Cindy Lawrence went Christmas tree shopping at Lowe’s on Monday during her lunch hour and her preference for a live one was clear from the entrance she used.

Lawrence used the Garden Center entrance — where the store’s live trees are kept. The artificial trees are located inside the store, closer to the main entrance.

More and more, shoppers are using the main entrance, based on recent trends.

While sales of both types have trees have grown in recent years, artificial trees are becoming increasingly popular. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, Americans spent $2.35 billion on trees last Christmas, almost equally divided between live and artificial trees. However, sales of artificial trees has grown by 79 percent since 2010 (14.2 million in 2013).

The trend appears to be reflected locally. The Dispatch recently posted an online poll asking people their preference. Out of 118 responders, 89 (75 percent) said they have an artificial tree this year.

Lawrence is among the hold-outs. She can’t imagine ever going “artificial.”

“At this point, I don’t think I’ll ever go with an artificial tree,” said Lawrence, director for the Lowndes County Emergency Management Authority. “I’ve had a live tree all my life, even as a child. To me, it’s so much a part of the Christmas tradition — picking out the tree and taking my time decorating it. It wouldn’t be the same.”

Caroline Swedenburg, whose family first began selling live Christmas trees at a farm on Lehmberg Road in 1978, says she doesn’t worry much about trends. She doesn’t know exactly how many trees they plant each year or even how many they sell.

“We plant about the same number every year and what the deer don’t tear up or the summer weather doesn’t kill, that’s what we sell,” she said

For the past two years, the Swedenburgs have exhausted their supply well before Christmas. This year, the Swedenburgs sold out of trees on Dec. 7.

“We sell most of our trees to regular customers, people who come here every year for a tree,’ Swedenburg says. “We also get a lot of customers from Columbus Air Force Base, too.”

Prices for both live and artificial trees vary, depending largely on size. The cost of a live tree can typically range from as little as $20 to $200 or more. Artificial trees can range from roughly $100 to $1,000 or more. Artificial tree fanciers argue that, though more expensive, the artificial trees are a better value in the long run since they can be used year after year. It is estimated that the “lifespan” of an artificial tree ranges from six to 10 years.

Melissa Silas, an assistant store manager at Lowe’s in Columbus, says sales of both live and artificial trees have been good this season. Nationally, one in three Christmas trees are now purchased from large chain stores such as Lowe’s.

“It’s really a matter of preference,” she says.

Anecdotally, Silas has observed that live trees are particularly popular among families with small children.

“Our live trees are in our garden center and we kind of make it an event out there,” she says. “We have music and hot chocolate. I think a lot of parents like live trees because they make shopping for the three each year part of their Christmas tradition. Kids like to help pick out just the right tree. It’s a part of the season.”

Although artificial trees have been around for a long time, Silas said the latest trees have many features the old artificial trees did not have, including lights, even music. There are even tree “perfumes” that can be sprayed on the artificial tree that replicates the aroma of the traditional live tree.

“I think those things have really been a boost to sales of the aritifical trees,” Silas said. “But what I hear from most people who buy artificial trees is that they like the convenience of it.”

Trees sales will begin to decline after today.

“Usually, this week and the week before are the busiest times for Christmas tree sales,” she said.

While Slias remains fond of live trees, she has had an artificial tree in her home in Steens for the past 10 years.

“I have two large dogs,” she says. “I got tired of them drinking up all of the tree water.”

Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].