buying a Christmas Tree

[hbprodirect]

Hi, whats the best real type Christmas Tree to buy?

thanks

[atnas]

The real spruce, growing in a court yard, is the best deal.

[markgbarba1987]

Artificial ones doesnt really work for me anymore.. The real ones really look nice and they smell good as well. So I'd prefer that.. :tree1:

[steph535]

it depends on what you like and what you are looking for in a tree. Spruces are gorgeous, but don't retain their needles as long as some others. Do you like long needles? Short needles? There are several good ones to choose from. What kinds are available in your area? My favorites are balsam and frasier fir. Frasier firs retain their needles the best, I think and balsams are the most fragrant and retain their needles quite well, too. Scotch pines are not among my favorites, but they have sturdy branches for hanging heavier ornaments on.

[Papa_Christmas]

When I lived up North and cut my own tree every year I always liked a Norway or a Blue Spruce never liked long needles for my Christmas Tree.The spruce trees always worked well for all my heavy ornaments.:christmastree:

[nyquiyup]

:merrychristmas:I bought a prelit 7 footer at Home Depot last year. The lights on the middle section promptly died, so I called the store, and got a replacement. Then another section, and another. I have probably 30 hours into switching bulbs on this drat thing. In the past I had real trees, and I just left the lights on the tree when I threw it out.

My advice is buy one without lights and save yourself some serious foot-stomping temper tantrums in front of young children like my prelit tree has caused.:home:

[vijendrasnv]

Animated Christmas trees are looking gorgeous but the always need a safety to handle them.Although these ceramics trees are also good.
Thanks.

[dees473]

I actually just bought an artificial one. It looks as real as any tree you can buy off of the lot. You don't have to worry about a tangle of lights every year. The branches are strong enough to handle larger ornaments. The warranty on it was too good to pass up.

[MissSantaClaus]

We always have a Nordmann fir. Thats the best ever :) The smell is amazing also the quality. The needles are perfect.

[olga]

I actually just bought an artificial one. It looks as real as any tree you can buy off of the lot. You don't have to worry about a tangle of lights every year. The branches are strong enough to handle larger ornaments. The warranty on it was too good to pass up.

I bought an artificial tree, (2.50m) last year, excellent quality with hinged branches for easy assembly..
I had payed around 180-200 euros and Im really happy, knowing that this tree will always decorate my home next years... :smitten:

I dont know, for me, artificial trees are convenient..
No shopping for tree, no dragging a wet tree home, no dropped needles all over the house, no worrying about watering the tree etc..

Of course, a disadvanage having an artifical Christmas tree is that I have to assemble it each year, take it apart, and then store it somewhere..
Most Christmas trees come apart in several main pieces - Thank God, mine has 3 pieces..

The only thing I miss about having a real one, is the missing smell of fresh cut pine and pine needles.. :santa:

:merrychristmas:

[Mistletoe]

I unfortunately am being out-voted and am looking to buy an artificial tree. From what I can discern, I think I want a 6 or 6.5 ft Nordic Spruce (which I can't seem to find). I would like to know what brand and kind people here have found to be their favorite, and if they know of a good company to buy them from. I've seen the 'Real Feel' kind that sounds appealing, but I'm not sure if I'm falling for the hype. :elf2:

[ornamentmaven]

I have always purchased mine based on price, fullness - yet slimline, 7 foot, prelit with clear lights. I have no idea what kind of tree it is supposed to emulate! I put so many ornaments on it, you can barely see the tree anyway! I will look at the box the next time I am out in the shed!

[wstaple]

If you have a Hobby Lobby near you, they usually have their trees 50% off the week of Thanksgiving. You might want to go and look at them to see what you like.

[chocolatechip1979]

We always buy our trees from http://www.balsamhill.com They last forever and there are so may styles to choose from. We have 2 Vermont White Spruce trees. Also when Michaels has their trees up they have great sales on top of coupons you can usually stack. Just to get the fresh tree smell in the air may I recommend Scentsicles. They are scented tree stick ornaments that blend into the tree and smell awesome.

[ornamentmaven]

I usually use the Scenticles as well. Nothing compares to fresh however!

