Filed under Holidays on December 10th, 2008:
Best Christmas Tree For Your Apartment This Holiday Season
The scents of evergreens are everywhere, and Christmas trees can be seen around every corner from Thanksgiving to Christmas day. From retail lots, local family farms, and many stores, you are sure to find the perfect Christmas tree for your Charlotte apartment. Picking out the perfect tree to decorate the living room is a tradition for many families and a lot of fun. But, with all the different types of Christmas trees out there, it’s hard to know which one is right for you. So before you buy a Charlie Brown special, take a few tips on how to pick the perfect one for you this Christmas.
During the holiday season, many of us are faced with the dilemma of choosing to buy a real or artificial tree. Below are different benefits for both artificial and real trees.
Benefits of Artificial Christmas Trees
- Artificial trees are easy to assemble and do not have to be watered.
- The initial cost of an artificial tree may be slightly more but over time it is considerably less money than buying a real tree every year.
- Since artificial trees are made to be fire resistant, the risk of your tree starting on fire is very low. However, a live tree as it dries out is a very serious fire hazard.
- An artificial tree is a wise choice if you are allergic to pollen, mold, or sap found on live Christmas trees.
- You can purchase artificial trees with white or colored Christmas lights already strung.
- Besides the traditional green Christmas tree, you will see many shades of bright and colorful artificial trees in most storefronts including white, silver, gold, pink, red, and more.
Benefits of Real Christmas Trees
- By purchasing a live tree, you get the benefit of enjoying an authentic, natural product.
- With a real tree comes the lovely pine scent your family and guests will enjoy.
- Since most real Christmas trees are specifically grown for the Holiday Season, the natural resources are constantly recycled.
- Real trees are grown in every state in the United States, where most artificial trees are made in China.
- Your tree can be recycled after each Holiday season. This way there is no need for storing a tree yearly.
Measuring For Your Tree
Before you leave on a hunt for the perfect Christmas tree, make sure you know just what size tree you can fit in your apartment. First measure the height of your ceiling. Once you know the height of your ceilings, subtract the height of your tree stand and the tree topper you wish to place on top. Then decide on where you’ll put the tree and see how deep the space is.
Knowing The Different Types of Christmas Trees
There are many different species of Christmas trees. Each has a different aroma, shape, color and even needles.
The Pines have soft, flexible needles and are bluish-green in color. Pines do not shed as much as other Christmas trees and they have a softer aroma. However, Pine isn’t recommended if you have a lot of heavy ornaments.
The Spruce is excellent for ornaments. It has short, firm needles that have a dull tip. They are bluish-green in color, but have a bad aroma when the needles are crushed. They have excellent color and have a good, natural shape.
The Fir branches turn slightly upward and the tree has an overall good form and needle-retention. They are dark bluish-green in color and have a sweet scent.
The Cypress is the most common Christmas tree in the south. They are a dark greenish-gray in color and have very little aroma. The Cypress does not produce sap, so those with an allergy to sap can still enjoy a real Christmas tree.
Top Real Christmas Trees
- Balsam fir
- Douglas fir
- Fraser fir
- Noble fir
- Scotch pine
- Virginia pine
- White pine
- Leyland cypress
Hopefully you can use these facts and tips when choosing a Christmas tree for yourself this holiday season.