This might be a little on the late side but here are some tips if you decide to go with an artificial tree. I especially like the one about buying an American (and I'll add in Canadian!) made tree.

If you do choose to go with an artificial Christmas tree for your holiday celebrations, buy one that has been made in America. This will greatly decrease the chances for contamination with lead or other toxins, preserves much-needed domestic manufacturing jobs and reduce shipping.

Deciding what type of Christmas tree is greenest is no easy task, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Real trees bring a slice of nature into your home, sequester carbon emissions and provide some habitat when they are raised, which is mostly on farms these days. They also require a lot of fuel to ship (unless you can find a locally raised one) and may be farmed intensively, with pesticides that can drift into the environment.

Artificial trees are the choice of about 70 percent of Americans. They can last for decades, even generations, if taken care of, meaning no new resources are needed. They are made of petroleum products, however, typically polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is known to release toxic byproducts during manufacture. Most fake trees come from China, and a number have been cited for toxic contaminants. They also generally aren't recyclable, though you can always donate them to others.