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Should I buy a live Christmas tree or a cut one?
By Sue Millingen

I've always wondered if it wasn't thoughtless and wasteful to be buying a cut tree every year - only to be putting it out to the curb after 2 or three weeks of use.

So...I decided to do some research. Here are some pros and cons:

CUT TREES - PROS

Lightweight, easy to transport, set-up and move around. Can last 4 to 6 weeks in your home, recyclable

CONS

Some trees are cut way too early - remember seeing those trailers of trees on the highway just weeks after Halloween? If cut too early the tree will dry out - a potential fire hazard.

LIVE TREES - PROS

A live tree can be enjoyed forever! It can enhance the resale value of your home and provide a home for your neighbourhood critters.

CONS

A live tree can only live indoors for 7 to 10 days. It usually has a huge root ball which makes it heavy and awkward to transport. It will also need a hole for planting - which has to be dug before the ground freezes.

AND THE ARTIFICIAL TREE?

To effectively explore this question it is necessary to consider the impacts at each of the life stages (i.e., production, use by consumer, and disposal) for both types of tree. Some key questions to consider include: What raw materials are used in producing a real and artificial tree? How much energy is consumed in production and transport of each type of tree? How much air and water is polluted as a result of production and transport? What becomes of the tree when the consumer is finished with it? Key social considerations include: Where was the tree manufactured? And, what are the work conditions of the factories? It is also important to determine if any benefits exist.
Here's some more food for thought from The Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia.

MY DECISION

I will opt for a cut tree again this year…without guilt. Most are grown on farms just like any other crop and can be an eco-smart choice as long as they are recycled properly. Grown without pesticides, organic trees are becoming increasingly available.

RECYCLING TIPS:

1. Place cut tree branches on perennial beds to protect plants from frost and windburn.

2. Turn your tree into mulch. Your town or city will usually have a day set aside for Christmas Tree recycling. If you live in Toronto, like I do, you get rewarded each year with tree compost and mulch for your own use.