Real Christmas Tree

Pros: Excellent choice                            Cons: Needles may be sharp

Fresh green foliage                                            Require a lot of care

Lovely pine scent                                               Only last over Xmas

Gorgeous bushy/full foliage

Evokes the spirit of Christmas

Slight fire risk as tree dies out

Artificial Christmas Tree

Pros: Huge scope of choice                     Cons: May work out expensive initially

Convenient                                                          Lack of pine scent

Require little/no maintenance                              Non-biodegradable

Last for years (value for money)

Fire retardant

Excellent for those allergic to real trees

Taking into account these factors when choosing your Christmas tree should make the decision much easier – then you have the even harder task of deciding on your Christmas tree decorations and lights!

The first metallic Christmas trees were introduced in the late fifties and these were strips of aluminium or aluminium-coated paper attached to metal poles, which were then suspended from a central wood or aluminium pole. These trees posed a great fire hazard, especially if used with lights, so families used to use a spotlight or floodlight to illuminate their tree, sometimes with a motorised rotating colour wheel to give the effect of different coloured lights

Today, the majority of tinsel trees is made from flame-retardant materials and so can safely be used with lights. However, there are always unscrupulous traders who sell Christmas trees which do not meet safety standards, so always make sure any tinsel tree you buy is fire-retardant and meets all other safety requirements. One advantage an artificial tree has over a real tree is that a real tree poses more of a fire hazard, due to the drying-out process.

The artificial tinsel Christmas tree is ideal for those who have an allergy to real trees and they can be used year upon year. Aside from these practical advantages, the tinsel tree looks very attractive and decorative, with its shiny branches twinkling in the light.

The tinsel tree comes in many styles and colours, including black and purple, so the buyer is spoilt for choice. Some tinsel trees are pre-lit, adding to their attractiveness, and save the owner the hassle of adding their own. Some of the more contemporary ‘pop-up’ Christmas trees simply consist of tinsel wrapped around a wire frame, and these are surprisingly effective.

Due to its role as a best seller, there are many different designs of green Christmas tree: real or artificial; pre-lit and/or pre-decorated; frosted or flocked; small or large – the list goes on. Which green Christmas tree you decide on will depend on many factors, but the first one has to be do you want a real tree or artificial? Once you have made this decision, choosing your green Christmas tree should become easier.

Today, ‘green’ is so much more than a simple colour; the term also refers to the need to be environmentally- friendly in order to protect the planet, and we all have a responsibility to ensure our Christmas tree is as ‘green’ as possible. A real Christmas tree is much more eco-friendly than an artificial one, in many respects. Be sure to buy your real Christmas tree from a sustainable source –details are on the British Christmas Tree Growers Association website – or, even better, buy a tree with roots so that it may be replanted after Xmas.

When it comes to disposing of your green Christmas tree, do so in an environmentally friendly way: many Christmas tree farms and other retailers (and local councils) offer a Christmas tree recycling service, whereby they turn used trees into reusable wood chippings or mulch.

Artificial Christmas trees are also good for the environment in another way. For instance, they last much longer than a real Christmas tree, meaning less waste in the landfill. When you have finished with your tree, why not recycle it (and thus keeping it out of landfill longer) by seeing if anyone else could make use of it?

If you are truly committed to preserving the environment, why not treat yourself to a truly green Christmas tree over the festive season? The Woodland Trust sells ‘eco trees’ that are made of recycled card that can be used year after year and, if you are not too bothered about having a tree on display in your home, you could dedicate a tree instead.

It is a shocking fact that only 10% of Christmas trees were recycled last Christmas, so this year be environmentally-friendly and make sure that your green Christmas tree is kind to the environment as well as its colour.

The Scots pine is the only pine Christmas tree native to Northern Europe, but today it only grows naturally in Scotland and is the country’s national tree. The Scots pine was introduced to the US by European settlers and became the most popular Christmas tree in America between the 1950’s and the 1980s. However, in recent times, it has been overtaken in terms of popularity by the Douglas fir and Fraser fir.

The Scots Pine Tree

The Lodgepole pine is another popular pine Christmas tree choice throughout the United States and Europe. Native to the Rocky Mountains, the Lodgepole pine was introduced to the UK in 1855 and is favoured for its excellent needle retention, striking green-yellow foliage and aromatic pine scent. The Lodgepole pine is also a very full tree, meaning it looks lovely when decorated.

The Scots pine and the Lodgepole pine are the two main species of pine used as Christmas trees, yet several other species are sometimes used in the U.S.

The Afghan pine is native to Afghanistan, but is grown in Texas for Christmas tree purposes. This has soft, short needles and sturdy branches, and a mild fragrance.

