Natural vs. artificial: Which Christmas tree option is better for the climate?

It's that time of the year when people venture out in search for the best holiday sales and wrap presents. But what's the best kind of tree to put them under?

While some revel in the scent of a real tree and the joy of picking one out at a local farm, others prefer the simplicity of artificial trees they can reuse for Christmases to come.

But consumers are becoming more climate-conscious, and considering which tree has the lowest impact on our rapidly warming planet has become a vital part of the holiday decision. Plus, choosing a planet-friendly tree will likely get you on Santa's good list.

So, which kind of tree has the lowest carbon footprint - a natural tree or a store-bought plastic tree? It's complicated, experts say.

"It's definitely a lot more nuanced and complex than you think," Andy Finton, the landscape conservation director and forest ecologist for the Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts, told CNN.

We've made a list - and checked it twice - of the things to know before you choose between real and artificial.

It's easy to imagine that reusing an artificial tree year after year is the more sustainable option. But Finton says that if an artificial tree is used for six years - the average amount of time people tend to keep them - "the carbon cost is definitely greater" than for a natural tree.