It has become a beloved custom for families to decorate their Christmas trees together as the holiday season approaches. This enjoyable tradition is a great way to get into the Christmas mood and enjoy this festive time.
Decorating Christmas trees not only brings people together but also serves to strengthen their relationships with one another over the years.
The time spent together as a family decorating the tree, from selecting the most meaningful ornaments to hanging the brightest lights, is a treasured memory of the holiday season.
Keeping this in mind, it’s not surprising that many households seek evergreen Christmas trees that can be used year after year. The search for the perfect Christmas tree may be both a thrilling and challenging experience.
Given the variety of choices in the market, an organized approach is necessary for selecting the best Christmas tree for your home sweet home!
To help you make a purchase that will bring beauty and an undeniable Christmas vibe to your holiday festivities, we’ll go over some of the many considerations you should consider while shopping for a Christmas tree.
Determine Your Preference: Real or Artificial?
It is always up to you to decide whether you want a real or artificial Christmas tree. Both options have their unique qualities that set them different from one another.
Let’s have a shortlist of the considerations of which variant is perfect for your preferences.
To help visualize the distinction between the two, consider the following table:
| Factors to Consider | Real Christmas Tree | Artificial Christmas Tree |
| Cost | About $50 | About $100 |
| Standard Post-Purchase Lifespan | A few weeks | Around 10 Years |
| Production | Made from Pine, Spruce, or Fir Tree | Made from Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Plastic |
| Fire Risk | Flammable | Fire-retardant but not Fire-resistant |
| Pine Smell | Has Pine Smell | Do not have Pine Smell |
Size and Space Considerations
One of the most important things to consider when picking out a Christmas tree is how much space it will need. When purchasing a Christmas tree, the buyer’s tastes should be considered when choosing the ideal size and placement.
The buyer’s Christmas tree must fit in their house easily without blocking any doorways or furniture. It is also essential to consider the ceiling height so that decorating the tree doesn’t cause any hassles or mishaps.
A smaller tree may be preferable in a smaller room or one with lower ceilings to maintain a sense of balance and proportion. Others choose bigger trees because they look better in larger spaces with higher ceilings and make a stronger statement.
- The most popular size for a real Christmas tree is between 7 and 7.5 feet tall and 56 inches wide.
- Artificial Christmas trees, on the other hand, are typically between 7 and 7 1/2 feet tall and 56 and 64 inches wide.
Most homes with 9-foot ceilings can accommodate and decorate a standard Christmas tree of this height and width without needing a ladder or much bending or straining.
Freshness and Quality
Compared to its artificial equivalent, a real Christmas tree requires more time and effort to keep alive and well.
Keeping the Freshness of a Real Christmas Tree
Many people hold dear the yearly custom of decorating their homes with real Christmas trees. However, it is important to remember that these trees are living things that demand regular watering to keep them healthy and free of flammable debris.
Regular watering to keep the trees from drying out is essential to the routine care and maintenance of genuine Christmas trees.
Real Christmas trees also lose moisture quickly after being cut and brought indoors. Since the tree can’t get water from the ground anymore, it must rely on the moisture in its leaves and branches.
Without enough water, the tree’s needles dry up, become brown and lose their lustrous green color and other desirable characteristics.
Some trees, especially those that lose their needles, need maintenance more than others. While these trees are stunning, they can shed needles over time, requiring consistent cleanup to keep the area tidy.
Needle dropping is a regular occurrence for these trees and should not be seen as a sign of any problems. Instead, it is a natural part of their development process. However, it’s important to remember that this shedding may happen any time of year, depending on the tree type.
Storing and Keeping the Quality of an Artificial Christmas Tree
Artificial trees retain their needles as genuine evergreens do and don’t need as much maintenance; some even arrive pre-lit!
While a natural evergreen may be put out with the trash after the holidays are over, an artificial tree must be put away and stored until next year. Putting your artificial Christmas tree away correctly can guarantee that it lasts for many more holiday seasons in beautiful shape.
Here are some tips for preserving the life of your artificial Christmas tree:
- Carefully untangle the tree of any strands of tinsel or garland and remove all of the ornaments and other decorations on the Christmas Tree.
- Remove dust from its branches by wiping them down with a damp towel or using a vacuum with a duster attachment.
- Once the tree is clean and bare of ornaments, dismantle it gently, branch by branch, taking care not to break or bend any branches.
- Put the branches in a big, robust bag or box, ensuring enough room for each.
- Keep the tree in a dry, cool place to avoid any problems with humidity or temperature.
By following these instructions, you can keep your artificial Christmas tree in pristine shape for years to come. For more details and Christmas tree care tips, check out our Tips for Caring for Your Tree section!
Tree Shape and Fullness
Additional Considerations
When it comes to choosing the ideal Christmas tree for your home, take note of these other considerations you should know about:
Environmental Impact
When it comes to ecology, real Christmas trees are the way to go.
Even though it goes against common sense, annually chopping down a real tree is the most environmentally responsible option. This is due to the inherent sustainability of most small-scale Christmas tree farms, which only harvest from specific locations to allow younger trees to mature.
In addition, when the holidays are over, genuine Christmas trees may be reused as much or composted since they decompose so quickly. This practice aids in trash reduction and soil nutrient recycling.
Economic Impact
Investing in local tree farms protects both the environment and the income of local farmers. In the United States, the Christmas tree business provides full or part-time employment for more than 100,000 individuals.
For every harvested Christmas tree, local tree farms often replant two to four saplings as a commitment to sustainability. In contrast, China is home to most of the world’s artificial Christmas tree factories.
In either case, purchasing Christmas trees greatly impacts the local economy, creating jobs for professionals and supporting the livelihood of local farmers.
Availability
Both choices are conveniently sold by various retailers, from department shops and supermarkets to specialty boutiques and even street-side stands selling Christmas trees.
These stores ensure that consumers with varying means and tastes have easy access to various products.
In addition, the fact that these alternatives may be purchased at several different retail establishments makes it easy for customers to locate them in their chosen places.
Final Thoughts
The tradition of getting a Christmas tree is one that many families look forward to as the holiday season draws near.
Selecting the right Christmas tree and decorating it with ornaments and lights is a beloved yearly tradition for many people. The air is heavy with the fragrance of pine, setting the mood for joyful festivities with friends and family.
There’s a lot of diversity in Christmas trees, but ultimately it comes down to the taste of the family doing the shopping.
While some households may choose the traditional appearance of a tall, full evergreen tree, others may prefer a more compact option. Each family’s Christmas tree reflects their own taste and flair, lending a special touch to the holiday.
Want to know more about Christmas trees? Get in touch with me to find out all you need to know to get the best Christmas tree!
Feel free to call me anytime at (310)276–9827 or send an email to info@mrgreentrees.com to book an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Selecting the perfect Christmas tree for the holiday season calls for some serious thought and planning.
The tree should not only look well in its intended spot but also complement the house’s interior decor. The beauty and stress-free enjoyment of the holidays may be ensured by paying attention to details like needle retention, aroma, and simplicity of care.
Individuals have different tastes when it comes to picking out a Christmas tree. Some people are naturally attracted to the earthy beauty of trees, while others go toward a more modern, minimalist style.
Choosing the perfect Christmas tree is based on your personal taste and preferences.
The Fraser Fir is universally recognized as the best-loved kind of Christmas tree. The pyramidal shape of the Fraser fir, native to North America, is achieved by the tree’s sturdy branches and slightly twisted needles.
