However, purchasing a cut Christmas Tree for your home can be a good thing for several reasons.
Many people are still out of work, and any time you purchase something grown here in the United States, you are helping provide jobs for American workers.
Most fresh cut Christmas Trees are from Christmas Tree Farms near you--farms that are owned by small business owners. Purchasing your tree from a Christmas Tree Farm near you helps to keep your neighbors in business! Local farm produce stands and locally owned garden centers often sell fresh cut trees or even potted ones you can plant to enjoy for years to come.
Christmas Trees are often grown on land that is unsuitable for other types of farming. The kinds of trees grown for Christmas trees can be grown on poor soil. By using these fields, tree farmers help to control erosion and provide year-round homes for wildlife.
One acre of Christmas trees produces enough oxygen for the daily needs of 18 people. (Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.)
Trees help filter dust and smog from the air.
Christmas Trees are 100% biodegradable. There are several ways your tree can be used after the Christmas season is over. The tree can be ground into mulch for the garden, it can be moved to the edge of your property as a nesting area for small wildlife, or the branches can be cut small for use as firestarters.
On Christmas Tree farms, for every Christmas Tree harvested, usually up to three seedlings are planted in its place.
Choosing your tree at the local Christmas Tree Farm can be a very fun family outing!
So if you're in the market for a Christmas Tree this year, consider helping a local business owner by choosing a real cut Christmas Tree!
For more information about real tree farming, please visit Real Trees 4 Kids.
And for even more fun and interesting information, go to the
National Christmas Tree Association website where you'll find a link to help you find a Christmas Tree farm near you.
