Fir or faux, buyers taking a stand on Earth-friendly Christmas trees

Ryan North, a certified tree-hugger, bought an artificial Christmas tree eight years ago, but he doesn't necessarily feel good -- or green -- about it now.

"I'd do it differently if I had to do it all over again," admitted North, co-owner of Twin Cities Green, an environmentally friendly home accessories store in Minneapolis. He'd prefer a potted tree, a house plant or a tree from a local farm because natural trees are a more sustainable choice.

Paper or plastic, once an issue confined to the supermarket, now is being debated on Christmas tree lots and in big-box stores as well-meaning consumers try to decide which is more Earth-friendly: a real or an artificial tree.

Although more than half of homes with Christmas trees go artificial -- once considered a greener alternative -- environmentalists prefer real trees.

They produce oxygen and consume carbon dioxide, and are biodegradable and renewable. For every tree harvested, two or three are planted, according to the Minnesota Christmas Tree Association. The trees provide wildlife habitat and control soil erosion.

But there are many shades of gray in being green.

Real trees can be fire hazards. The U.S. Fire Administration said that about 200 house fires per year are blamed on dried up trees. Buyers also need to consider how far the tree was shipped: Fraser and balsam firs travel by truck from the East Coast, burning fossil fuel and emitting pollution. Some trees, especially white pines, go dormant after they're cut, so sellers spray them green. Some tree farmers use pesticides and herbicides.

Artificial trees, which outsell live trees about two to one, often come pre-lit with energy-stingy LED bulbs. They're allergen-free, easy to decorate, and comparatively fire-resistant. But many buyers of so-called "permanent" trees only keep them for five to 10 years, and the plastic and metal used to make artificial trees will last indefinitely in a landfill.

Rethinking the artificial tree

In fact, the greenest choice is one that only Scrooge could love -- no tree at all, said Ami Voeltz, executive director of Do It Green Minnesota, publisher of the Twin Cities Green magazine (formerly Twin Cities Green Guide).

But since most people aren't willing to get behind that, she suggests avoiding an artificial tree if you don't already own one. If you do, use it for as long as you can, preferably longer than the average life span of five to 10 years, to keep it out of the waste stream. If you get tired of it, give it to a friend or a charity.

Caroline Tuan of Balsam Hill, a California-based artificial tree manufacturer, adds that people can extend the life of an artificial tree by putting it back in the box carefully and storing it without a lot of weight on top. If you have room, keep it assembled, covered, and stored in a basement or spare room.

Some people are rethinking the notion of what an artificial Christmas tree should look like. Artists are using recycled materials to create Christmas trees that are works of art. Barbara Gilhooly of St. Paul, for instance, has created a 3-foot tree from scrap wood and tin that is on display at Gallery 360 in Minneapolis.

Voeltz fills a ceramic pot with rocks, inserts birch branches from local nurseries, strings them with LED lights, and ties bows and ornaments onto them.

North expects to see more trees and ornaments made from recycled materials as consumers seek greener alternatives. Next year, his store will offer 6-foot trees, paintable and perforated for ornaments, made from sustainably harvested maple certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

No spraying or shaping

Consumers buying real trees should buy local to avoid the energy-wasting ways of transit, said Paige Pelini of Mother Earth Gardens in Minneapolis. Cut your own or buy from a lot that sells trees grown in the area, she said.

Some greenies search for tree farms that don't use chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Almosta Farm in Otsego, Minn., for example, does not shear its spruce trees for shape or spray for color or pests. Some of the asymmetrical trees have bare spots big enough to hang an exercise ball.

Owner Simone Aeshliman charges $45 for each of her 6,000 cut-your-own trees. "I couldn't in good conscience use chemicals on my trees when my neighbors and I get all of our water from wells on our property," she said.

Being green means not letting the tree become part of the waste stream. Trees might be biodegradable, but research has shown that lack of air circulation and light hinders the breakdown of garbage in landfills, Voeltz said. Many cities and counties pick up trees for shredding and composting, but tree buyers should check before putting it by the garbage.

If city recycling isn't an option, chop up the branches and trunk for mulch or place it the backyard and turn it into a bird feeder by attaching suet and orange slices.

Voeltz, like North, likes the idea of buying a live tree and planting it after the holidays, though success with those trees has been limited in Minnesota. She tried it three years ago and while the tree has survived, it went through a rough patch.

Mother Earth Gardens sells potted trees that can be planted after Christmas, but the Black Hills spruce trees -- which are about 3 feet tall and can grow to 20 feet -- have an extensive climatizing regimen before and after being in the house for the maximum four days.

A more practical option might be using a live house plant such as ficus or Norfolk Island Pine. Or designate an outdoor tree as your official Christmas tree and decorate accordingly, using edible ornaments for the birds and squirrels.

As for North, he's reluctantly holding on to his fake tree for now. "Our 8-year-old and our cats really like it," he said.

John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633