NewsNational

Actions

Exploring the age-old debate over real vs fake Christmas trees

Posted at 11:15 AM, Dec 03, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-03 14:15:02-05

‘Tis the season to deck the halls! But will you go with a real or fake tree this Christmas?

It’s an age-old debate that surfaces every holiday season.

When we spoke to tree buyers, there were strong opinions on both sides. You can’t beat the smell of a real tree, but there are several reasons many opt to purchase a fake one.

If you don’t continue to water your real tree, it will dry out, making it a fire hazard.

A recent study done by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach found that thousands of insects and spiders could be hiding out in your Christmas tree.

If you’re worried cutting down a real tree is bad for the environment, that myth is false. Research by Michigan University says to think of the trees like lettuce or corn; they are crops grown on a farm and are grown to be cut down.

But as for the artificial Christmas tree, they are extremely cost effective. You can use them year after year.

And if you’re worried that artificial trees are toxic because many of them are made from PVC plastic, well, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says there’s nothing to worry about. However, some tree buyers say the little lead found in the tree is still enough for them to stick with a real tree.

Ultimately, the choice is left with families to decide what gets them in the holiday spirit.