Of the total population of people in the US who put up a Christmas
tree, what % cut-down their own tree (like at a nursery), what % get a
pre-cut tree from a lot or similiar, and what % put up an artificial
tree?

dmband...

With the upcoming holiday season, your question caught my eye and made
me wonder, just where are we getting our trees.  Growing up, we always
went to a lot and got our tree.  Fake trees looked just like that:
fake.  Now, however, I do have a fake tree that looks as real as one
you would get from a lot.  Of course, it is missing that great smell,
but you can always get pine scented air freshner.  There are some
surprising statistics regarding Christmas trees.
According to the National Christmas Tree Association, in 2001: (all
numbers rounded to the nearest percent):

Of the homes that had Christmas trees:
27,800,000 had real trees (32%)
60,269,000 had fake trees (68%)

What is interesting about these numbers is that from 2000 to 2001,
this was the largest jump (over 10 million) in the use of fake trees
since 1990 and the biggest drop (over 5 million) in the use of real
trees.

The overall reported use of trees:
24% had a real tree
52% had a fake tree
23% had no tree at all

The surprising statistic, in my view, was where people got their
trees:
17% got them at retail locations (WalMart, etc)
15% got them from non-profits (Boy Scouts, Churches)
21% got them from traditional lots
33% got them from a Choose and Harvest farm (nursery)
14% didn't know or other

I would have thought those that came from lots would be higher, but it
would seem those that are still using real tress are sticking to the
tradition of going out, walking around a "forest" (nursery) and
picking their tree.  Not a bad thing.

Thanks for a great question!  I truly enjoyed researching it.  If you
need any further clarification, please let me know!

Happy Holidays!

-THV

Search Strategy:
Christmas Tree Statistics

Reference:
National Christmas Tree Association Industry Statistics:
http://www.realchristmastrees.org/industry.html

An exhaustive and well-researched answer indeed!!!  Exactly what I
needed for the project I'm working on. Thank you very much!

Hi dmband,

I have no idea what the answer to this will reveal as far as actual
statistics are concerned; I'll be as interested as you to read about
it. But, that being said, I'd like to offer you what my experience
(and it's long) has been to date.
Younger people want REAL trees -- real and big. As people get older
they want smaller trees and eventually, really small and artificial
ones. When the 'I don't want ANY tree' syndrome kicks in, people want
to decorate their largest house plant. Finally, the kids force
grandparents to have a tree 'for the sake of the kids.' Lordy, I've
been the kid, I've been the parent, and I'm now the grandparent.  Been
there, done that.  Bah humbug, eh?     :)

BAH HUMBUG indeed!!!

Anyway, I always felt dreadfully guilty about tearing out a tree by
its roots.  So I settled for a plakky one.  But then what's the
point....  ?????
Spending the money on champagne instead this year :)
tehuti, from the E. Midlands

It would be interesting to know how many people still go out in the
woods and cut their own 'natural' tree.