Are artificial Christmas trees better than real trees? [Day 1]

Albus_Scope

So today is December the first, so that means the start of our annual 12 days of Christmas debates.

It looks like I have the honour of kicking things off this year.  So my question to you is; Do you think artificial tress are better than real Christmas trees? And why do you think so?

Are you a fan of the smell of a real tree, or do you prefer just throwing your artificial tree back in the attic once Christmas is over? Or do you have a tree you bring in from your garden each year? 

Over to you Scope community! 

66Mustang

R.e. the environmental reasons - people say it's bad cutting down a 1 year old tree - but I think it's worth considering the fact that, if it wasn't going to be purchased by someone, it wouldn't have been planted in the first place - so we would have lost a years' worth of negative CO2 impact that the tree had.

That said, we have a real tree but we replant it each year!!!!!  

woodbine

Artificial are certainly less mess, we have had our artificial one for years now, last time we had a real one when the kids were young it was ok after xmas I put it in the car boot to take to the tip and by the time I got there almost every needle had dropped off making a real mess, but the car smelt great for a few weeks 🌲

Albus_Scope

Very good point about the negative CO2 impact there.  I'd love a real planted tree, but with summers getting warmer each year especially in the south, I'm worried it'd end up frying. 

66Mustang

My brother is a tree surgeon, good one too, and very into tree management and health of trees, sustainability etc. so if anyone has any questions about trees and sustainability etc. I would be happy to pass them on!!

Beaver79

I watched something on the TV this morning where you rent a real tree each year then take it back and the nursery plant it again. You can reserve it for the following year if you want that tree again or have another one. Seemed a good idea to me. It was too far from where I live otherwise might have considered this. I prefer a real tree.

Albus_Scope

I've seen the real tree hire, I think that's a great idea, as long as it doesn't cause too much stress on the trees.