Ponderosa Pine Tree

The Austrian pine is used because it has a lovely fragrance and retains its needles well and the Red pine is favoured for its bushy foliage, whilst the Ponderosa pine has attractively long needles and good needle retention.

The Virginia pine has dark green foliage and strong branches on which to hang heavy ornaments, and, due to its aromatic fresh pine scent, it is a popular Christmas tree in the south. The White pine is the largest pine in the U.S. and is the state tree of both Maine and Michigan. It makes an attractive Christmas tree, with its soft blue-green full foliage and excellent needle retention, and it has very little fragrance, making it suitable for those who are allergic to the scent of fresh Christmas trees. One thing to bear in mind is that the branches of the White pine are very slender, meaning it can only be lightly decorated.

All the pine trees mentioned above are of the fresh kind, but there are artificial Christmas trees widely available in both America and Europe.

Black Christmas Tree

There is no doubt that the black Christmas tree looks classy yet contemporary when teamed with white lights and decorations. These uniform colours go so well together and also with the neutral colours that are used to decorate homes today, creating a striking yet understated focal point. Like the minimalist living space, the black Christmas tree requires very little decoration to look classy and elegant – perhaps just a few carefully placed baubles and lights. In such a setting, a heavily decorated green Christmas tree may appear to some too garish or out-of –date.

In 2005, many retailers paid testament to the popularity of the black Christmas tree, stating how they were selling more of these than the traditional green, white and gold trees. Every year since then, black trees have flown off the shelves– proving that many families place more importance on fashion rather than tradition. Black Christmas trees look striking when dressed in white, but look just as stunning when teamed with other contemporary colours such as silver or cream.

In some respects, the popularity of the black Christmas tree is surprising. Christmas is such a happy time, yet black is traditionally associated with sadness, mourning and death. This does not seem to put buyers off, as they view the colour only in terms of its fashion value. In 2005, many retailers admitted they thought that the black Christmas tree was simply another short-lived trend, but many years later, the black tree is in bigger demand than ever.

There are many black artificial Christmas trees on the market, in all sizes, types and designs, but what about those who like a real tree? As Roger Hay of the Christmas Tree Growers Association points out, many families ‘like to see and smell a real tree in the house’. All real Christmas trees are green in colour, so Mr Hay suggests using a little spray paint if you want a real tree that is black in colour.  Make no mistake, the phenomenon of the black Christmas tree is no passing fad; it looks like it’s going to be around for a long time yet!

Artificial Xmas trees have become increasingly popular in modern times; they can be used year after year, are conveniently stored and require less maintenance than a real tree, making them the perfect choice for many busy families.

Quality artificial Xmas trees can look incredibly authentic, thanks to modern technology, and there is a wide range to choose from:

•    Pre-lit
•    Pre-decorated
•    Fibre optic trees

Artificial Xmas trees come in many colours, both traditional and modern, and are made from flame-retardant materials. There really is an artificial Xmas tree to suit every home.

Real Xmas trees are a firm favourite with many families at Christmas time. In keeping with tradition, some like to choose and then decorate their real tree with

Real Christmas Tree

festive ornaments and lights. This is usually an evergreen conifer and the fir species is mainly used, on account of its lovely fresh scent and excellent needle retention. Real Xmas trees can be seen displayed over the festive season across towns and city centres, and these are usually on a large scale and look very impressive indeed.

White Xmas Trees were popular for many years before their popularity declined a few years ago, but now the white tree is in demand once more. White is reminiscent of frost and snow and all things ‘Christmassy’, and the white Xmas tree allows the spirit of Christmas to be brought into the home. The white sparkling branches provide a stunning backdrop for darker-coloured ornaments, and adding lights only adds to this effect. The popularity of the white Xmas tree is partly down to its versatility; it can be made to look traditional when dressed in the traditional Christmas colours, or ultra modern when decorated in more contemporary colours such as black or purple. Obviously, the majority of white Xmas trees are artificial, but fresh green trees are available that have been frosted or flocked to give a ‘caught in a snowstorm’ look, and these can look very effective.

Pre-lit Xmas trees are the ultimate in convenience. For most people, the most time-consuming and annoying part of decorating the Xmas tree is putting on the lights. With a pre-lit tree, you simply hang on the decorations, plug in and…the work is done! For the ultimate in convenience for the ultra-busy family or the workplace, there is the pre-lit, pre-decorated Xmas tree.

White Xmas Tree

However, white Christmas trees have made a significant comeback in the last few years, for the same reasons that the black Christmas tree has become popular – when teamed with black or darker-coloured decorations, the white artificial Christmas tree can provide a striking look in the most contemporary of settings. It seems these are also a throwback to the 1960’s with clean white lines and minimal decoration.

