By Pat Dray
The Garden Spot
Pat Dray
As we put our gardens to bed for the winter, many of us like to decorate the inside and outside of our homes with greenery – be it a table centerpiece, a wreath or a Christmas tree. As we make decisions about the use of greenery, a question often arises regarding whether to use natural or manufactured products.
Artificial greenery seems to be less costly over time, and the newer products seem very lifelike. A six-foot live tree costs around $125, while the manufactured product of the same size may come pre-lit and cost around $300.
From an environmental standpoint, the difference becomes less clear. Fresh, live greens and trees are typically farm raised, with 350,000 acres of land in the US in production for growing Christmas trees. We have several local “cut your own” farms in Milford and Orange where you may even find a white pine, the only Christmas tree that is native to Connecticut. Since the trees are farm raised, deforestation (which has significantly contributed to global warming) is not an issue. It takes about 10 years for a tree to grow to size, and tree farmers will almost always plant one or more trees to replace the tree harvested for greenery. So purchasing a “natural tree” or greenery is environmentally sound.
Artificial greenery is typically manufactured in China, which has less stringent environmental regulations than does the US. Older and less expensive trees are made using polyvinylchloride and metal, while the newer ones tend to be made from polyethylene and metal. Although they are more fire resistant than a natural tree, they are not fireproof. The typical artificial tree lasts six years, so they end up in landfills where they will not decompose.
According to the Christmas Tree Association of New York, artificial tree production adds 100 pounds of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, where a natural tree absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during its 10 years of growth.
Another benefit of natural greenery is that it decomposes relatively quickly, even in landfills. If you have wooded space on your property, you can leave the tree in the woods and it will provide shelter for birds and other wildlife during the winter months.
As you think more about your environmental footprint, consider the true costs of using artificial materials. They may seem less costly from an initial purchase standpoint, but their total cost is high. If you’re looking for something locally grown, remember to check out one of the farms in our area.
Pat Dray is a past president of the Garden Club of Orange and a master gardener.