The tradition of using Christmas trees has been around for hundreds of years, initially used as symbols of one’s strong Christian faith to celebrate Christ’s birth. Today, Christmas trees are the focal points of holiday celebrations. Priceless memories with loved ones are created and relived around Christmas trees each year. Recently, because of our rising awareness on the state of the environment and how our lifestyles affect it, the willingness to know the facts behind Christmas tree harvesting is growing as well.

In the past, people opted to harvest their Christmas trees from local wild forests. Eventually, farmers saw the potential in the cultivation of these trees. One by one, Christmas tree farms sprouted all over the country. With high demand came competitive tree grades. To remain in business, a farm should consistently yield good quality trees. Because of this, Christmas tree cultivation became a unique science.

There are various species of trees in the market today. The most popular are the Scots Pine, Douglas fir, Balsam fir and Noble fir. Naturally, each type of Christmas tree requires a specific balance of fertilizers, soil and drainage factors in order to reach its optimum potential. For example, some trees like White Spruce trees, and most of the fir trees, thrive on fine clay loam soils. On the other hand, trees belonging in the pine family prefer sandy loam soil.

Choosing the location of the farm is the first crucial step in yielding high-grade trees. The nutrients present in the soil are pre-determined to lessen the need for artificial fertilizers. Even after all the precautionary steps though, these trees usually a need for artificial chemicals.

Christmas trees, like other plants, have natural occurring parasites. From small insects to squirrels, these little culprits can easily damage a high-grade tree. This is the reason why insecticides are often used at tree farms. Pesticides also used in food crop cultivation are used in Christmas tree farming. Some say that the use of chemical pesticides is relatively safe, but most individuals disagree. Studies have shown that pesticides seep through the soil beneath the tree farms, and another concern is the effects on the natural biodiversity in a specific area.

The common growing cycle at Christmas tree farms is as follows. First, the buds are grown and allowed to mature in one location. Second, these buds are transported to satellite farms where they are allowed to fully grow. Once the Christmas season comes, customers would then pick and cut their own trees. Some farms also offer home deliveries for their customers. From the first step to the last, each Christmas tree leaves a carbon footprint, from the insecticides to the diesel consumed to travel the miles before the tree reaches a homeowner. Then, multiply that by the number of households in the country that obtain their tree the same way. The most horrifying fact of all is the repetition; come next Christmas, the cycle occurs again.

These concerns are the reasons why more and more people are opting to purchase artificial Christmas trees instead of fresh ones. Not only is it less hassle to get artificial Christmas trees, it can be argued that they are also more environmentally friendly.

Although made of artificial materials, the fact that these trees last for years is a good enough reason to choose them. It’s also a bonus that artificial Christmas trees are easy to maintain. No more cleaning of needles inside your home, and no more worrying how long the tree will last.

The idea of going into a lot and cutting a tree for decoration never seemed eco-friendly. Studies today continue to support this statement. If a consumer wishes to take a step towards being eco-friendly, then artificial Christmas trees are a good bet.