The traditional green tree will always be popular, but the white tree is also in demand because of its versatility – whilst it can be dressed to look ultra-modern, the white tree has long been associated with the traditional Christmas: its white branches are reminiscent of snow and frost, cold winter mornings, snowmen and robins. Thus, the white artificial Christmas tree sits as well in the traditional home as it does in the modern one. A gleaming white tree looks equally lovely when teamed with the traditional Christmas colours of red, green, silver and gold as its does when dressed in the contemporary minimalist colours. A common colour used are pink baubles.

Like most other artificial trees, the white Christmas tree comes in various sizes, styles, and designs. They are available pre-lit and/or pre-decorated, with frosted branches, and of course, there is the lovely fibre-optic white artificial Christmas tree.

Whichever white artificial Christmas tree you choose, it is certain to make a striking focal point over the festive season – there is something both comforting and appealing in having a cool, fresh-looking white Christmas tree in the warmth of the home.

Gold Christmas Tree

There are many types, sizes and styles of artificial gold Christmas trees available – pre-lit and/or pre-decorated; standard or slimline; upside-down; wall-mounted and fibre-optic, to name but a few. In short, there is a gold Christmas tree to suit all tastes and budgets.

Although the gold Christmas tree is well established, it looks equally at home in contemporary settings as it does in older ones. The tree looks lovely when dressed in the traditional colours of red, silver and green, but for a more striking, up-to-date look, decorate with black or another dark colour, such as purple – the beauty of the gold Christmas tree is its versatility.

If you want a gold tree that is very contemporary, is easily stored and does not require any dressing, why not consider a gold tinsel hooped tree? These trees are readily available, and look lovely as they are in a minimally decorated living space. Their quick set up makes them ideal for single people on their own or for the office, and the rich gold colour really adds a touch of luxury.

If you prefer a different coloured tree, such as the traditional green, why not decorate your tree in a gold theme? Gold goes very well with green (which also a very Australian combination), and gold decorations on a white tree look very striking and contemporary. There is no doubt that gold is a very popular festive colour, and adding some gold to your home at Christmas is sure to draw admiring glances.

Do you think a gold christmas tree looks as good as traditional green trees?

There are many mini wooden Christmas tree ornaments on offer such as hang-on-the-tree versions, but there seems to be few full-size versions on offer. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to make your very own wooden Christmas tree for a fraction of the cost of a real or artificial one. All you need are some scraps of wood (such as MDF), Christmas lights, wood adhesive and sandpaper (and the relevant tools).

1.    Draw a Christmas tree shape onto your wood, including the star on top. The tree can be any size you wish.

2.    Draw a square tree stand onto the wood – this should be roughly twice the size of the tree’s trunk.

3.    Cut out all the pieces of wood needed and eliminate any rough edges using the sandpaper.

4.    You need to cut a triangle from the wood, which will be needed to support the tree at the back – the triangle needs to be around 2 centimetres smaller than the stand, as it will be attached to this. It also needs to be around half the size of the tree itself to provide adequate support, and it needs to be cut at an angle of 85 degrees so that the tree leans back slightly.

5.    Drill holes all over the tree and one in the star at the top – these will hold the fairy lights, and the drill bit used should ensure a snug fit.

6.    Glue all the parts of the tree together using wood adhesive and leave to dry overnight.

7.    Paint your tree in whatever colours you choose – several coats may be needed.

8.    Once the paint is dry, insert the lights into the holes in the tree. Work from the top down, and glue may be used to hold the lights in place, if needed.

9.    All that is left to do now is to plug in your tree and enjoy!

Whether you use it as your main tree or otherwise, your homemade wooden Christmas tree is highly original and will be sure to draw admiring glances.

People think of pink as a sweet, sickly ‘Barbie’ pink, but the reality is that the pink Christmas tree comes in many shades to suit many different tastes and moods. There is the delicate and pretty pale powder pink through to the sassy hot pink favoured by teenage girls, with many attractive shades in between.

A pink Christmas tree has the power to brighten up any room, whether it is the living room or a little girl’s bedroom. With this in mind, manufacturers have released many styles and designs of pink Christmas tree, to suit all ages. There are full-size pink trees for those adventurous enough to have a full-size version in their living room and small tabletop ones for girls of all ages. Miniature pink Christmas trees are also available and these can be placed on windowsills, on car dashboards, and on your desk at work, amongst other places.

Pink is such a feminine colour and the pink Christmas tree reflects this. Feathered and fluffy versions are available, as well the usual fibre optic, pre-lit and pre-decorated trees. For the die-hard ‘pink’ fan, there is the pink Christmas tree with co-ordinating pink decorations and lights.

This year, as in the previous few years, the pink Christmas tree is sure to best a best seller. Ladies, be ‘in the pink’ and treat yourself to a beautiful pink Christmas tree for the upcoming festive season!