Why buy when you can rent...Christmas trees, that is. If you're still mulling over getting a tree this holiday season, here's one option to consider: The Living Christmas Co. rents out a variety of live trees (potted with roots) and delivers your choice of tree to your door and picks it up after the holidays are over.
Post-holidays, the trees either resume growing at the nursery, get donated to a tree planting organization, or become a part of the Urban Reforestation Project. Most trees are available to rent in a seven-year span before they get planted, and the Living Christmas Co. even offers a "tree adoption" plan where you can pick one particular tree to be sent to your home every Christmas until it finds its permanent home.
So how much does it cost? Well, the price tag is definitely is a bit more than what you'd expect from the average Christmas tree lot. The prices run from $135 for 6'-7' tall trees to about $50 for 2'-3' ft trees (price includes delivery and pick-up).
What do you think of this idea? Is this something you would consider doing? Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments!
For more information on The Living Christmas Co, check out their website here.
(Images: The Living Christmas Co.)
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Comments (16)
No thanks.
Absolutely, if it wasn't so expensive! But it's a great idea instead of killing tons of trees every year. Said that, I grew up in Brazil, where xmas is during the summer. Fake trees = real xmas for me.
I hate to kill a tree, but I can go across the street and buy a live one for less and throw it away after Christmas. It's not as if these sellers don't have massive tree farms. I think these guys are taking advantage of the whole green trend.
it's a decent idea but too pricey. If it were $40 - $50 dollars for a 5 foot tree then i would do it, but over $100? can't do it.
Pricey, but I'd do it for the following value:
-don't have to worry about storing the tree stand the other 11 months of the year
-living tree means the dry winds won't turn it into kindling the day after it's put up
-someone else gets to maneuver it up the stairs
-not going to landfill on 1/2
Worth it for me but too late for this year's budget, I'll definitely put it in for next year.
It's an interesting theory but the posters here hit it on the head. The christmas tree farmers grow their trees in vacant land that if it weren't for their industry would not be forested at all. If anything they are helping the environment. Trucking a tree all around could not be such a green idea.
I LOVE IT!
I'm an event planner, and I think this is a great idea. Yes, it's more expensive than buying a cut tree and hauling it home yourself, but you're paying for the handling/delivery/pickup charges and the nursery expenses on top of the actual tree. Considering that delivery charges for the decor rental places in my city run $75 and up for even a single tablecloth, from an event professional's perspective, I actually think the prices are quite reasonable.
I also love the idea of having a living tree, but as an urban apartment-dweller I don't have a garden to plant it in after the holidays. I will definitely consider using this service next year.
In my town, as long as you buy an approved species, you can donate a living tree bought from a nursery to the city to plant after Christmas. Much cheaper than this.
That's pretty much the price of a tree around here, so that would be great in VA. Plus like someone said, I wouldn't have to haul it home, haul it to the place where dead trees go along with the pine needles that will leave a trail along the way. Though I do have one caveat...cats. I'm sure they would tear it up before it's picked up...so much for the tree eh?
I don't know if the Seattle IKEA is doing this or not still but they would work with a tree farm to bring in trees, you pay a price for the tree (mine were in the 6' range), haul it home in the trunk of my car and when done, take it back for a $10 gift certificate and they chip the tree into mulch to be used elsewhere, if not on the property.
Prices were not bad, I think in actuality, they were less than many places but getting all the way out to Renton where IKEA is and bringing it back to my flat in Seattle was a hassle, then hauling it up to my then 2nd floor flat, saw off the bottom inch or two BEFORE getting it into my parents old tree stand that I still have and hope it takes water and stays green through at least Christmas day.
Nice idea but...
Today, it's the $18 green fake non lit tree I bought at Big Lots, thankyouverymuch. :-)
I would consider it if it wasn't so expensive - it's just not realistic on the budget we have set here.
IKEA IN San Diego sold trees, but no where else in SoCal. Which bites. But I'd rather keep tree farmers in business, thanks. Delancey Street is a great program and I always buy trees from them. Lot on Hollywood Blvd, and one in Pasadena, I think.
Where is everyone else buying their trees? Both as a kid in CT and out here in LA, trees run AT LEAST $50 for a decent one, and often more if you're looking for something really nice.
Personally, I don't have the budget for any tree, at all, but if I did I would definitely fork over the extra 50 bucks for the convenience of having the tree delivered right to my doorstep.
Of course, it would be a little more as well, because you would definitely have to drop a tip, but I like the idea of keeping the plant alive, rather than killing a new one year after year.
stylefyles - I got my artificial tree from my mother when he got a new one (which is about the same time I moved out weirdly enough). I was with her when she got both - neither cost over $30. Again, they are about three foot trees since neither of us have big spaces - but I'd rather spend $30 and figure out how to store it for the next idk ten years than pay $500 over the next ten years to rent one the same size I have.
i tried to get one but found out they didn't deliver to pasadena. you can fill out a form to try to get them to deliver to your area if there is enough demand. i tried sending 3 emails to find if i could pick one up or something, but i never heard back. while i think they must have had some technical problems, it turned me off to their site. we ended up getting a 7' tree from home depot for 35 bucks.
Tree Rentals
Be careful with the black pines for christmas trees, planting they can bring a root diseases to you other trees. We rent Spruce trees. See tree rental for more information about Christmas tree rental service with free delivery and pick-up.