Artificial Christmas Trees?

[Jaya]

I'm probably the only person who's killed an artificial tree. Our first Christmas in Florida, we bought an artificial tree (the lives ones were expensive and, well, really *dead* by the time they got to Florida). Everything was great, but, unfortunately, I stored it in the attic til the next Christmas. Got it down, set it up and the branches started breaking off. The intense heat in the attic had cooked it. I had to tie the branches on with fishing line just to get through Christmas. Went back to real trees for a few years and then back to artificial trees, but never stored one in the attic again.

 

[Jeff_G]

I love the smell and feel of real trees, but my DS (just turned 1) picks up and eats anything on the ground and i'm concerned with pine needles.

Wouldn't the pine needle be better then eating what ever plastic and other material the artificial tree is made out of? How much lead and who know what else might be in the artificial tree?

 

[lizabu]

I wouldn't write off a prelit tree. On the off chance part of the tree won't light you can just string lights on that section of the tree and no one will ever know.

 

[DLgal]

Wouldn't the pine needle be better then eating what ever plastic and other material the artificial tree is made out of? How much lead and who know what else might be in the artificial tree?

This is a fair point. We actually used tiny tabletop fake trees until my youngest was 2 for this reason.

Fake trees actually contain enough lead that children really should not touch them if they are still at the age where they put their hands/fingers in their mouths.

Good quality fake trees don't really "shed" though. I've had to pick up a needle here or there but they only come off in the process of packing/unpacking. They are not easy to remove and they are not constantly littered around the tree like happens with real ones.

 

[yellowjacketfan]

I have replaced many bulbs on my 9 ft prelit. I don't think it is any harder than on a regular string of lights. Just my experience.

 

[Leshaface]

We bought one from http://www.treeclassics.com/ 9 years ago and it still looks beautiful.

Thanks everyone for your replies!

Jeff_G - I got to thinking about that too and was wondering about a really good quality tree perhaps that doesn't lose its needles as much, which means i'll probably be paying more for it.

The website that KristiMc gave is where i'll be purchasing our tree from! The Fraser Fir has amazing reviews and until midnight tonight, it's 50% off and free shipping! Can't pass that up. And definitely getting an un-lit tree. Thanks Kristi

 

[wishesuponastar]

Someone bought our Christmas tree from Craigslist. I sold it for $30

 

[tvguy]

Holy moly, for those prices, the trees better be gorgeous!

You peeked my curiosity, so I looked. $129 or so isn't bad considering a real tree last year started at about $49.99 here. 3 years use, and you're saving money. Ours is 26 years old. Just sold my parents artificial tree, it had to be close to 45 years old, lady snapped it right up at the garage sale.

 

[tvguy]

Wouldn't the pine needle be better then eating what ever plastic and other material the artificial tree is made out of? How much lead and who know what else might be in the artificial tree?

DW and I have done soooo many stories on house fires started by real Christmas trees, I still would be more concerned about that than lead in an artificial tree. No real candles in the house anymore either, just too dangerous.

 

[KristiMc]

Thanks everyone for your replies!

Jeff_G - I got to thinking about that too and was wondering about a really good quality tree perhaps that doesn't lose its needles as much, which means i'll probably be paying more for it.

The website that KristiMc gave is where i'll be purchasing our tree from! The Fraser Fir has amazing reviews and until midnight tonight, it's 50% off and free shipping! Can't pass that up. And definitely getting an un-lit tree. Thanks Kristi

Glad I could help Alicia. I hope you enjoy your tree as much as we have ours. I actually have 2 trees from them. About 6 years ago, I bought a smaller one to put in our front room. It is my Disney tree.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I got mine used at a yard sale about 15 years ago and it's still going strong. I paid $20 for a nice fat 7 footer.

If you go saling or hit the thrift stores, trees do eventually turn up. Garage sales are really good for this! I also have a bunch of antique glass ornaments from the 40's and 50's, and I got those at garage sales as well.

(Sadly, there will be no breakable ornaments this year. We have a 1.5 year old cat!)

 

[Swimalie]

Wouldn't the pine needle be better then eating what ever plastic and other material the artificial tree is made out of? How much lead and who know what else might be in the artificial tree?

Very true. And artificial trees never break down in landfills and most are kept only 7 years. Real trees are gone but replaced and will break down once done. As for fire hazard, we use non-heat generating lights and have for over 10 years with the same strands. No problems and always had a real tree in my 43 years.

A more environmentally friendly solution would be to get a gate around the tree to keep her from eating what drops on the floor. Something like this http://www.target.com/p/superyard-x...i_sku=541446&gclid=CLLd1YGb1boCFTBnOgodZHYASw

 

[JanaDee]

You peeked my curiosity, so I looked. $129 or so isn't bad considering a real tree last year started at about $49.99 here. 3 years use, and you're saving money. Ours is 26 years old. Just sold my parents artificial tree, it had to be close to 45 years old, lady snapped it right up at the garage sale.

Most of the ones I would buy from that site are $500 or $600, at 50% off.

We cut our own every year for $35, so the tree would long be worn out and trashed before I'd recoup that expense.

 

[luvsJack]

Bought mine at Home Depot a couple of years ago on Black Friday. Its a pre-lit tree and very pretty. We do add some lights to it though. It looks as good now as it did when I got it; better actually since we finally convinced the cat to quit climbing in it!

I think I paid $100 and it was normally a $250 tree.

Look around, you don't have to pay $500 to get a nice artificial tree. Mine looks as good as some of the ones at Hobby Lobby that are 2x as much as the original price. And it doesn't shed.

 

[ImDMous]

I like www. treetopia. com/ also. I got a great black tree there for all our Star Wars and Star Trek ornaments. They look like they are having a 50% off sale right now too.

 

[Robbi]

I've always bought prelit trees but I also buy extra lights. One tip is to buy the icicle type lights people use to decorate the exterior of their houses. These lights are well spaced and lie down beautifully on the tree branches.

 

[tvguy]

Most of the ones I would buy from that site are $500 or $600, at 50% off.

We cut our own every year for $35, so the tree would long be worn out and trashed before I'd recoup that expense.

Not sure how much wear your Christmas tree gets, but it should outlast you, so in 20 years, even at $600, you'd be money ahead.

 

[Swimalie]

Not sure how much wear your Christmas tree gets, but it should outlast you, so in 20 years, even at $600, you'd be money ahead.

The average is to replace a tree every 7 years.

http://www.science20.com/science_motherhood/great_debate_real_vs_artificial_christmas_trees

 

[tvguy]

The average is to replace a tree every 7 years.

http://www.science20.com/science_motherhood/great_debate_real_vs_artificial_christmas_trees

After only 7 uses? I'm at least three times past that with mine, and my mom's that I sold this year has to be 45 years old, and now has another family to enjoy it.

 

[Swimalie]

After only 7 uses? I'm at least three times past that with mine, and my mom's that I sold this year has to be 45 years old, and now has another family to enjoy it.

Yup, 7 years is the average that I have heard. I do believe that most people keep them longer. I think my mother in law's is over 20 years. But the age doesn't matter much since they sit in landfills for decades after use.