Do i need a real tree or stick to my fake one??

[Marne]

I really want a real tree but this means waiting to put the decs up, I have a nice fake one which fits nicely into the small space we have but have never had a real tree and would love to get one. If I get a real one I will have to buy a stand on top of the price of the tree (how much do they cost anyway?).

So real or fake?

[DoingItForMyself]

I'd love a real tree but actually the long lasting ones don't smell as nice as the old fashioned ones which are bald by Xmas, even when you wait until mid December.

Will stick to the fake one and maybe bring in some real tree trimmings to make table decorations?

[Bowlersarm]

Real. Way way better than a fake.

[BankerMommy2010]

I HATE real trees. .. They look a mess & make a mess. .. my real tree lasted until 7th dec last year.. . Needles dropped off everywhere even though it had plenty of water, after spending £50 on a real tree I had to go and buy a fake for £100... but it will last us for years!

[WholeNutt]

I'm asking the same question, we usually have a fake but this year I'd like real. However the faffing about getting in the car to home, sorting needles and then recycling is making me think about taking our very real fake out again!!

[ChippingInLovesChristmasLights]

Real trees are lovely :)

I'm disappointed I can't have a real one again this year (renovations being done from one end of the house to the other and so the tree will need to be moved a few times - the fake one will cope, a real one wouldn't!) :(

The place near me nails a solid bit of wood to the end so that you can put it in a bucket, instead of in a stand - if you want. A decent sized one is about £30 - so shop around!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I have a faux tree (sounds so much better than fake ).
I bought it 3 years ago after being really hacked off with real trees and needle drop.

Our tree is prelit but loads more lights , but once the decorations are on it's really nice.

(DH asked me yesterday if I wanted a real tree this year. But the only space we have is too near a radiator so not practical)

[Marne]

I do like real but I'm not sure if I can bothered with going to buy one and then it not fitting (we have a long thin living room so I need a tree that's not too wide (or it will block the view to the tv), with my fake one I can leave out a few bits so it fits in better. I also want to put the dec's up next weekend and if I have a real tree it might be bald by Christmas. I'm trying to talk myself out of it .

But I like the look of a real tree, the smell and the fact that we have never had one makes me want one.

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

BankerMommy if your tree is dead by the 7th it is going up too soon!

Real tree all the way for me. We get ours fresh cut from the forestry commission and it lasts really well.

[ShoeWhore]

Go real! The fake ones are just not the same.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I can honestly say I was a bit the first year I got the fake tree - mainly because it arrived on the 20th or 22nd (can't exactly recall) so not alot of time to faff about.

But with more time, more lights and a good quality tree, I don't miss the real one.
(And I can't abide the smell of pine so bonus )

[serin]

This is the first time in 19years that we have bought a fake tree and we love it.

Got fed up with real trees after paying £55 for last years (cheers Delamere forest!) then lashed it to the car roof in pouring rain.

Dragged it into the house, wet and muddy marks all over the floor and wallpaper.

Then we spend weeks trying to keep the temperature in the sitting room cool so that it doesn't moult unduly.

It is never symmetrical so we end up having to prune it.

The watering, twice a day, trying not to electrocute oneself due to the close proximity of trailing fairy lights cables.

There are the needles......we are still finding them now.

One year we bought one that had about 20 shield bugs living in it. Don't mind them so much but my DM freaked out when one crawled up her neck

Yes, real trees smell nice but I have invested in some gorgeous candles and we have made a garland for the fireplace out of real spruce branches.

We are all so pleased with our fake tree.

[serin]

Oh and I forgot about the dog....Bless him, he is used to weeing on trees so he cocked his bloody leg against the real ones.

[Luggage16]

lol i love a real tree but you guys are starting to put me off, despite us having had real for 10 years without any issues lol!!

I say go real - its just not the same when they are made of plastic!

[thenightsky]

i've never paid more than a tenner for real one. God knows where you are going to have to pay £55

We put it up the weekend before xmas (family tradition)

It's never needed watering twice a day (what's that all about?) I water it about every 4th day.

love a real tree.

[CointreauVersial]

We are having this debate right now.

We had a fake for years because we had a tiny living room, so needed something neat, and we were usually away for Christmas anyway.

Now we have a big living room, and we are hosting Christmas, I suggested we might splash out on a real one.

But some of you aren't selling it to me. I wasn't bargaining on spending £50+