Real Xmas tree V artificial tree?

[ilikeyoursleeves]

We have always had an artificial tree and the same decorations but I fancy a real tree this year, I think. I'm a bit reticent because we have a 2 year old and a 3 month old, do you think the pine needles would be a hazard in any way for little 'uns? And arereal trees a real faff to transport?

[wicked]

We usually have an artificial tree but get a real one every few years. I am usually straight back on the artificial bandwagon after that.

I don't think real trees are dangerous to children, but they are mean to hoovers. The hurt if you crash into them, but you soon learn not to. On the plus side, the fragrance is delightful.

[wicked]

BTW, they are not hard to transport. The garden centre or lot in pub car park will zoom your tree into a tube of plastic netting and then you just put it on the roof of your car. You don't have to worry about unwieldy branches.

[MrsChemist]

For some reason, my parents always manage to buy a wonky real tree. They usually have to lash it to the handles of the french windows to stop it falling over. With such small children, make absolutely sure it's steady, because they are heavy and bastarding hurt when they fall on you.
They are beautiful though, and do smell wonderful.

[sparklycherrybomb]

i was tempted with a real tree this year. until i saw the price! i dont need to worry about the hoover either as i have laminate so i can sweep it

[Indith]

Real, always real! Get one of the low-drop ones with the nice soft needles and make sure you top up the water every couple of days and it will hardly drop a needle.

[piscesmoon]

A real tree every time! Get one that you choose from a field where it is growing, and it doesn't lose needles. (I can't say that it wouldn't if you start way before Christmas!)

[LolaLadybird]

Definitely real - we have one every year and never had any problem with needles and small children (DS's are 4 and 2). Get one of the good base pots which mean you can plonk them in a reservior of water at the bottom, and as Pisces says, try and get one chopped down freshly. Also, if you can avoid putting it too near a radiator/fire, it will last longer.

The needles can be a pain by the time you get to Jan but I wouldn't change it for anything, the look & smell of a real tree is divine.

[Flightattendant]

I do hate the way the needles fall off in one huge avalanche when you try and get the darn thing outside again...no matter how careful you are, and how few it has lost whilst sitting there!!

But saying that I would not be comfortable with an artificial tree. It's a bit like artificial anything...tudor style houses, stuffed cat on the mantlepiece...what's the point?

I don't mind a really nicely made stylised Christmas tree, like maybe one of those pretty carved wooden ones made of ply that you slot together...they have a right to be there as they look nice. But to have something that's pretending to be real when it's made of special green plastic just seems rather dull.

Can't do without the smell either - Christmas is slightly less exciting for me as an adult but I want my boys to know the smell of a proper tree.

[NancyBotwin]

We always go for real - it's a bit of a tradition now to all go out to buy one from a place near us and carry it home...

I also would probably prefer an unusual one if I was going to go for an artificial one - saw a lovely one in JL recently but think it is out of stock now...

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

Real for me. DH prefers fake, likes the arty type ones, but mostly due to not liking pine needles everywhere.

[kid]

How much do people pay for real trees then?
DH tried to talk me into getting one last year but I wouldn't. I am tempted this year though.

[Squishabelle]

I hate the idea of real trees. Ita artificial all the way for me. Really cant see the point of all these young trees being grown/cut/discarded.

[tribeleader]

Real trees can be a fire hazard as they can dry out if in the house a few weeks

Not had a real tree since we set fire to one in the garden to dispose of it, I have never seen anything so scary in my life. It went up in huge flames in just seconds, will never have another real one after seeing that

[ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave]

We used to have a real living tree in fact still do, but it's getting too heavy to bring inside. And somehow it seems well -- tactless to cut a tree down and parade it in front of the living tree (sort of a "behave yourself, or else this could happen to you" vibe) . And last year we had crawling DD, so it seemed better to avoid needles and we bought a fake one.

[Flightattendant]

Good points about the growing/discarding. That does make me feel sad, but it's just like a crop of cabbages really (or so I am led to believe) in that growing them is very quick, is very good for the air ie creates much oxygen etc, and it isn't like they are cutting down a proper established forect or something - they are crop trees.

The fire thing is scary, we burnt a couple of dead firs last month and boy oh boy did they go up.

For that reason I refuse to have real candles anywhere near our tree! If the house is going to catch fire anyway then it isn't going to make a lot of odds if the tree goes up as well, but I am careful not to leave the lights on when we are out. Gloria Hunniford's tree lights caught fire once when she was out. So listen to her and switch off

Also damp, green trees burn far less easily than dried out ones so just keep it in for a week or two and should be fine - our old neighbours had candles every year on theirs. once I saw a branch catch fire and it just fizzled - he sprayed it with a water spray and it went out. I think they kept it well hydrated.

[paisleyleaf]

Some of the real trees are just the top cut off a really tall tree. And a lot of them are from christmas tree farms. I don't think it's a bad thing.
But if your still bothered about disguarding, you can get live one's that come in a pot with roots and can last several years.

[kickassmama]

We always had real one till ds as born,then decided to get a false one!but we thought if we were going to that then it would have to be a big one.So we went after xmas one year and got a 7ft tall and about 5ft wide fake tree(should have been £120 and we got it for £60)and i have to say it the best tree we have ever had and there is nothing tacky about it.In fact it will gracing my living room in 3 weeks