Artificial Christmas trees - pros and cons

My DH always insisted on a real tree. After he died my DS wanted one so he got it. After my DS decided he wasn't keen on going to get one any more, I just bought artificial. I don't drive so real trees are just not an option and it's much cheaper not to have to buy a new one every year and no more months of a dead tree stuck in the front garden until I persuade someone to chop it up.

After years of buying tall real trees, two years ago I bought a 5ft artificial tree that packs easily away in 3 sections. However, my advice is DON'T BUY A TREE WITH GLITTER!! It's a lovely tree when up but I can't get all the glitter totally out of the carpet and it's very annoying. ?

I have Christmas tree in my garden that is so big I had to cut the top off as it was hitting the telephone cable, I decorate it with lights and clear plastic baubles together with bird treats. In my house I have a pencil style 6ft artificial tree that won't be going up this year as I have a new cat who can't resist anything he shouldn't have!!!

My tiny rooted Christmas tree from 4 or 5 years ago looked awful 2 yrs ago so I bought another, but it perked up, so last year I had two. They live on my balcony during the year.

Definitely want to get another "real" potted one this year. Did this before and it came inside for three Christmases. Years ago we gave away our only artificial tree. Lovely as some of these look, I wouldn't buy one now; can't bear the thought of all the plastic, etc in them.

Just curious..... Does anyone not have a Christmas tree at all? I'm asking those who otherwise enjoy and acknowledge Christmas, of course

I only put up a tree because my six year old twin grandchildren want to see a tree when they come round. Last year I bought a live tree from the garden centre. It’s a bit wonky and this summer has grown from the sides and not the top, but I’ll smother it in decorations and it will do the job.

I've never ever bought a real tree due to all the botheration that goes with it.
Ages ago we bought a 5' artificial tree which was really good. Realistic with branches that could be arranged or pulled down. It cost about £35 which seemed a lot at the time. We enjoyed it for several years - until we moved house. It was accidentally left at the back of the removals van. Much gnashing of teeth.
A few years ago it was replaced by a white twiggy 'witches' hat' type which looks all right. I shove it back in the cupboard each year with the decorations still on. I like this tree but I guess I'll always hanker after the one that got away!

I love the smell of a real tree it always reminds me of home with mum and dad. We had a holly tree by the front door which obliged us with lovely red berries in time for Christmas when mum would put sprigs of it around the house and on top of the Christmas pud. Mistletoe would hang in the hallway. Then on the twelfth night the greenery would be used to light the fire with next morning,along with dried orange peel.
Dad used to get a large wooden box of crystalized fruits. Do these still exist ? I think he got them from Coopers in Liverpool. Peaches in brandy for mum

The tree was planted back in the garden.This would have been about 5 years after the war as I remember.

I'm buying a real one about 4/5ft and sinking it, in a container, into a small flower bed which has some lovely autumnal coloured shrubs round the edges. I'll decorate with plain white lights and green and blue baubles.
The door wreath (bought in last year's sale from One World) is huge and will have fresh white roses, ribbon and holly added when it's hung.
The tree will be disposed of by the council when the festivities are over.

EllanVannin
Coopers Liverpool...ah yes.
I remember the bacon slicing machine, bulk butter, big wheels if cheese, dried fruits in sacks with a scoop, white- coated assistants, chairs to sit on whilst ordering, polished mahogany counters...in Church Street, on the left just after C&A (which became HMV)
My home town.

*OF not if...

GabriellaG.

Yes when I close my eyes I can see and smell inside with its overpowering aroma of coffee for which it was famed for. Dad and I would often go shopping there and then on to the Kardomah.
Shopping in Liverpool particularly at Christmastime was magical with all its grotto's in every store.

St John's market where dad waited until the last minute to purchase a large turkey------complete with head/neck and feathers, for thirty bob.

I always used to buy a real small rooted tree and then plant it out (ok they mostly died but I did try). One year I managed to keep the previous year's tree alive n a pot and proudly brought it in, decorated it and .... it threw off all its needles and promptly died. I was so cross that on Boxing Day I went to a local garden centre that was selling off all it's artificial trees at half price and bought a 6ft German-manufactured one for £45. That was 23 years ago and it still does faithful service, looking as wonderful as it did when new.

Yes, EllanVannin, great memories.
The Kardomah was our Saturday coffee stop in between shopping. Smokey brown glass cups...and I remember too the ancient looking 'Mary Ellen' flower sellers, clothed in black, wearing headscarves, huge aprons drooping between their knees and overflowing flower baskets beside them, outside St Johns market. Those certainly were the days...

I loved those days GabriellaG. I too remember the flower sellers particularly one little wizened old dear in her black shawl. Dad used to buy flowers and have a chat to her.
Do you remember Bunnies ?

We always had a real tree when we lived in the family home the DCs used to go with their dad to choose one at Delamere Forest every year.
Now we live in a much smaller place and there is just the two of us we have had a "half tree" which sits against the lounge wall it is delightful and serves the purpose nicely.
We have a real living tree in our back garden which my son brings around to the front of the house and then decorated with outside lights,if it grows too big though it will have to stay in the back as it is very heavy.

Never had a real tree, still put up my 82 year old one that was a Christening present from my Godmother.

EllanVannin
No, I don't remember ever seeing it at all. Just found on Google. Looks a great place to shop. Can't think why I never saw it as I lived there until 1979.
I must make a trip back there after New Year.

Apologies to all for branching off topic. Memories y'know.

Thanks agnurse, I have a tiny white tree for several reasons, the inability to bring home, or dispose of, a"real" one, is one.
It's one form of ecology to reuse it every year, being white it's frankly fake and sports a new colour of lights/baubles each year,,, scarlet this year but have had, silver, purple, green and ice-blue
Final reason for fake tree: my daughter's sensitive to the real thing, the smell makes her sneeze and if she is prickled by the branches, it come up in a huge rash!
Grans, do your own thing and style your own Christmas!
With love and blessings.

Used to have a real tree, would go out and buy 6ft tree as we are lucky to have high ceilings. D H would trim the tree trunk as instructed. Wouldn’t be straight so he would trim again. And again. And again. Eventually I would decorate my 4ft tree. Now we have artificial ??

We have an artificial one usually, although we often buy frosted miniature real ones as they look really pretty indoors and continue to grow outside. It made me laugh when we sang this one year. It sums it up people’s different likes and choices.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=DWRLRIQzVcU

Last year my aged artificial xmas tree started shedding needles- I don't need the thing to look that authentic.

Now that I am alone this year I will not have a Christmas tree. I remember that in 1946 when we were very poor and living in one room my husband made one with pieces of dowel and crepe paper which came out for several Christmases afterwards.