights are a common cause of house fires.

As fresh-cut trees dry, they become a fire hazard. Although trees may be sprayed with fire retardant, most are not. Manufacturers of higher quality artificial trees add fire-resistant properties, making fires less likely. Overloaded electrical outlets and faulty wires, the most common cause of holiday fires, still may affect more basic artificial trees.

Variety

Fresh cut tree variety relies on market factors, weather and other uncontrollable situations. Faux trees come in many sizes, colors and "species," simplifying finding the right one for specific decorating needs. Many artificial trees come pre-lit, for those wishing to avoid tangled light strands, broken bulbs and the resulting frustration. Real Christmas trees, however, provide a pleasant evergreen scent, while plastic trees often have a chemical scent, especially when heated by the lights.

Industry and Economy

The holiday tree industry in the United States employs about 100,000 people with tree farms in all 50 states. More than 85 percent of faux trees are manufactured in China. While initially much more expensive than a live cut tree, an artificial tree's many years of use make it an economical choice for many regardless of where manufacturing takes place.

Environmental Concerns

Christmas trees are grown on farms like other crops.

While alive, fresh cut trees absorb carbon dioxide and contribute oxygen, remove pollen and dust from the air, protect soil from erosion and provide refuge for wildlife. Grown on farms like other crops, Christmas trees are both renewable and biodegradable. Faux trees remain useful for five or six years, but contain non-biodegradable plastics and potentially dangerous toxins such as lead. They remain in landfills for years after disposal.

References

• Christmas Trees Galore: Benefits of an Artificial Christmas Tree
• National Christmas Tree Association: Real Christmas Trees Are a Benefit to the Environment
• National Christmas Tree Association: What You Might Not Know About Fake Christmas Trees
• Christmas Trees and More: Christmas Tree Facts