When native Washingtonian Hilary Daniel decided on a live Christmas tree this year, she had no idea about its many environmental benefits. She was simply following a beloved annual practice.

“I have always gotten Christmas trees live,” Daniel, a mother of two and caregiver to her father, told The Informer. “That is a tradition from my childhood, and I continued it when I became a mother myself.”

For Daniel, 34, artificial trees just don’t quite feel like Christmas.

“I had a fake Christmas tree one year when I had an apartment. Now that I’m back in the house, back to live trees,” she said, adding that her 80-year-old father was also adamant about a real tree this year. “It feels more like the holiday to me, having a live tree. You can have a fake tree up for Easter and all that. Pine trees are a symbol of winter, so give me a real tree.”

Most Christmas trees are evergreen conifers— such as firs, spruces or pines— known for their strong branches, needle retention, cone-like shape, and that classic smell that can turn a house from a basic home to a holiday wonderland.

“I like them because it makes your house smell good,” Daniel said. “They’re very fragrant.”

Daniel isn’t the only one advocating for real trees.

In addition to boosting the local economy, Michael Wallace, director of communications at the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, pointed to a tradition that brings physical health benefits in tandem with uplifting spirits.

“For every Christmas tree that is cut, three seedlings are planted in its place, and while they’re growing, a real Christmas tree supports life by absorbing carbon dioxide and other gasses and emits fresh oxygen,” Wallace told The Informer. 

As the seventh state leading in Christmas tree harvestation, and eighth ranked nationally in total acreage, Virginia holds more than 9,000 acres dedicated to the “best choice” for season’s greetings, said Wallace. 

“It’s great for local agriculture, being the farmer that actually grew the tree, and it’s a great way to create family memories – from going out to a farm to select a tree, to then taking it home and actually decorating it,” he continued. “The traditional choice, and the best choice, is always gonna be a real Christmas tree.”

Investing in live trees hosts year-round benefits that puts sustainability and preservation ahead of a holistically thriving ecosystem, according to Kristen Heberlig of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF).

“Real trees are biodegradable and after the season can be recycled as mulch or compost, added to the landscape as food and habitat for wildlife, or placed into lakes and ponds to benefit aquatic life,” Heberlig wrote in a December 2024 CBF post. “Many communities offer recycling programs and curbside pickup. You may even know a local farmer who would appreciate your tree as a tasty treat for their goats.”

While Denzel Mitchell Jr., executive director of the Farm Alliance of Baltimore, would rather avoid chopping down trees, he endorses the real thing versus plastic, particularly as it benefits the local economy. 

“My ideal choice would be to leave the trees outside to do their job of cleaning the air we breathe,” he said. “However, if you must buy a tree, then buy a live one grown organically from a local small business owner.”

With the holidays in full swing, environmental advocates like Mitchell and Heberlig highlight the importance of understanding the benefits of Christmas trees and knowing what to do with them once the season has passed. 

“It is a small step we can take at holiday time,” Heberlig said, “that can lead to more resilient local waters and communities.”

With watering and care, a Christmas tree can last up to four or five weeks, according to an October 2025 Better Homes and Gardens report.

Once families are ready to get rid of their trees, the District of Columbia Department of Public Works (DPW) offers environmentally conscious annual protocols for District residents to follow.   

“I listen to the news to see when DPW is doing their tree collection,” Daniel told The Informer. “I put them in the designated space so that they can pick them up and properly dispose of them or recycle them.”

DPW requires residents to discard holiday trees and greenery using the curbside tree boxes and the three drop-off locations— Bryant Street Sweep Shop and Guy Mason Recreation Center, both in Northwest, and DPW Salt Storage Facility in Southeast. 

“The D.C. Department of Public Works (DPW) will collect holiday trees and greenery from Jan. 2 through Feb. 28 from DPW-serviced households, which include single-family homes and apartment dwellings with three or fewer units,” according to DPW. “Natural holiday trees and greenery take up a lot of space and should never be placed within D.C.’s food waste drop-off bins.”

A longtime farmer and environmental advocate, Mitchell also offered advice on tree disposal, especially if a family does it themselves.

“When the season is over, ensure [the tree] is chipped and composted,” he told The Informer.

While she wasn’t always aware of their environmental pros, live trees have done more for Daniel than make her season merry and bright.

“I dropped a branch one time and it replanted in my yard— up under my dogwood— and then took root,” she explained.

Now that she’s aware of the added value they bring, the mother and paraprofessional in D.C. Public Schools plans to preach the good sustainability news about Christmas trees.

“I’m letting [my children] know that by using this real tree, we are giving back to Mother Earth, and by recycling it the proper way, we are still giving back to Mother Earth,” she said.

A father of five, Mitchell noted that lessons about the value of trees can come from purchasing them with a local entrepreneur, all the way to disposal, particularly when highlighting the story behind the beautiful addition to the home.

Teach the babies that the tree was probably once the play and resting place to dozens of animals.

While Daniel is excited about the newfound knowledge of Christmas trees, as an educator raising two young children, she emphasized the importance of encouraging the appreciation of nature beyond the holiday season.

“Teaching about the environment and nature is important to my parenting because I want my kids to know that their footprints affect the Earth,” she said, “and everything that they do on this Earth affects how long this Earth will live and how healthy this Earth is.”