Real or fake Christmas tree? Share your opinions with Homebase for a chance to win a £300 Homebase voucher. NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

‘Tis the season once again. With Christmas on its way, Homebase is keen to get Mumsnetters’ views on the pros and cons of getting a real or fake tree.

Here’s what they have to say: “The Christmas tree is at the heart of everyone’s Christmas look but where do you stand on the annual dilemma - real or fake? Are you a fan of the fresh pine scent and traditional feel you only get from a real tree? Or do you go for a versatile artificial tree most years? Let us know if you go as far as ‘lights included’ or if your fake tree came already snow-tipped and adorned with berries and cones. Tell us all about your trees from over the years, whether you decide on authentic or artificial this Christmas and any tips you have on caring for real trees.”

So what do you think? Does the authentic smell of a real tree win you over? Or are smaller artificial trees better suited to your home? Do you get your family's much-loved tree out of the loft each year or is it a Christmas tradition to go together and choose one? Does real or fake really matter to you and your family?

Whatever your opinion, Homebase wants to know.

We’ll enter everyone who posts on this thread into a prize draw to win a £300 Homebase voucher.

Thanks and good luck.
MNHQ

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I would love a real tree like I always had as a child but unfortunately I have not got enough space so it is fake for me!

I've always had a fake tree - it is an expensive one which looks very real though!

We have a main artificial one for me to decorate and a small real one for Dd to decorate.

We always get a real tree - we don't have much room (or money!) so we have to pick the tiniest one they have usually - and we like getting sad looking ones that are a bit wonky because we give them a loving home! Now the three kids are all at uni, we have to wait until they're all home for Christmas until we get it, because it's a family tradition to choose it together.

Real every time. They look so much nicer!

Fake....but a good quality fake.

We did go down the route of a real tree one year, but after having lost several million pine needles off it dragging it from the boot of the car, then having to cut several branches off it to get it in the living room, then having to tie it to the curtain pole to stop it leaning in the stand, and the obvious hoovering needles up until the following Christmas, we didn't do it again.

I love real trees the smell of pine always reminds me of christmas when I was young.

Real Christmas Tree, can't beat the smell of them in my opinion!

Going to be a bit of a challenge this year as we have a new Labrador puppy who is very 'playful' - will have to keep an eye on her around the Christmas Tree and no presents can be left underneath without supervision as she will have them too! :)

We have always had a fake tree

Always used to be a real tree but with the mess etc especially with little ones and pets around I now use a fake tree which I got for free. It was being thrown out at work [it was only 2 years old!!] and not a cheap one, I know caus I was the one who was asked to go and buy it for the office originally.

My employers signed a contract with a company to decorate the offices at Christmas so they threw everything Christmassy out so I nabbed it as no one could be bothered to lug a 8 foot tree home :)

I love a real tree but since getting the dog we've had to have fake. It's not quite the same though.

Always had fake trees even when i was a child, think its just the hassle of disposing of real trees plus the environment x

We have always had a fake one but since recently gutting and renovating our house, i fancy a 'real' one this year.

we always had a real tree up to 2 years ago, I would love it for the first few days but by the time Christmas Day came it was starting to look not so good and in the end I bought a really good fake one which i have been really happy with for the last 2 years and am looking forward to getting it out again

we have a fake one its been part of our christmases since 1999

I would love a real tree someday but they are just to expensive for our budget so we have to make do with the £2.50 one i brought 20 odd years ago.

Fake for me....I am allergic to christmas trees :(

Fake, real ones are a total waste of land, fertilizer, manpower,

We always get a real living potted tree which we've planted out in the gardens of various houses over the years (they didn't all live!). Because we don't put our tree up until a week-10 days before Christmas there's usually not too much of a problem with needle droppage. They have become quite expensive but for me going out and getting the tree really signals the real start of the festive season.

Real.

Real.

Easy decision - fake one in our house! (with built-in LED lights - looks so much better than a real one!)

We had a real one for the first time last year, we thought it was a decent size. When we opened it up, it flopped, it was MASSIVE. Anyway, it was a lovely tree but we've decided to use the fake one again this year after it's year off!

Fake as can't be doing with the pine needles.

For the last few years real. We did it up roots and all pop it in a pot then after Christmas we replant it. Will continue doing so until it is too big for our house.