More consumers see virtues of faux firs
By Kathryn McKenzie Nichols
Knight Ridder News Service
For the environmentally minded, Christmas trees pose a peculiar dilemma.
Should one buy a cut tree, only to chuck its carcass a few weeks later? Or should you buy the artificial version, which in addition to not being real and not giving off that wonderful evergreen aroma, is not likely to ever decompose in a landfill?
Ersatz or real tree pros and cons
Cut tree
Advantages:
• Fits with tradition.
• Smells nice.
• Finding the perfect tree is fun for families.
• "Nothing like the real thing."
• Supports tree farmers.
• Trees, while growing, put oxygen in atmosphere and can prevent soil erosion.
• Can be mulched when Christmas is over.
Disadvantages:
• Can be a fire hazard if allowed to dry out.
• Drops needles; messy.
• A hassle to bring home and then discard.
• May aggravate allergies in some people.
• You have to kill it to bring it home.
Artificial tree
Advantages:
• Can be used over and over.
• Less expensive than buying a tree each year.
• Often less hassle, quicker to purchase and set up.
• Lights already installed on some versions.
• If used for many years, doesn't add to landfill.
Disadvantages:
• Not the "real thing"; may not look right to some.
• Storage space needed to keep it for the next year.
• Made from petroleum products, a nonrenewable resource.
• Difficult to recycle.
It's a tricky issue, particularly now that artificial trees have become widely available, can be found in a plethora of sizes and varieties, and are much better-looking than they were in years past.
Plus — and this is a big, big plus for many of us — the lights are permanently attached.
With real trees, "I think a lot of people are just tired putting the lights on, taking them off and then throwing out a dead tree," said Jane Brinton, buyer/manager at Brinton's Home & Garden store in Carmel, Calif.
Brinton says the popularity of artificial trees is on the rise.
"Last year I sold more (artificial) trees than I ever had, and this year I've already sold more," she said.
As with many stores that carry the faux firs, many different varieties and sizes are available. Brinton's has seven types of evergreens in heights ranging from 5 to 12 feet, and trees up to 16 feet tall may be special-ordered.
Most large chain stores sell artificial Christmas trees. So do some home improvement stores.
Artificial trees are nothing new. In fact, they've been around since the late 1800s, when some were made of wire and feathers dyed green. Between 1900 and 1950, many were manufactured for use in hotels, stores and homes of the wealthy.
The current artificial trees resemble their living cousins, down to the needles. A few years ago, it was easy to tell them apart. But the quality has improved significantly. The way they're put together has also changed for the better. Now many have hinged branches so they are easier and quicker to set up.
Brinton said that those who want to buy an artificial tree should pay attention to the number of lights and the number of tips. If you can find one with a warranty, so much the better, since many don't have one.
Prices range from around $20 for the very bottom-of-the-line tree and go on up, usually running to hundreds of dollars for a nice-looking, large specimen.
As for the smell — or lack thereof — people can buy cans of pine scent to spray on the tree. Brinton recommends getting a few real garlands to provide the aroma.
The trend toward artificial trees apparently has distressed those who grow and sell the real thing. It's also the subject of debate in online forums.
The Web site www.christmas-trees.com notes that "Christmas tree farms stabilize soil, protect water supplies and provide refuge for wildlife while creating scenic green belts. Often, Christmas trees are grown on soils that could not support other crops. A benefit to the atmosphere, real Christmas trees absorb carbon dioxide and other gases, emitting fresh oxygen. One acre of Christmas trees produces the daily oxygen requirement for 18 people."
In addition, many artificial trees are manufactured overseas, while real trees are grown right here at home.
Yet another alternative would be the living Christmas tree, points out Heide Feldman, public education coordinator for the Monterey Regional Waste Management District.
"The potted tree is a kind of compromise," she said.
She acknowledges that an artificial tree, used over and over, does keep Christmas trees out of the landfill and reduces holiday waste.
But she still gets a real tree every year, she said.
"I'm from Germany, and I have to have a real tree. They smell so wonderful. There's nothing like it," she said.
