Real christmas trees from Asda

[mumofoneAloneandwell]

After vowing never to shop there again due to how shite and overpriced they are, I popped in today 😄

They've got these trees for £15

Theyre between 150 and 180cm, so would expect the lower height

Has anyone bought these? Are they any good?

Ive never had a real tree before and tbh I have fallen out of love with the idea of spending £100 for a good one from a christmas tree farm

Would love some thoughts xx

They'll be fine as long as you buy a lot closer to Xmas. Probably won't hold their needles for ages, or be the best shaped trees, but if you want a real tree and aren't too fussy and they have some left a week or so before Xmas they'll do the job for the festive period.

Why? Buy a fake tree - real trees are an awful waste and in the current climate crisis is it really necessary?

Actually there are arguments that they are ok for environment because they are grown for x years, pulling carbon from air. The farms are large and apparently pull quite a lot as well as provide habitat for many creatures. As long as you don't burn them after....

Except there are real arguments not to including the transport and loss of wildlife when they are cut down. The environmental impact is greater for a real tree.

I'm sorry but this is just completely wrong.

https://earth.org/real-vs-fake-christmas-tree-environmental-impact/
https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/protect-water-and-land/land-and-water-stories/real-vs-fake-christmas-tree/

If disposed of properly, real trees are still the most Eco-friendly option, instead to a plastic tree, produced and shipped half way around the world. Best case scenario, you keep your artificial tree for 12-20 years(the average for keeping an artificial tree is only 7-10 years), it would have a lower carbon footprint, but still have a worse environmental footprint as it still is not degradable and does not support sustainable forestry.

Absolute best option, if the climate crisis is your priority is to have a real tree, potted, and re-use for a few years, keeping it in your garden and taking care of it.

@Hiptothisjivei think that the majority of reputable organisations say that a real tree grown and sourced locally and properly disposed of is better than fake.

https://sheffield.ac.uk/news/real-vs-fake-sustainable-christmas-tree-debate

Research from the University of Sheffield.

I don’t think there’s anything to compare with a real xmas tree, but if you buy one now, it will be bald long before Christmas. I’ve never put a real tree up
lore than a couple of days before Christmas and there is still a sea of needles by 12th night.

Needles don’t generally drop on modern Christmas trees, they distribute a different genus to the ones you can run your fingers over and take off all the needles which we had as kids. Keep it watered and it should be fine. I love a real tree and would not have a fake.

Either are pretty bad actually but from earth.org

You forgot the part that didnt agree with your point just the part that wanted to prove wrong what I said.

Real isn’t better either….

Moreover, the high demand for Christmas trees disrupts their native ecosystems. Farmers must allocate substantial resources to nurture these trees under optimal conditions before harvesting. In regions where certain tree species are non-native, the extensive use of water, herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides to promote tree growth not only harms the local environment but also disrupts the natural balance. Human-introduced plantations can lead to severe environmental disturbances and even trigger natural disasters. In essence, the exorbitant demand for Christmas trees exacts a toll on the original ecosystems, highlighting the environmental costs imposed by our societal craving for these festive symbols.

If you buy now keep it outside until nearer the big day. We always have a real tree and you have to love them for their idiosyncrasies! We now buy a cheaper one and if you cut the bottom off, sit it in water then it will last.

Its honestly a lot of faff 😭

Iirc the real eco difference comes in when plastic ones are uses for decades. Honestly, very few things last that nowadays.
Re transport - shipping trees from chinese factory is also not particularly green...

When it's proper freezing. We uses to keep ours in bucket of water outside when I was young and end up having to melt bucket shaped block of ice every year before we could take the three in😂
Heat lamp was good!

But you started off by saying in reply to the OP that she should buy fake because of the environmental impact. Not don’t buy either because they’re both bad. Even your own link says real trees are better than fake.

Fake trees are awful. Real trees all the way here!

I buy one from Asda every year. They’re really good. I’ve already bought this year’s. I put them in a bucket of water in the garage and get it out 10 days or so before Christmas. They’re always brilliant. I can’t believe we used to spend £40 on one every year. It’s about the only thing that’s cheaper now than then!

Real trees are much better for the environment than fake trees. Growing trees, chopping them down and growing new trees is one of the best ways to trap carbon from the atmosphere.

I'm gonna have to buy a cheap one now as ive overspent on black friday 😅

Already have a pencil tree up so will put fairy lights around the flat and buy a cheap one on the 15th or something, hopefully it lasts 🤞

And then if they're shredded and used as compost in forests and woods that's also good. Or where I live they're used for sand dune growth to help prevent flooding.

Used a real potted tree for 10 years - saved loads.

Girls, I abandoned this idea 😄

The idea of buying a stand and then the tree, it all got too much and I bought a 7ft pre lit fake one from very on sale for £65!

For future reference OP, I get one like this from Asda, Home Bargains or similar every year- never pay more than £15. Have never had a bad one, always look lovely and keep them up from beginning of December all the way through to 12th night. Minimum needles drop and they always last well!