Questions about Christmas trees.

[MinneapolisMatt]

I've never had a Christmas tree before, thanks to a naughty kitty.

Well, said kitty has crossed the Rainbow Bridge over a year ago, and I'm ready to try and do something festive for the first time!

I don't want a huge tree or anything, more along the lines of Charlie Brown tree. Or something small.

Should I buy a fresh tree? Artificial? Are fake trees bad for the environment? Is it bad to get a real tree? Is there such a thing as an environmentally friendly Christmas tree, fake or real?

I simply don't know where to begin, and any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Just trying to do my homework!

Thanks,
Matt

[Tx4obama]

1. Why not buy a potted X-mas tree with a root ball, then plant it after Christmas. n/t

[supernova]

2. Just what I suggest

GMTA.

:D :toast:


Live tree with a root ball for planting later. Just keep the ball moist while it's indoors.

[MinneapolisMatt]

4. I live in an apartment...

...so I'd have to ask. But The landlord is cool, so I bet I could do that. Thanks - great idea!

[Tx4obama]

10. And if you can't plant it there where you live you could ....

donate it to be planted somewhere

a park
a school
a church
a friends house
a community center
a daycare center
a homeless/food shelter
the options are endless :)

[NYC_SKP]

3. Excellent question, I don't have an answer but I'll be somebody does.

I have a small reuseable tree, four feet tall with built in lights in the needles.

I figure it's carbon footprint is smaller than real trees being raised over and over and over, and all the petroleum products needed to grow and water and fertilize them.

But the smell, nothing else like it, so I sometimes get an evergreen wreath for the scent or just cut some low limbs from nearby live trees for my tiny house.

:hi:

[MinneapolisMatt]

6. Thanks!

:hi:

[Nye Bevan]

5. Real Christmas Trees Are a Benefit to the Environment.

While they're growing, Real Christmas Trees support life by absorbing carbon dioxide and other gases and emitting fresh oxygen.

The farms that grow Christmas Trees stabilize soil, protect water supplies and provide refuge for wildlife while creating scenic green belts. Often, Christmas Trees are grown on soil that doesn't support other crops.

Real Christmas Trees Are Renewable.

Real Christmas Trees are grown on farms just like any other crop. To ensure a constant supply, Christmas Tree growers plant one to three new seedlings for every tree they harvest.

On the other hand, artificial trees are a petroleum-based product manufactured primarily in Chinese factories. The average family uses an artificial tree for only six to nine years before throwing it away, where it will remain in a landfill for centuries after disposal.

http://christmastree.org/benefits.cfm

This place looks good: http://www.wolcyntreefarms.com/

[MinneapolisMatt]

8. Thank you!

I really appreciate the links. :)

[1620rock]

7. Christmas trees are grown and harvested on farms, others replanted.

Most Christmas tree farm trees are kind of big. For a small tree you can buy a potted tree that can later be planted in your yard. This may be the best solution for you.

I've never had a fake tree so can't help you there.

[MinneapolisMatt]

9. That's what I'm leaning toward.

Thanks!

[izquierdista]

11. We have small Christmas tree farms here in the South

Driving along back roads you will come upon 10 acres or so of identical trees. They each look as though a giant pencil sharpener has been lowered over them to shape them to a nice point. All the points above about them being little wildlife belts are true, and nowadays most disposal services have ways of turning them into mulch when the holidays are over. Go for the couple weeks of nice smell in the house.

[-..__...]

12. Real tree?

Be prepared for the mess and clean up.

Last real tree I had was years ago... never again.

I was sweeping up and finding pine needles for months afterwards.

[Brickbat]

13. Get a real tree and think of it like a crop. They're managed quite well.

[cally]

14. live, locally grown, Christmas trees have the lowest carbon

footprint. The problem with the fake trees is that they are made of plastic, are not recyclable, and often transported over long distances. I know this because I got a fake tree with LED lights last year and had a huge debate with my family over this. The reason I got the fake tree is that I'm allergic to Christmas trees and spent every holiday season suffering. Now that my kids are grown, I insisted on an artificial tree so I don't spend the holiday sniffling.

[HopeHoops]

15. When I was a kid, we got a live Blue Spruce (with a burlap ball) - early 70s

My dad planted it at the corner of the house. I've been by there in recent years and the thing is HUGE and beautiful. They're really heavy, but with a hand truck you can move one pretty easily.

[HappyMe]

16. You could get a Norfolk Pine(?)

It's a potted tree that you can just keep in your apartment.