Real or Fake Christmas Tree? The Pros, Cons, and a Side-by-Side
O Christmas Tree! We explore the pros and cons and of having a real tree versus artificial for the holidays.
Quick Reference: Real vs Fake Christmas Tree
- The U.S. split: about 80 percent of decorated households use an artificial tree; about 20 percent put up a real cut tree (Real Christmas Tree Board).
- Carbon footprint: the artificial tree wins only after about 10 years of reuse. Most are tossed at 6 to 9 years.
- Best real species: Fraser fir holds needles longest; Douglas fir smells strongest; balsam fir is a classic Northeast pick.
- Cost: a real tree runs $60 to $100 (U.S. national average), an artificial tree $80 to $300+, lasting 6 to 10 years.
- How long it stays up: typically the day after Thanksgiving to early January; 4 to 6 weeks total.
- Fire safety: watered real trees are very safe. Dry ones are not. Check the reservoir daily.
It is the time of year when we have to make a big holiday decision: what type of Christmas tree will you put up this year? Not everyone decorates with a tree, but those who do face a choice between a real cut tree and an artificial Christmas tree. The Real Christmas Tree Board’s industry data tracks the running U.S. tally.
For many families, a real tree at Christmas is important. In fact, some family traditions are to not only have a real tree but to actually head into the woods on their property (or on a tree farm) and cut the perfect one down and bring it home. So the act of getting the real tree is as important as having it in the living room.
In the 60s, 70s, and 80s, artificial trees looked, well, fake. They were skinny, had big gaps between limbs, and they smelled like plastic. In the last few decades, artificial trees have come a long way and look (and some even smell) more like the real thing.
A recent survey found that over half of American homes will display artificial trees and about 17 percent will have a real tree to make their season bright. The tree goes up right after Thanksgiving Day, and it comes down 4 to 6 weeks later.
Here are some pros and cons of having a real tree versus an artificial one.
Real Trees
PROS:
- Real trees are grown on farms, so you are supporting a local farmer.
- Before harvest, the conifers serve as habitat for birds, insects, and other wildlife.
- One acre of a real tree farm produces enough oxygen for 18 people a day.
- At the end of the season, unsold cut trees are composted and recycled for mulch or used as soil erosion barriers.
- Nothing beats the smell of a real tree to get you in the holiday spirit.
CONS:
- They are usually grown with pesticides.
- If not properly watered, they are a fire hazard.
- They leave a blanket of needles that have to be vacuumed up.
- You can bring ticks inside your home. Many tree vendors have a “tree shaker” to combat this problem. But if you cut it down yourself, you run a greater risk.
Artificial Trees
PROS:
- Artificial trees are reusable, year after year.
- No messy needles.
- Modern artificial trees look real.
CONS:
- They do not smell amazing like real, fresh trees do.
- They are made of PVC, a plastic that releases harmful chemicals during manufacture.
- They never biodegrade, so they will always be an environmental burden once they end up in a landfill.
Real vs Fake at a Glance
| Factor | Real tree | Artificial tree |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $60 to $100 | $80 to $300+ |
| Useful life | One season | 6 to 10 seasons (average) |
| Carbon break-even | n/a | Reuse ~10 years to beat real |
| Mess | Needles, sap, sometimes ticks | None |
| Smell | Strong fresh pine/fir | None (some come scented) |
| Setup | Stand, fresh cut, water reservoir | Assemble pre-lit sections |
| Disposal | Curbside mulching in most cities | Landfill, will not break down |
| Fire risk | High if dry; very low if watered | Low; depends on lights |
How to Keep a Real Tree Fresh (and Safe)
- Buy fresh. Bend a needle; it should snap, not bend like rubber. Shake the tree; only old needles should drop.
- Re-cut the trunk. Slice 1/2 inch off the bottom right before you put it in the stand. Sap seals over within hours of the original cut.
- Water daily. A 6-foot tree drinks up to a gallon a day for the first week. Plain water; nothing fancy. The stand must never run dry.
- Keep heat off it. Heating vents, fireplaces, sunny windows, and electronics dry needles fast.
- Inspect lights. LED strings run cool; old incandescents get hot. Check for frayed wires.
- Take it down by mid-January. Even a watered tree dries out by week 4 or 5.
Tree day, planned around the weather
Avoid a sleet-day cut-your-own.
The Farmers’ Almanac extended forecast tells you whether the choose-and-cut weekend will be sun, sleet, or storm.
Christmas Tree FAQ
Is a real or fake Christmas tree better for the environment?
