For some, artificial Christmas trees can take some of the stress out of a busy holiday season, Piepenbrink says. “With an artificial tree, you’ll save time on the set-up of your Christmas tree and you won’t need to remember to water it.”

Because it’s low maintenance, there’s no worry that the tree won’t last through the entire holiday season, adds Hannah Bartlett, co-founder of Jolly Festive, a year-round Christmas-inspired online blog. Bartlett also adds that it may be easier to decorate an artificial tree. “The branches can be manipulated into position to secure ornaments and ribbon, and they tend to be bushier than their real counterparts,” she explains.

You can also pick the exact size, style, and shape of the tree you want, as opposed to kind of trying your luck when you’re shopping for a real one. It also helps that some artificial Christmas trees can be purchased pre-lit, which also saves you some time when it comes to decorating it, Bartlett adds.

Finally, Piepenbrink says that artificial trees are a cost-effective option. “A great artificial Christmas tree may run you a couple hundred bucks, but you’ll be able to use it for years!”