[Mistletoe]

I have always purchased mine based on price, fullness - yet slimline, 7 foot, prelit with clear lights. I have no idea what kind of tree it is supposed to emulate! I put so many ornaments on it, you can barely see the tree anyway! I will look at the box the next time I am out in the shed!

I thought the pre-lit aren't worth it, since the strands frequently burn out or malfunction...?

[Mistletoe]

If you have a Hobby Lobby near you, they usually have their trees 50% off the week of Thanksgiving. You might want to go and look at them to see what you like.

Thanks for the idea, I just found out we do have one near us!

[Mistletoe]

We always buy our trees from http://www.balsamhill.com They last forever and there are so may styles to choose from. We have 2 Vermont White Spruce trees. Also when Michaels has their trees up they have great sales on top of coupons you can usually stack. Just to get the fresh tree smell in the air may I recommend Scentsicles. They are scented tree stick ornaments that blend into the tree and smell awesome.


I had been admiring the trees at Balsam Hill. I didn't realize how expensive artificial trees were! Have you had your lights malfunction on a pre-lit Balsam Hill tree?
Our Michael's store doesn't sell trees, which is strange, since it's a pretty big store. I see them online, though.
I will try the Scentsicles- thanks for the idea! I am very sad to be going to artificial! :crying:

[Mistletoe]

I usually use the Scenticles as well. Nothing compares to fresh however!

And I feel the life of the tree, along with the smell... http://www.allthingschristmas.com/forum/images/smilies/sad%20elf.gif Not to mention the whole tradition of going and cutting it down, passing other people on the way home with their trees... I hope I get used to artificial quickly!

[ornamentmaven]

And I feel the life of the tree, along with the smell... http://www.allthingschristmas.com/forum/images/smilies/sad%20elf.gif Not to mention the whole tradition of going and cutting it down, passing other people on the way home with their trees... I hope I get used to artificial quickly!

Yes - I would prefer to have a live tree, I just find it too cumbersome to handle now! We first got an artificial tree years ago when my husband had surgery in late November and wasn't able to set a real tree up. Then I started developing health issues, so the artificial tree just became SOOOOOOOO much easier. No needle mess, no watering, no lifting issues, no pet issues, no drying out, no "falling down" (we came back from an overnight trip one year to find our tree flat on the floor with many broken keepsake ornaments). It has become increasing difficult to find an artificial tree that is not pre-lit these days. I like the ease of pre-lit, but get frustrated by lights not working.
:christmastree:

[Mistletoe]

Well, four years ago I splurged and bought an artificial tree from Balsam Hill for my bedroom. It has clear and colored incandescent lights on it and a remote where I could have either color or both. I loved it. This year when I put up the tree (the first year out of warranty), no lights worked. I spent HOURS on the phone with tech support. After wanting me to check all the bulbs on the tree, among other things, we finally got the clear lights to work (the remote ensemble wasn't working). We could not get the colored lights to come on. Balsam Hill refused to sell me the original remote ensemble replacement, saying it was only available to people still under warranty, but I could buy their new remote that would only work with clear lights (no thanks). To mollify me they told me they would send me some colored lights that I could string on the tree myself, even though they normally only do that for people still under warranty. The purpose of me spending that kind of money was so I did not have to string lights. In 2 weeks I received a package of clear lights. When I contacted the company again to tell them that they sent the wrong color, I was told that that was all they could do for me, since I was no longer under warranty. I then asked how to remove the casing that the two strings of lights went into to plug into the remote sensor, since it appeared that they were triangle top screws. He told me to use a screwdriver head I already tried and all it did was spin, as if the screw was stripped. He ended up sending me a random YouTube video with a guy saying he had a hard time also finding something that would unscrew these types of screws and offered suggestions. I still haven't been able to get the casing off. Balsam Hill refused to send/sell me the tool that would do it.

Looking for a place online to write a bad review about them, I came across so many complaints about them (including the Better Business Bureau). I would never have guessed that a company that looks so well put together could be this bad. If they had told me that I was paying that much money for three years of use I never would have considered it.

I heartily regret giving them any of my money.

