Help me decide whether I should be a new artificial tree for Xmas or go for the real thing.

[pepsi]

I know its a bit early but our artificial tree has been annoying me for years, its always wonky and this year I thought we would buy a new one. Looked in John Lewis at the weekend and the trend now seems to be artificial trees with the lights already on, as convenient as it all is I still miss the real trees we used to have when we lived in a house with a wooden floor, since moving 7 years ago to a fully carpeted house we have avoided real trees so as to avoid needles all over the place. Christmas hasnt been the same for me without a real tree. DH wants a fake one because he doesnt like the effort involved in buying the real one...and the argument which usually goes with it.....pro's and cons please ...would prefer pros so I can feel justified in want my heart wants. Are real trees a real pain on carpets.

yes christmas trees are grown on renewable farms.... each one cut down is replaced by another.

For every real Christmas tree harvested, 2 to 3 seedlings are planted in its place. The average six foot Christmas tree will take six years to grow,

that is from here

It says up to 15 years for some species! And in any case, that's even worse! You're cutting down a tree just beginning it's life! A mere child of the tree world! How could you????

What about real trees rooted in pots brought in for yuletide.

I spose they feel cramped claustrophobic do they?

Message withdrawn

I also love the smell of a real tree but I use an artificial one
looking at gettin a 6ft white fibre optic one this year

i don't... someone does it for me

QueenVictoria, that's like taking a wild gorilla and keeping it as a pet! Trees should be out there, growing in the wild, providing oxygen to all! Oh yeah, that's another thing, dying trees give out poisonous gases too! So there!

I tried one uprooted and put in a pot but it was a con because they clipped the roots in order to fit it in the pot so it died anyway.

What (if any) kind of tree will you have then, Rhubarb?

Rhubarb, what about the young beans being picked, the brocolli, or indeed the young rhubarb harvested?

Has anyone read Little Tree by E E Cummings?

That definitely makes me feel bad about having a real tree.

Which poisonous gases are they then Rhubarb ??

Carbon something or other.

Christmas is banned in our house, far too cheerful!

very deadly that carbon stuff you know

Get a real tree - my DH has planted hundreds in his time - help keep poor forestry students in beer money. They are planted like a crop, all beit a slow growing one.

Every tree has it's own unique personality......
sniff, just thinking of all those little fir trees oblivious to what is about to happen, sniff!

Yeah - its exactly like pet gorillas rhubarb.

never mind real v artificial how do you keep a 17 mo toddler from demolishing it???

put it in a playpen
tree btw not child

middle class people have real trees.

my trusty five footer is still going strong after a few years...but ive lost all the plastic branch ends...they look like rabbit poo...sorry thats no real help is it? a real one wouldnt fit in my house and dd is nasty at the best of times...just imagine her with a few pine needles.....