Five reasons why you should choose a real Christmas tree

When do you decorate the Christmas tree? The weekend after Thanksgiving usually marks the start of the Christmas season and is the most popular time to buy a Christmas tree.

Whether you’ve already started decorating or you’re waiting until December, go green this holiday season with a locally grown Wisconsin Christmas tree!

Wisconsin ranks fifth in the nation for Christmas tree production with over 850 Christmas tree plantations covering 23,000 acres. Wisconsin tree growers harvest more than half a million trees each year.

Real Christmas trees are a sustainable choice. Here are five reasons why you should choose a real Wisconsin Christmas tree this year.

1. Support your local economy. Choosing a locally grown Christmas tree supports agriculture in your community. When you buy a local Christmas tree, your dollar makes an impact in the community, from the family that grew the tree to its workers and suppliers.
2. Environment affable. Christmas trees start as seedlings and grow for an average of seven years before they are harvested to decorate homes during the Christmas season. During this time, they provide environmental benefits to the surrounding ecosystem. Tree farms benefit the environment by stabilizing soil, conserving water and supporting wildlife, birds and insects in the trees. Christmas trees are often grown on land that is not suitable for growing other plants.
3. Mitigating climate change. Christmas trees are carbon neutral – they absorb carbon dioxide and release fresh oxygen into the air. One acre of Christmas trees provides the daily oxygen requirement for approximately 18 people. As a bonus, by purchasing your tree from a farm close to your home, you reduce the emissions associated with transporting the tree.
4. A renewable resource. Christmas trees are a renewable resource. According to National Christmas Tree Associationfor every tree cut down, one to three recent trees are planted.
5. 100% recyclable. All Christmas trees grown in Wisconsin are natural and 100% biodegradable. When the holiday fun is over and it’s time to take down the tree, there are many options for recycling a real Christmas tree. Many communities offer curbside pickup recycling or you can take your tree directly to the recycling center. Recycled Christmas trees can benefit ecosystems by providing shelter for fish, birds and other wildlife. Find out more about Christmas tree recycling on the website National Christmas Tree Association.

This Christmas, choose a locally grown tree from Wisconsin. Are you looking for a tree farm in your area? Use this guide With Wisconsin Christmas Tree Growers Association.