[JollyElfDC]

Well, four years ago I splurged and bought an artificial tree from Balsam Hill for my bedroom. It has clear and colored incandescent lights on it and a remote where I could have either color or both. I loved it. This year when I put up the tree (the first year out of warranty), no lights worked. I spent HOURS on the phone with tech support. After wanting me to check all the bulbs on the tree, among other things, we finally got the clear lights to work (the remote ensemble wasn't working). We could not get the colored lights to come on. Balsam Hill refused to sell me the original remote ensemble replacement, saying it was only available to people still under warranty, but I could buy their new remote that would only work with clear lights (no thanks). To mollify me they told me they would send me some colored lights that I could string on the tree myself, even though they normally only do that for people still under warranty. The purpose of me spending that kind of money was so I did not have to string lights. In 2 weeks I received a package of clear lights. When I contacted the company again to tell them that they sent the wrong color, I was told that that was all they could do for me, since I was no longer under warranty. I then asked how to remove the casing that the two strings of lights went into to plug into the remote sensor, since it appeared that they were triangle top screws. He told me to use a screwdriver head I already tried and all it did was spin, as if the screw was stripped. He ended up sending me a random YouTube video with a guy saying he had a hard time also finding something that would unscrew these types of screws and offered suggestions. I still haven't been able to get the casing off. Balsam Hill refused to send/sell me the tool that would do it.

Looking for a place online to write a bad review about them, I came across so many complaints about them (including the Better Business Bureau). I would never have guessed that a company that looks so well put together could be this bad. If they had told me that I was paying that much money for three years of use I never would have considered it.

I heartily regret giving them any of my money.

Sorry to read of your bad experience.
I wanted a prelit tree for the convenience, but everyone I knew who had them said the lights go out after a few years, and they're really hard to get off. I was also told those trees are very heavy. I still like the idea, but until they improve, I will just deal with stringing the lights myself.

[Mistletoe]

Sorry to read of your bad experience.
I wanted a prelit tree for the convenience, but everyone I knew who had them said the lights go out after a few years, and they're really hard to get off. I was also told those trees are very heavy. I still like the idea, but until they improve, I will just deal with stringing the lights myself.
Thanks for your sympathy. I was so happy to be splurging on myself with it- 3 years was not enough! I am going to just string colored lights over what's there and hopefully find a remote that will work with the 2 sets of lights. Actually, I'm mentally prepared for next year and the white lights to stop working. Live and learn.

[Bishop1954]

I have used artificial trees for some time now. Basically due to the fact you can put them up earlier and they last longer. Also, depending on the real tree, heavier ornaments make the branch sag (unless you place them close to the trunk). I do not get pre-lit trees, since I have noticed how fast the lights go out and for me, it is just as easy to string my own. That way I can change from white to colored lights and even put on some of the old C-7 lights with twinkle bulbs. One tree is up all year long and is decorated for the season. Right now, it has a Thanksgiving theme, but also CIJ (Christmas in July) and St Patrick's Day. :tree1:

[Elf_Erv]

looking to buy a super slim artificial Christmas tree, perhaps after Christmas on a super sale! :christmastree:

[Bishop1954]

I have one that I refer to as my pencil tree. It is nearly 7' tall, but probable not more than 3' in circumference... :christmastree:

[Mistletoe]

looking to buy a super slim artificial Christmas tree, perhaps after Christmas on a super sale! :christmastree:
I want one also!

[Bishop1954]

I may pick up a seedling this year, just to have the Christmas aroma in my home... :santa1:

[Mistletoe]

I may pick up a seedling this year, just to have the Christmas aroma in my home... :santa1:
Do the little ones have a strong smell?

[Bishop1954]

Not real strong, but it might be nice near the dining table... :waving:

[Mistletoe]

Not real strong, but it might be nice near the dining table... :waving:

Would you plant it in your yard afterward? Or keep it as a houseplant?

[Bishop1954]

If I can keep it on the smaller side, in the yard. Then decorate it for 2024... :tree:

[Mistletoe]

If I can keep it on the smaller side, in the yard. Then decorate it for 2024... :tree:
That's what I would want, too. :christmastree:

[Bishop1954]

The main reasons I have artificial in my home, is not just the lack of watering or pine needles, but instead the fact that they will last far longer and if some of your ornaments are on the heavy side, they can hold them without sagging... :santa1: