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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

Real v fake tree

20 replies

pud1 · 26/10/2011 10:42

just wondering what you all prefer. I normally have a real tree but thinking of getting a fake one this year.

OP posts:

ThePumpkinKing · 26/10/2011 10:50

Real, every time.

Fake would be miles cheaper, but a real tree and a huge turkey with loads of leftovers are my Christmas must-haves.

I love the buying, and choosing, and smelling, and lugging home of a real tree.

We didn't have a car last year, and Homebase is 5 miles away - that was fun!

GoEasyPudding · 26/10/2011 10:52

This is my big question too!
Pros and cons, pros and cons!

I used to say the smell was important but over the last few years I would say my real trees havent had any smell at all.

We had a real tree that lasted 3 years as we planted it in the garden each time and then dug it up when required. It looked quite done in by year 3 though!

Last year I saw friends that had a wonderful, pricey fake tree, and it looked so, so, good dressed I thought I would go down that route, but for some reason I am finding the choice really hard.

I have very happy memories of my grandparents fake tree in the late 70's and early 80's, it was bright white! I loved it!

GooseyLoosey · 26/10/2011 10:52

I love my fake tree. I am a bit of a perfectionist and real ones are just never a tidy enough shape for me!

Original poster

pud1 · 26/10/2011 10:54

I defiantly agree about the smell of a real tree and have also noticed that the last one did not smell

OP posts:

startail · 26/10/2011 10:56

Real because of the smell and the challenge of decorating them. Each one is different, and given I have far too many glass baubles , they all present their challenges.
I could have a fake tree with nice strong evenly spaced branches, but it would be boring.

GooseyLoosey · 26/10/2011 10:56

Boring, but neat.

WhereTheWildThingsWere · 26/10/2011 10:57

Real, far more eco friendly and I love the smell.

hellhasnofury · 26/10/2011 11:00

Fake-unless I want DD to leave home (now there's a plan).

SjuperWereWolef · 26/10/2011 11:03

cant stand real trees - my aunt used to have giant 8 /10 footers and i hated them as a kid, i bought a delicious fake that has its own wee basket to stand in at dds first xmas and cant part with it now - best 30 quid i ever spent when it comes to xmas economy! [hsmile] this year'll be its 7th outing

LordOfTheFlies · 26/10/2011 11:08

We buy real- it just doesn't seem right to have fake. And they are a sustainable source, grown for the purpose, replanted, hopefully recycled and provide an industry for the growers.
There, that's the Ethical Side dealt with.

We did buy a potted tree 3 years ago (it's in a bigger pot in the garden) but it won't grow taller because the top is lopped.Didn't notice this when I bought it.It has grown bigger but outwards not upwards.

It has some lovely blue solar lights on it all year round.And at Christmas it can sit on the patio table so I can admire it from the kitchen. Aaaaahh!

thesurgeonsmate · 26/10/2011 11:09

Why do you hate real trees SjuperWW?

SjuperWereWolef · 26/10/2011 11:15

the needles - even the trees that have 'non falling' needles still have the bjuggers and oh the smell i really dislike the smell of the outdoors i cant even hang the washing out for long in case the smell gets on them then i feel a bit sicky.

i am a complete wierdo tho [hgrin]

worldgonecrazy · 26/10/2011 11:17

Real, the most perfect specimen I can find, even if it means getting 50 trees out and looking at them from 360 degrees.

Then home and spending 4 hours decorating it.

Moblem · 26/10/2011 11:21

I prefer fake, because I don't like all the mess / dropped pines with real trees. Also, real trees are always so oddly shaped, that they never look right.

However, DH insists on a real tree these days. He says that the smell is better, although like goeasy and pud, I can't actually distinguish a real tree smell, and the past few years we have resorted to yankee candles instead.

That said, I let him win because now I have too many glass baubles and only a real tree can hold the weight.

cece · 26/10/2011 11:23

Fake - no question - they just look better.

Liliana1 · 26/10/2011 11:25

Real, every time.

I'm the same as worldgonecrazy - look at every tree, from every angle. DH tutting and saying 'just choose one' and then, 'I'll be in the pub let me know when you've decided'.

Then you get home, put it in a bucket and DH lies on the floor turning tiny degrees left and right until it looks perfect in every direction.

Then decorating begins .....

I love it, this is a huge part of christmas for me, but I have lovely memories of doing the same thing with my mum and dad.

On the down side I did find a needle that stabbed me in the foot a few weeks ago - you never get rid of them

cece · 26/10/2011 12:16

The best bit about a fake tree is you can pop a bin bag over the top of it when xmas is finished. Put it in loft/shed and then next xmas just take it out of storage, lift bag off of it and you are ready to go! No need to decorate as they are already there ready to plug in the lights!

Original poster

pud1 · 26/10/2011 17:38

Right I have decided. Real again for me. I forgot all the fun I have pissing oh off at the garden centre making him drag them all out so I can choosqe

OP posts:

MonsterCherry · 26/10/2011 17:45

i had real for the first time last year and loved it. not sure about this year yet as i now have a 7 month old moggy.

izzybiz · 26/10/2011 17:48

We've always had real trees, but the last 2-3 years they have been dry twigs by the big day, despite watering everyday, keeping the heating down etc.

This year I want this

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