I bought my artificial tree when I lived in the city ($40 at Value City before Christmas!) over a decade ago so it was definitely cheaper than paying $70 for a tiny real one in the city each year. 

Now that I live in the country it looks kind of sad next to the towering pines outside my window. I also live close to several Christmas tree farms.  They are always planting new ones and are very responsible with everything. All the trees they plant help to filter the air and increase oxygen as any tree would. Plus, we can easily recycle ours into mulch.

I have wanted a live tree with roots, but I have a hard time keeping houseplants alive here (low light and dry air), and it usually takes several months for the ground to thaw enough to plant the trees here.

If a tree has to be trucked a really long distance and then ends up in a landfill then it's definitely not greener, but if it's grown locally and can be used as mulch, I think that's better for the environment.

Of course, if we already own artificial trees, we shouldn't throw them away and get a live one to be green!  We should get as much good out of them as possible.

 We use an artifical one because of allergies. I do like the idea of going out to a farm and picking your own tree. There are lots of Christmas tree farms near us. The town picks them up and turns them in to mulch. Babs

I like the smell of real ones but the convenience of fake ones. plus dh is allergic to them.

MarthaMFI:

I like the smell of real ones but the convenience of fake ones. plus dh is allergic to them.

Martha, is DH allergic to pine-scented candles or air fresheners? We have an artificial tree, but we regularly burn pine-scented candles for that "real" smell.

My artificial one is two feet tall already has lights on it looks great to me never will get a dead tree off the street corner again I have been doing this for the past 5 years to me its very nice and no more batteling it to the street corner to get the tree and feel guilty later having a dead tree in my house thats going to be put threw thhe shreder in the pack pasture from the farm house....

A friend taught me a little trick.  She'd go to a tree lot and ask for a few branches that are inevitably left on the ground.  Stick them in the artificial tree and presto - real scent, not overpowering and without the huge mess of a "whole" tree

dh is allergic to the smell and the trees. plus he has asthma and we have birds so sprays, most scented candles are out.  

hello timezgain love that ideal maybe next year do that one I have a bush of limbs coming off the pine trees be an ideal scent for the front room here thanks....

cindy

timzagain:

A friend taught me a little trick.  She'd go to a tree lot and ask for a few branches that are inevitably left on the ground.  Stick them in the artificial tree and presto - real scent, not overpowering and without the huge mess of a "whole" tree

I believe I mentioned in another thread that you can actually construct an entire "tree" out of these discarded branches. You just arrange them in a large pot or wastebasket to form a rough tree shape. You can use some string or floral wire to help hold them together (or perhaps the tree garland could do that job). I did one this way once in my apartment, and it came out pretty well. For those who prefer real trees but would rather not spend the money (or sacrifice a live tree for a couple of weeks of use), this is a frugal option.

We have an artificial tree.  I think it is definitely the more frugal option for sure.  I donated our last one when we got this one.  Didn't throw it away.

I do love a live Christmas tree that can be planted after the holiday.  We did that one year-it was so beautiful and very special.  My grandparents have one out in front of their house that is 45 years old!  It is very cool.  If we can ever afford to move out to a more rural area (very expensive here) that is what we'll do and plant them every year.

But for now, with no place to plant them, we are keeping the artificial tree!