Unless you're one of those people who insist on putting the decorations up in November, you'll still be thinking about buying a Christmas tree. Read on to find out which one's the right one for you.

First you have to decide whether you're going to buy a real tree or an artificial one.

Real trees obviously offer the best experience, with the smell of pine pervading the room. But unless you by one with roots and plant it out in the garden every January, you're buying a tree that you'll throw away in a few weeks' time.

Ecological considerations

That's not particularly eco-friendly, but is a plastic tree any better?

In the short term, no. The Carbon Trust estimates that an artificial tree will have more than double the carbon footprint of a real tree that goes into landfill. It'll have more than ten times the impact than a real tree that's burnt, or shredded and spread on the garden.

This is because trees that end up in landfill break down and release methane, which is much worse as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. If a real tree is burnt or shredded the carbon dioxide trapped in the tree is released rather than being converted to methane.

Re-using trees

But the Carbon Trust also recognises that if you use a plastic tree for decades then the impact on the environment is better than buying a real tree every year. The Trust estimates that if a plastic tree is used for more than ten Christmases the ecological impact eventually becomes lower than that of a real tree, particularly if that real tree ends up in landfill.

And you don't have to hoover the needles up, or have them hanging around in the boot of the car for years.

Getting the right real tree

If you want a real tree, try and get a potted one that you can put out in the garden afterwards and re-use the following year.

It's better to keep them in the pot as it will control growth and make it easier to get in and out of the house each year. They'll usually grow to around three foot over a few years, although re-potting to a slight larger pot in the first year will help it establish itself.

The Nordmann Fir keeps its needles well but it usually more expensive than a Norway Spruce or a Blue Spruce. You might also find Serbian Spruce, which is narrower than most, so good for small spaces. Scots Pine has strong branches suitable for heavier decorations.

Best wishes from all of us

Whichever tree you use, everyone at CETA wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

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