We always try to get a live tree.  It can then be replanted.

I L♥VE my PLASTIC, GREEN Christmas tree - I actually bought some FIR scent sticks that hang from the branches and SMELL LIKE FIR!

No scratched or smelly hands for 3 days and the TAKE DOWN is EASY!

I have one that looks too real to be true. . . it is amazing what is out there. .

As a family we like to contribute to that one tree somewhere that may remain alive because of it. .

Wayne, my kids have their own homes with girlfriends & they do the live tree..i do the miniature fake tree...maybe someday when lil ones appear i'll go back...i hate cutting trees for the sake of 3 weeks or so!

From a distance, no one will ever know....however, for the aficionado, the smell of the sap of the tree is priceless. Then, one day, I saw TREE SMELL for sale and thought...what is the world coming too?

Wayne, I think both serve a purpose and it is a matter of preference. Recycling live trees is good for the environment.

Cut trees are usually grown for just for cutting. Here you can alos get a permit to go into the forest and cut your own. They need the smaller trees thinned out to allow the forest to grow better. Your old tree is great to be recycled and some people burn them. These trees usually come from not all that far away. We still get out trees here from Oregon.

The artificial trees often come from china. They off gasses of the plastic can be unhealthy for some and also the plastic, metal, and shipping all take lots of energy. If you were to keep the tree for many many years it would probably pay back it's impact on the environment. At the end of it's life you have to remove the plastic to recycle the metal.

Outstanding title on this post.  :)   For me personally, I like the plastic ones that are pre-lighted.  They make putting up a tree a lot faster and still turn out a relatively decent appearance.

We, too, live in Oregon, but actually opt for fake trees. My father was allergic to real trees growing up so we couldn't have real. I couldn't wait until I was on my own to finally have a fresh tree. After three or four years of real trees, I went back to fake. We put them up Thanksgiving week and real ones don't last until the new year. Plus, my treasured Christmas ornament collection is too heavy for real tree branches and makes them droop.

Gretchen

We have had the same two trees one white and one green for 20+ years we rotate between the office and home. I feel this life span has saved not only a lot of trees but is greener than most.

We've had the same tree for 10 years.  Still decorate it with red chili, pine-cones and berries.  It looks real and with a little help with scented plug ins it even smells real.... We keep it simple and it works for us :)

Hi Wayne -- a very informative and well-written post.   Whether the tree is real or faux -- the memories of the season are what makes it important.   Merry Christmas!

Hi Wayne. We have an artificial tree, but after reading your post, I feel a little guilty about it. I'm sure it was made in China and didn't provide any American jobs. We have had our tree for seven years. Maybe next year I'll go back to fresh. Have a great day!

Wayne, I recently read that you need to keep the artificial tree for at least 20 years before it becomes more "green" than a live tree.

I too have an artificial trees, less worries about the tree getting too dry and burning down the house.

For many years I enjoyed the fresh cut trees but now I am an artifical tree household. Interesting about the recycling of old trees. To date I have donated them for someone else's use. Thank you for the informative post and Merry Christmas.

Wayne I do not use a real fresh tree.  I did when the kids were young but not now.