Eco-Alternatives for Traditional Christmas Trees

Nov 19, 2019 | Seasons

Both real and fake trees have their merits and their faults, but there are many eco-alternatives to the traditional Christmas tree that are just as festive and also very unique.

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image courtesy of Pinterest.

Instead of cutting down a pine tree plan to grow one! There are a few things to keep in mind if you go this route:

1. Plan to keep your tree inside for only a few days, tops. A tree can handle being inside for a short time during the winter, much as it would weather an unseasonably warm spell. The longer you keep it inside, the more stress you place on it.

2. Hold off on planting the tree until spring, when it would naturally emerge from dormancy. In the meantime, place your tree outside in its pot, insulate the pot with mulch, and water it whenever the soil dries out. Plant it in late March or early April, and it will stand a chance of surviving long term.

Another opion: choose a tropical tree that will live on as a houseplant. The Norfolk Island pine, Monkey Puzzle trees and Southern Yews are great options!

image by Marissa

Similar in appearance to the pine tree, but on a much smaller scale, the rosemary plant can be dressed up for your holiday decor. It’s ideal for small spaces, centerpieces, offices, and even as gifts. It looks just like a mini Christmas tree!

The Rosemary tree is easy to grow and fragrant. What is even better about the Rosemary tree is that you can clip a couple branches to use for cooking whenever you want!

Other options similar to Rosemary incude the Bay Laurel and Myrtle which make lovely petite “trees!”

image courtesy of Demelzahill

This elegant scandi-inspired hand-crafted Christmas tree is made from sustainably sourced Maple. It brings the feel of the outdoors inside during this festive time of year and provides a unique contemporary decoration without any mess.

It’s quick to assemble and packaged in a natural cotton bag. Decorate this tree with your own unique ornaments. It can be used year after year!

It comes in three height options: 3ft, 5ft, or 6.5 ft. It’s also a best seller on Etsy!

image courtesy of All Wild Co

This stylish Christmas Tree tapestry is perfect for small living spaces, such as dorm rooms or apartments, but it will also make a big impact in a large room as a modern holiday decoration. You can further decorate it with light-weight ornaments, natural cuttings & objects, tinsel or garlands.

This tapestry can be folded away and stored into a very small space. The shop partners with a production studio in  Colorado to custom make each tapestry. They are printed with eco-friendly inks and cut and sewn from 100% lightweight polyester.

These tapestries come in three different sizes and are a best seller on Etsy!

image courtesy of Handmade With Care

This cardboard tree is sturdy and strong enough to carry a generous set of ornaments.

The tree is flat-packed. Assemble it for Christmas, and de-assemble after the holidays. The tree doesn’t take up much space when it’s taken down and disassembled into pieces. The best part about it – you can use it for many years!

These cardboard trees come in a variety of colors and sizes. Perfect for the home, office, or any other place you want to make more festive!

image courtesy of One Two Tree

One Two Tree is an eco friendly Christmas tree that can be styled to suit any space. A hole drilled in the end of each branch enables you to create a unique and decorative look that can be updated year after year.

The tree is cut from untreated high-grade Australian hoop pine plywood grown in managed plantations in the Yarraman region of Queensland, Australia.

It is available in two different sizes and it arrives flatpacked with easy-to-follow instructions for instant assemblage.

image courtesy of BraconteMaJolie

This custom driftwood tree with organments are for those who are tired of picking up the thorns of a real tree, for those who want to decorate a small space, or for those who like to be original.

This particular driftwood tree is handmade by a shop in France. The driftwood is picked up seaside by the maker and the pieces can show irregularities, barks, and small defects.

image courtesy of Solid Horse

This wood Christmas tree is designed as a foldable octagonal or circular spiral.

You can choose either no Christmas decor or with Chirstmas decor. 

image credit: unknown source

9. DIY HANGING BRANCH “TREE”

A very untraditional and unique idea to get an essence of a tree without the actual structure. Find a good looking branch, find a spot to hang it, and decorate it with your own ornaments!

This is a great idea for those in smaller spaces and those who want to stand out from the ordinary!

image credit Ferm Living

10. DIY VASE OF BRANCHES “TREE”

Another branch DIY: grab a vase, several bare branches, and your favorite ornaments. Create a whimsical “tree” that has the spirit of a vase of flowers!

This can be small scale for a center piece on the dining table, coffee table, or console for smaller spaces.

image credit Granit

11. DIY LADDER “TREE”

This one is definitely for the creatives! Take your wood ladder and transform it into a festive centerpiece for the holidays.

Wrap it in garlands, lights, and hang ornaments off the sides and steps. By placing shelves on the steps parallel to the ground it becomes a great way to showcase presents and other holiday decor you can’t otherwise hang or wrap!

exit the matrix.

2 Comments

  1. M Collins

    What a delight! I thoroughly enjoyed looking at the trees and got some good ideas. Thanks!

    Reply
  2. M Collins

    What a delight! I thoroughly enjoyed looking at the trees and got some good ideas. Thanks!

    Reply

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