How To Pick A Christmas Tree
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‘Tis the season for picking the perfect Christmas tree!🎄With an array of options, finding the ideal tree for your home can feel overwhelming. But fear not! Join me on a joyful journey as we explore all the various types of Christmas trees, revealing their distinct characteristics and considering their pros and cons.
Get ready to bring home the tree that will make your holiday season truly magical! ✨🎅
Real Trees Versus Faux Trees
I won’t get into the whole ✨ debate ✨ about which type of Christmas tree is better (real vs faux). I will leave that up to your own judgment and research! I will however provide some pros and cons for each option, which you may want to consider.
I will say that personally I love and appreciate both real and faux, but am currently using a faux flocked tree and don’t plan on changing it any time soon. And whatever you end up choosing, just remember that your tree is like your blank canvas, so try to pick the most beautiful tree possible as your base.
Benefits of faux Christmas trees:
- Faux trees don’t shed any pine needles
- Easy transport when you buy it, since it comes in a box – no need to tie it to the roof of your car!
- You don’t need to water it.
- Reusable for several years.
- At the end of the season, you can just fold it up and stash it in a closet until Christmas rolls around again the year later. That means not having to worry about disposing of a big tree in January.
- You also save money in the long run with a faux tree because real trees can get pricey year after year.
- You can get flocked faux trees and they are stunning – they will literally make your room glow when the tree is all lit up. Truly a Christmas miracle! 😄
Drawbacks of faux Christmas trees:
- A faux tree’s lifespan is about 6/10 years after which time it can begin to look a bit raggedy and usually gets chucked (into a landfill😔). Faux trees are usually made out of PVC and are not bio-degradable, whereas real trees are biodegradable.
- 85% of all artificial trees are made in China and need to travel thousands of miles to reach us and have a significant environmental footprint.
- The lack of that beautiful fresh pine scent so typical of the Christmas season (trivial, I know! But I love that smell!).
Benefits of real Christmas trees:
- Create memories with your family as you go out and choose the perfect tree together
- Enjoy the fresh smell of pine in your home for the holidays.
- Know that you are supporting local farms by buying real trees from them.
- Reuse or even compost real trees, compared to faux which eventually end up in landfills.
Drawbacks of real Christmas trees:
- Evergreen trees need to be watered daily, or else they become dry and brittle
- They can be messy, dropping needles everywhere as they dry out
- Transportation can be difficult; they can be unwieldy and hard to store
- They can be much more expensive than faux, with prices varying widely depending on size, quality, and location
8 Popular Types Of Christmas Trees
Now, if you want to go for a real tree, there are actually a ton of different options. I totally never realized that until recently. Christmas trees in fact come in a multitude of different varieties!
Whether you are a fan of the wonderful smell of fresh pine, or want a tree that sheds as few pine needles as possible, there are choices! As a shopper, I like choices 😬. But it can become a bit confusing too! Also keep in mind that not all of these types of trees may be available for you to buy in your area.
Here is a list that breaks down all the main characteristics of each type of the most popular Christmas trees.
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NORDMANN FIR
â–² Good needle retention â–² Very little fragrance â–² Soft and glossy foliage aka CHILD-friendly!
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NORWAY SPRUCE
â–² Great fragrance â–² Very poor needle retention â–² Spiky needles
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BLUE SPRUCE
â–² Prickly needles â–² Good needle retention â–² Classic shape â–² Strong branches
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FRASER FIR (aka Frasier)
â–² Strong branchesâ–² Good for small spaces â–² Good needle retention â–² Great fragrance
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DOUGLAS FIR
â–² Soft foliage â–² Good for small spaces â–² Good needle retention â–² Great fragrance
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LODGEPOLE PINE
â–² Good needle retention â–² Great fragrance
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NOBLE FIR
â–² Excellent needle retention â–² Strong branches
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SCOTS PINE
â–² Infinite needle retention! Needles do not fall out even when dry â–² Great fragrance â–² Sharp needles
How to make your real Christmas tree last as long as possible
If you are using a real tree, here are some tips to keep it fresh and wonderful for the whole season.
- If you’re not bringing your Christmas tree inside straight away, leave it outside or in a cool place until you are ready to decorate it.
- When you’re ready to decorate your tree, cut 2 or 3 centimeters off the stump.
- Put it in water before you place it in the tree stand.
- Position your tree away from radiators and open fires.
- Water your tree every day.
What if you’re using an artificial Christmas tree?
Now that you know all about the different types of REAL trees and how to care for them, what about FAUX Christmas trees?
What are some things to keep in mind if you want to go with an artificial Christmas tree?
- Consider the material the tree is made from – look for a quality tree that will stand up to many years of use.
- Think about the size and shape of the tree – pay attention to measurements and make sure it fits your space and decor. We have 11′ ceilings in the living room so we went with a 9′ tree. We could have gone even taller. But definitely anything smaller would look puny!
- Look for trees with realistic-looking branches that help create an authentic appearance.
- Make sure you can assemble and disassemble the tree easily if needed, without using too many tools or taking too long.
- Check the warranty on the tree to make sure it is covered in case of any damage or defects.
- Compare prices from different stores or websites to get the best deal possible.
Once you’ve made your choice, the main thing about using a faux tree is you need to become a master fluffer. Have no idea what I’m talking about? Lol. Let me explain. 😂 Fluffing is the trick to making your faux tree look as realistic as possible. It’s basically arranging and separating all the branches that have been squished up in a box all year, to make them all hang down naturally and look like a real tree. If you take the time to fluff properly, you’ll be able to create that natural Christmas tree look in no time.
TIP: With flocked trees, it can be a good idea to wear gloves and a mask if a lot of flocking flies around while you’re fluffing your tree.
Here are some of my favorite faux Christmas trees:
So there you have it! Tips on how to pick the ideal Christmas tree 🙂 I hope this guide helped you and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @poshpennies to show me your beautiful tree!
Check out all my Christmas decorating faves on my Amazon Storefront right here!
And check this page for a curated collection of Christmas decor from all my favorite retailers!
More great Christmas posts to read next:
- Beautiful minimalist Scandinavian Christmas DIYs that you can easily make in an afternoon!
- How to store your Christmas decorations
- Learn about Christmas Tree collars and decide if you want to use one this year!
- Where to buy the best Christmas Stocking holders
- Free Printable DIY Minimalist Christmas Tags
- Make an Anthropologie Dupe Christmas stocking – free pattern included!
- How to Decorate A Christmas Tree in 6 Steps
