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Live Christmas Trees vs. Fake Christmas Trees by Victoria Gates With the holidays fast approaching in this age of both environmental awareness and economic trouble, it is time again to debate the favorite family holiday tradition. Which to choose, a real Christmas tree or an artificial tree? Is the right choice to purchase an artificial tree and use it year after year, or go in search of the perfect living tree to be the centerpiece of our holiday decorating? This article seeks to help answer that question once and for all. "What could be simpler or more natural?" said Bob Scott, Former President of the National Christmas Tree Association. "Buying a real Christmas tree is definitely an environmentally sound choice... Consumers are showing their preference for real, natural products that are socially conscious. Many young families are attracted to the tradition of celebrating Christmas with a real tree in their home," explains Mr. Scott. While artificial trees may offer a cheap solution for your Christmas tree decorating needs and they may look pretty they are usually manufactured using a polyvinyl chloride or PVC material, which is basically a petroleum-derived plastic product. Making the raw material used for fake Christmas trees both non-renewable and polluting. Plus according to National Christmas Tree Association some of the manufacturers of fake trees use lead and other additives that have been linked to liver, kidney, neurological, and reproductive system damage in lab studies on animals. The better choice for the environment seems to be a real tree. When the holidays are over a real tree can be recycled unlike artificial trees. The entire tree can be ground into healthy and useful mulch. Plus most tree farms plant at least one new tree for every one that is cut to maintain a constant supply for future holidays. So fortunately the tree population is not reduced at all due to Christmas tree farming. Once you and your Christmas tree have safely returned home, make a fresh cut across the bottom of the trunk, to open up the pores in the wood, allowing it to absorb water readily. Make the cut about 1 inch above the old base, at a very slight angle. The tree should be immediately set in the stand, and placed where it will spend the holiday season. Make sure to use a sturdy stand with a large water reservoir so that it won't need refilling too often, especially if you are busy. Depending upon the size, species, and location of your real tree, it may absorb up to a gallon of water in the first day, so the tree should be checked frequently and re-watered as needed. As long as the tree is able to absorb water, it should stay reasonably fresh and fire-resistant. It is important that the tree always be kept watered and not allowed to dry out especially when lit and decorated. If the reservoir of water dries up a seal of pitch will begin to form on the cut. After a few hours, the tree will no longer be able to absorb water, and will quickly dry out. To remedy this, it will be necessary to re-cut the stump again, or the tree will begin to lose its needles and become a fire hazard. So if you accidentally forget to check the reservoir, it's wise to make a fresh cut and re-water the tree. Victoria Gates is a proud supporter of small American businesses such as the family run North Carolina Nursery Gragg Farms. You can find out more about their operations and location by visiting http://www.graggfarmsandnursery.com on the web.

 

 

 

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