10 Biggest Myths about Christmas Trees
Myths, urban legends, misconceptions and sometimes outright lies. We know there are some crazy things that people have been told about Real Christmas Trees over the years. And this has led to a large number of confused consumers. While many of these myths can be traced back to the fake tree industry, many are like urban legends ... they just sort of exist and nobody really knows how they started.
MYTH #1: Real Christmas Trees are cut down from forests.
BUSTED: To be completely accurate, in a few locations around North America, the Forest Service sells permits for people to harvest wild trees. They do this in places to create fire breaks. But it’s a very tiny percentage of all trees used. Most trees come from a farm where someone plants them. And each year, growers plant one to three seedlings for each tree harvested.
MYTH #2: You save a tree by using a fake tree.
BUSTED: This is obviously tied to Myth #1,
and also directly attributable to the fake tree industry. We’ve got
copies of ads for fake trees that say exactly that: “Save a tree." Of
course, this is false, because trees are a crop. They are planted by
farmers to be used specifically as Christmas Trees. Close to half a
billion trees are currently growing on tree farms in the U.S. alone.
The really ironic part of the ad for the fake tree is one of the
selling points is that it comes in a sturdy cardboard box. Ummm, how
exactly is that saving a tree?
MYTH #3: Real Christmas Trees aggravate allergies.
BUSTED: Top sources say real trees do not cause allergies very often, it's the pollen of other plants that has landed on the trees that is the typical culprit.
Sources include the National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). So it’s not just “the Christmas Tree people” saying that the farm-grown tree itself is not the culprit.
A quick summary of the sources we have found are that while it’s possible that a person may be allergic to tree pollen or even tree sap, it’s not as widespread as many believe. We have read that in rare cases, people can have an allergy to certain species of tree sap.
As for pollens, which certainly can be an allergen to people, a Real Tree itself is unlikely to produce pollen during December, and even if it did, pollens from pines are not a known allergen. According to the NIEHS of the 50,000 different kinds of trees, less than 100 have been shown to cause allergies. Most allergies are specific to one type of tree.
But being outdoors for years in the field, a Christmas Tree can collect pollens, dust, mold or other allergens. Of course, so can the artificial tree stored in the attic or basement. Whether you use a fresh Christmas Tree from a farm, or an artificial tree stored in a box, if you have sensitive allergies to dust, molds, etc., AAAAI recommends you spray the tree down in the yard with a hose before putting up. Let it dry completely before bringing indoors.
Resources we have found pertaining to holiday allergy prevention include:
www.aaaai.org/media/news_releases/2004/11/111204.stm
www.hoptechno.com/book46.htm
MYTH #4: It's better to use a fake tree because you can re-use it each year.
BUSTED: That’s a very short-sighted
perspective. According to research, most fake trees are only used 6 to
9 years before they’re disposed. Even if you would use one for 20 years
or more, it will eventually be thrown away and end up in a landfill.
And unlike Real Trees, which are biodegradable and recyclable, fake
trees are always a burden to the environment.
MYTH #5: Christmas Trees are a fire safety hazard and frequently catch on fire.
BUSTED: You’d certainly think so by
watching the local “Action News” team on TV. Each year, many of them
show a dramatic image of a tree bursting into flames, intending to
scare people into watching the news. And the anchor/reporter will say,
“If you get a Christmas Tree, this could happen to you ...” The reality
is, a tree being accidentally ignited is EXTREMELY rare. As in 0.0004%.
And those images of trees burning? They’re often aided by gasoline or
lighter fluid. Don’t believe it? Just watch this...
MYTH #6: Real Trees cost too much.
BUSTED: Like anything else, you can find a
wide range of prices, and spend what you want to spend. It all depends
on what you’re looking for in a tree. Prices vary by many variables
including: location of retail lot, where the tree was harvested,
species, size, grade, who’s selling it and even sometimes day of the
week. The bottom line is, you can spend $15 to over $200 on a tree in
many places.
My favorite part is when fake tree people try to use this as a selling point. “You can get your investment in a fake tree back in as little as 3 years...blah, blah.” That’s called “funny math” where I’m from. If I spend $20 on a Christmas tree from a farm each year and you spend $300 on a fake tree, you’d have to use it for 15 years (way past the average) before I will have spent the same amount as you.
MYTH #7: Fake trees are fireproof.
BUSTED: Um, no, they’re not. They catch on
fire every year. According to a report from the National Fire
Protection Association, 28% of home fires involving a Christmas Tree
were a fake one.
MYTH #8: Real Christmas Trees have pesticides and chemicals on them.
BUSTED: Myths such as this often get a
foothold due to the disconnect that most people have with agricultural
practices. Christmas Tree farmers do not use chemicals in a "harmful"
manner. Chemicals are used only when needed and only according to the
specified instructions and regulations of the EPA, the USDA and the
FDA. Christmas Tree farmers live on their land and raise their families
there. They would not engage in an activity that would put their
families, employees or the people they sell their product to in harms
way. To suggest otherwise is at best uninformed, and at worst,
offensive.
There has never been a scientific research article suggesting that harmful levels of chemical residue exists on Christmas Trees, and in fact there have been studies looking for it. On the flip side, there have been studies showing a potential health danger of lead dust coming from plastic trees. The state of California requires a warning label on fake trees and wreaths. Watch this clip
MYTH #9: Real Christmas Trees end up in landfills.
BUSTED: Christmas Tree recycling programs
are available nationwide, and many are quite creative. A farm-grown
Christmas tree is 100% biodegradable, so it can be used for all kinds
of things in nature, from mulch to erosion control. Fake trees?....see
Myth #4 above. People often lament the sight of Christmas trees at the
curb after Christmas...but they don't realize that many communities
have curb-side pick up as part of their recycling program. They're not
"being thrown in the trash" or ending up in landfills, even if they did end up in landfills they are still going to rot and decompose. They're waiting
to be put into the recycling program.
MYTH #10: Real Christmas Trees are a hassle and a mess.
BUSTED: It's all relative. The first thing
to ask someone if they say “I don’t want a Real Tree because I might
have to vacuum up needles” is this: Does that mean you don’t vacuum
normally? I mean, vacuuming should be a regular household chore all
year long. So what if the tree drops some needles - you’re going to
vacuum anyway right?....RIGHT?
Second, who says it has to be a hassle? (Hint: the fake tree people.) There are many places to buy a tree and all offer something a little different. If you want to spend a lot of time with family or friends getting your tree and have some entertainment, go to a Choose & Cut farm. If you want a huge variety of trees, both species and sizes, go to a specialty lot. If you want to support your community organizations in the process, buy one from a nonprofit selling them as a fundraiser. If you just want a tree quick and easy, then go to a lot designed for that. If you want to just point and click and have your tree delivered to your front door, then buy one online. Bottom line, don’t let someone tell you it’s a hassle, because you can decide how much time to spend getting a tree.
Third, the hard goods used with a farm-grown tree have come a long way. There are many different styles and types of tree stands...pick one that's easy for you, as long as it holds enough water. There are funnels, cleverly designed to blend into the tree, that make adding water easier. I have a round mat with a waterproof backing to put under my stand so any water drops don't stain my floor ...it cost me like four bucks or something.
You may often hear it's a hassle to water a farm-grown tree every day. Really? That takes, what...an extra 25 seconds per day? I spend more time than that making my picks in the weekly office football pool.
It’s all relative. The time invested in buying and maintaining a farm-grown Christmas tree is nothing compared to what you get out of it. A good feeling. Memories. A home that “smells” like Christmas. Knowledge that you made a good environmental choice. That's not a hassle, that's a blessing.