Christmas trees are one of the most traditional decorative items of this time of year. They help bring the festive atmosphere to homes, businesses, and the streets of the city. However, the choice between natural and artificial trees often raises doubts. After all, can Christmas decorations harm the health of the plants? According to Ricardo Cardim, a botanist and landscape architect at CASACOR, choosing natural trees has its advantages - but it also requires some care. “There are more benefits than problems. These decorations create a charm for the trees in people, which are a vital living element for our survival in cities.” Thus, the most important thing is to pay attention to the way decorations are placed on the trees. With the right choices of methods and materials, Christmas becomes even more conscious and sustainable. See the tips below! Possible damage to tree health There are two types of risks that Christmas decorations can pose to natural trees when poorly installed: physical and physiological. The first refers to the use of nails, wires, and other piercing objects to fix decorative items. They create wounds that open doors to diseases, in addition to adding extra weight to the plant. “What we absolutely cannot do is hurt the tree. Never fasten clips that do not allow the tree to grow, such as those made of nylon or iron. Never insert any kind of nail or material inside the tree that will cause an injury. They allow the entry of fungi, bacteria, and make the tree sick and/or rusty,” advises Cardim. Regarding physiological risks, there is prolonged exposure to excess lights - especially those that are not LED. The contact is harmless if limited only to the festive season. However, the heat from the bulbs can heat the trunk and continuous lighting can interfere with the photosynthesis cycles of the tree if the famous twinkling lights are left on for longer periods. Care to avoid damage to trees Considering the damages pointed out, there are some possible care measures to avoid harming the health of natural trees. Biodegradable materials, such as cotton string, are the best substitutes for wires. Besides not hurting the plants, they do not harm the projects. Another advice is to avoid leaving Christmas lights on all year round. In this way, adopting natural trees becomes a better option for Christmas decoration compared to artificial ones – adding beauty and sustainability to the celebrations. Ricardo Cardim concludes: “I see this as an environmental education, which is very useful at this time of year. It is better for you to draw attention to live trees than to plastic trees, which I think is very bad taste.”
