What You Don't Know About Christmas Trees

Most of us prefer the fragrance of fresh pine from a real Christmas tree and not from a spray can, according to a new survey from the National Christmas Tree Association. In fact, nearly 70 percent of us will display a real Christmas tree, while only 16 percent will display an artificial tree.

Though it's clear that we love our Christmas trees, the NCTA knows that there are some crazy things that people have been told about Christmas trees over the years, which has confused consumers -- including us. What are some of the popular myths? The NCTA put together a list -- and we thought we'd debunk them on ShelterPop.

Myth: Real Christmas trees are cut down from forests.
Reality: Wrong. Most trees come from a farm where someone plants them. And each year, growers plant one to three seedlings for each tree harvested.

Myth: You save a tree by using a fake tree.
Reality: Not necessarily. Trees are a crop and they are planted by farmers to be used specifically as Christmas trees. Close to half a billion trees are currently growing on tree farms in the U.S. alone.

Myth: Real Christmas trees aggravate allergies.
Reality: In rare cases, people can have an allergy to a certain species of tree sap. As for pollens, a real tree is unlikely to produce pollen during December. But being outdoors for years in the field, a Christmas tree can collect pollens, dust, mold or other allergens. (But so can an artificial tree stored in the attic or basement.) To alleviate problems, spray a real or artificial tree in the yard with a hose and let dry completely before putting up.

Myth: It's better to use a fake tree because you can re-use it each year.
Reality: Listen up, greenies. This is just plain false. The NCTA says that based on research, most fake trees are only used six to nine years before they're disposed of, and, they'll all eventually end up in a landfill. Real trees, however, are biodegradable and recyclable.

Myth: Christmas trees are a fire safety hazard and frequently catch on fire.
Reality: Stop worrying. Regardless of all of the television news segments about indoor tree fires, it's actually extremely rare for a tree to ignite.

Myth: Real trees cost too much.
Reality: Prices vary by location, where the tree was harvested, species, size, grade, who's selling it and even sometimes day of the week. (If you buy closer to Christmas, the retailers will be desperate to unload their inventory for a cheap price.). You can spend $15 to over $200 on a tree in many places, but fake trees can be pricey, too.

Myth: Fake trees are fireproof.
Reality: False. Fake trees catch on fire every year. According to a report from the National Fire Protection Association, 28 percent of home fires that involve Christmas trees are actually due to artificial trees.