It depends on how long you keep the fake tree. A PVC artificial tree breaks even with one real tree per year only after about 10 years of reuse. Most are thrown out before that, so a real, locally grown, composted tree wins for most households.
Which real tree species lasts longest?
Fraser fir holds needles best, often four weeks of strong retention. Noble fir is a close second. Douglas fir smells strongest but drops needles sooner.
When should I put up my Christmas tree?
Most American families put trees up the weekend after Thanksgiving and take them down on or before January 6 (Epiphany). A real tree lasts about 4 to 6 weeks indoors if watered well.
How much water does a real tree need?
A 6-foot tree drinks up to a gallon a day in the first week, slowing to a quart or two as the season wears on. Plain tap water. Never let the stand run dry; sap will seal the trunk and the tree will stop drinking.
Can I really get ticks from a Christmas tree?
Rarely, but yes. Most farm trees are mechanically shaken before sale. If you cut your own from the woods, shake it hard, let it sit in the garage for a day, and inspect the trunk for hitchhikers.
How do I dispose of a real tree?
Most U.S. cities offer curbside pickup or drop-off mulching sites in early January. Strip lights and tinsel first. Tree-cycled mulch often goes to local parks.
Are artificial Christmas trees safe?
Modern artificial trees are flame retardant by U.S. fire code. The PVC manufacture, however, can release dioxins, and some imported older trees contain lead in the needle stems. A real tree, kept watered, is at least as safe.
Tell Us
If you decorate with a tree for the holidays, what kind of tree do you have in your home, real or fake? And when does it go up, and when do you take it down? Share your stories below.
For more holiday reading, see our companion guides: cut your own Christmas tree, mistletoe facts and lore, and who was Saint Nick?.
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This article was published by the Staff at FarmersAlmanac.com. Any questions? Contact us at questions@farmersalmananac.com.
- Farmers' Almanac Staff
- Farmers' Almanac Staff
- Farmers' Almanac Staff
- Farmers' Almanac Staff
Our tree is artificial but it is as much a tradition as any other part of our Christmas. It holds many memories from the time it was bought to every year it goes up. we have been using it for some 35 years. It usually goes up first week of Dec. and comes down new years day.
I have had a real tree for 45 yrs. .Hubby and I cut it down ourselves and drag it out of the bush! My sister and I did the same thing with our parents…cut it down and drag it out! Nothing like the fresh smell of a real balsam in the house!
I grew up in FL, so no real tree. The first time I saw a Christmas tree farm in TN I was simply in awe. (I mean, where did I think real trees on lots came from?) So I’ve had artificial trees most of my life for the practicality (in FL) and the ease of use elsewhere. The first time I had a real tree was in Louisiana, we went to a tree farm and picked one out and they cut it down for us – that was such an awesome thing to do for me, I’ll never forget the experience. But I find I like the fake trees because you can bend and mold the branches to suit your ornaments. Real trees seem to sag with the weight of ornaments. I bought some Scentsicles at Walmart last year that say they are ‘White Winter Fir’ and they smell amazing. You hang them on the fake tree and you can’t even see them, they blend in, but the area around the tree smells real. So I get the best of both without the fuss of watering it, and cleaning up needles and worrying about a fire.
We do real trees. I grew up cutting trees every year and have carried on the tradition with my daughter. She picks the tree and I cut it down. Usually Thanksgiving weekend and comes down the day after Christmas. Now that she is in college it is harder to carry on the tradition but we are trying.
Since I am allergic to real trees, no brainer. When I last tried to decorate a real tree, everywhere it touched left a red swollen spot on my skin. I miss the smell of a real tree but not Benadryl for Christmas.
The ornaments I have chosen to collect (mostly Hallmark) are too heavy for a real tree. Fake trees are sturdier. They do shed almost as bad as a real tree when they are new, but save a small fortune every year in replacement costs.
Fake since 1984. That is the year my 12 yr old daughter and her 3 sisters took down my real tree the day after Christmas.
They learned fire safety in school, and became paranoid.
I miss the real trees. Loved the Balsam trees and the fragrance.
Real tree with a 14 day limit in the house keep watered with just a touch of suger in the water
I have two silver trees one from the 1950 and one from 2010 it goes up the week of Xmas and comes down after January first this year later because of money bhaiut it will go up happy holidays everyone
Real. Family tradition. I grew up cutting tree down. Raised my girls the same way. Now my daughter is carrying on tradition in her family. We go the first weekend in December.