Real Christmas trees are notorious for leaving behind a trail of needles, and for shedding throughout the season. It can be a huge pain to have to constantly clean up around the tree because the dead needles continue to fall. The dead needles are also an indication that your tree is losing its fullness and color, thus the longer you keep your real Christmas tree, the worse it looks.
With an artificial Christmas tree, you don't have to worry about needles falling off, and you know your tree will look as good on the day you take it down as it did the day you put it up. In addition to avoiding the mess of shedding needles, with an artificial Christmas tree you also don't have to worry about messy, sticky sap getting all over your hands and clothes as you set up your tree. Basically, having an artificial Christmas tree allows you to enjoy the benefits of a beautiful, realistic tree without having the hassle and mess of a real Christmas tree.
Purchasing a real Christmas tree can really be a hit or miss experience. Some lots offer only tied up trees, so you don't even know what your tree will look like until you take it home. Other lots actually spray paint their trees to give the illusion of healthy, green needles. Even if you can choose a tree that is not tied up or in netting, you will never know how well it will last throughout the season, and you may be disappointed with thinning branches, falling needles and discoloration.
With an artificial Christmas tree, as long as you buy from a website that offers high quality, high resolution photos, thorough descriptions, and branch samples, you know what to expect. You can set up your tree as early in the season as you'd like, and you never have to worry about its color fading or needles falling. Furthermore, you can shape your artificial Christmas tree to give it a customized look for the season, which can be incredibly valuable when you hang your favorite ornaments!
It should come as no surprise that a real Christmas tree can be an extremely dangerous fire hazard. Real cut trees are already dead by the time you bring them home, and as the days pass they just become more dry and brittle, thus adding to the danger. Since a lot of people like to trim their tree during Thanksgiving, a real tree could be displayed for over a month before it is taken down! Furthermore, many people have a fireplace in the same room as their tree, they light candles nearby, or they have a significant amount of electricity running near the tree to provide lighting. Why add danger to your holidays?
Real Christmas trees can be especially dangerous if you travel during the holidays. Almost nothing could ruin a holiday more than to have your living room go up in flames because your tree caught a spark. Most artificial Christmas trees are flame-retardant (make sure you purchase from a reputable retailer), and the lights are UL® approved. Therefore, you don't have to worry about what might happen while you're away visiting family or friends, and you can certainly relax if you have a fireplace or candles in the same room. See our Safety section for more information on safety.