Today I am trying the answer the question if real or artificial holiday trees are better? Over the years, the quality of artificial holiday trees has drastically improved.
As a child, I remember we would always buy a real tree and the smell of pine would be throughout the house.
It took a bit of work to set the tree up as the bottom usually had to be recut. Then the tree would be positioned in an old red and green tree stand with three rusty large screws. The stand would always slightly wobble and you had to be careful when you filled the basin with water.
Lastly, my mom brought out all the all decorations from the previous years including the paper ones we had made in school. One year I painted live oak puff “balls” in pink for the tree. We hung everything on the tree in no particular pattern and then threw sliver tinsel at the tree. We thought it looked magical when we plugged in the cord.
Artificial Trees
As an adult, when I first began to put up my Christmas tree, it was a real one. I then slowly shifted to an artificial tree to help save the hardwood floors. At the end of the holiday, there were no pine needles to sweep up.
My first artificial tree was a huge one with multiple color-coded branches. It took at least eight hours to correctly set it up and decorate. It was too huge for the area it was in, so there was always a few back branches that never got put in. The thing is, the tree looked artificial and occasionally a branch would fall off.
Today after looking at some fabulous artificial trees, I had to touch the branches to see if they were real.
This gorgeous artificial tree, (photographed below), was for sale at my favorite garden shop. Each branch is pre-light so there is no fussing with any light cords. To my eye, It looks about as real as it gets. The tag states it is a Tree Art Highland Fir at 7.5 feet tall priced at $1,699.99.
This awesome artificial Christmas tree is located in the greenhouse with live poinsettias in the background.
Two smaller white or “snow covered” trees caught my eye.
The below photograph shows two artificial Tree Art Alpine Fir slim trees. The taller tree is 7.5 feet tall and is priced at $849.99.
I love these white “snow covered” artificial trees. The slim-line configuration will fit into a lot of small narrow spaces and apartments.
Finally, for those who want a little something different, they have an artificial upside down holiday tree.
This Christmas tree is fully decorated with a variety of ornaments from ferns, ribbons, and mini gardening watering cans.
Real Trees
I headed outside to check out the real or fresh trees. It was already busy with customers picking out their trees and then securing them to their vehicles for the ride home.
I asked Michael, one of the sales associates, about the curious hole drilled into the center base of each tree. Michael told me the hole is to help mount the trees for display and keeps them straight.
The real trees are carefully stacked together and priced.
So, the below photographed Fraser Fir tree is a tall 11 to 12 footer and priced at $695, but you will need an extremely tall place for it to fit in.
This garden center has a variety of trees, sizes and prices to select from.
Real or Artificial Trees?
After thinking about it, this is a decision that only you can make. Real or fresh trees smell great but require some care and need to be disposed of after the holidays. Artificial trees last for years and certainly now look like real trees.
I’m thinking, what blog about Christmas trees would be complete with Santa in a red and white suit?
Have a great start to the holiday season.
Happy Early Holidays Everyone!
A Big Thank You to Daniel of Merrifield Garden Center for allowing me to blog and take photographs of their wonderful store full of unique merchandise.
All fresh and artificial trees plus other items in this blog, are available for purchase at Merrifield Garden Center.
Also, a special thank you to Michael, that nice sales associate in the fresh tree department, with a big smile for all his customers!