It's Christmas! Time to start thinking about what kind of tree you want in your home this year.

Artificial trees may have their advantages - they're clean, with no needles all over the floor. You don't have to water them and you don't have to go out to tree lots to find one - just head down to your basement or upstairs to the attic.

But the Ontario Forestry Association (OFA) hopes revelers will consider a real tree with all its benefits this holiday season. OFA executive director Carla Grant says real trees are better than artificial ones for a variety of reasons.

"Christmas trees are grown on farms specifically for the holiday, and while growing, they take carbon dioxide out of the air, provide wildlife habitat and provide soil and water retention," said Ms. Grant in a news release.

"Real Christmas trees are also grown locally and are 100 per cent biodegradable, unlike artificial trees, which are often transported halfway around the world and are made from a nonbiodegradable petroleum based product that requires a lot of energy during the manufacturing process."

The OFA offers several tips for choosing a real Christmas tree. When selecting a pre-cut tree, brush your hands across the needles. The fewer needles that come off, the fresher the tree. Then, be sure there is sap running out of the cut on the trunk. This is also an indication of freshness.

"When cutting the tree yourself look for a straight trunk with few gaps in the branches," Ms. Grant said.

When you get the tree home you can ensure it stays fresh throughout the holiday season. You should cut at least two centimetres off the bottom of the trunk to provide a clean surface for the tree to take up water - without that clean surface the tree cannot take a drink.

Also be sure that the tree is watered once a day.

The OFAadds other reasons for choosing real over fake. Christmas trees are often raised on marginal land that wouldn't support other types of agriculture. One acre of christmas trees provides enough oxygen for 18 people daily.

The use of Christmas trees began in the 16th century when devout Christians began bringing decorated trees into their homes. Reputedly the first Christmas tree in Canada was in Sorel, Quebec in 1781.