have to get an artificial christmas tree this year

[Luv Bunnies]

I also said I would never get an artificial tree. But after many years of trudging through muddy tree lots and paying an arm and a leg for a scrawny tree, we broke down and bought one about 7 years ago. It turned out to be a great investment. It's about 7 feet tall, not pre-lit and has to be assembled each year. I devised a system of bundling the branches with string and assigning them a number before I put them away. That way it's much easier to get them in the right spot on the trunk.

In our area, a nice, full 7-foot real tree costs over $60! We got our artificial tree for $75 because we bought it for 1/2 price the week after Christmas. We've saved tons of money over the years, not to mention the time it takes to find and set up a real one.

We bought a huge zip-up bag for storage and it holds all of the parts nicely. Our tree probably even saved me from injury in April. We keep it in the garage right outside the back door to the house. I was carrying a basket of laundry and going down the step and I twisted my ankle! I fell sideways right onto the tree bag and it broke my fall. I still sprained my ankle and limped around for several days. But if I hadn't fallen on the bag with the tree in it, I probably would have been hurt even worse! (Sorry for the digression...everytime I pass that tree bag I think of the time I fell but it also makes me look down for the step!).

 

[DISNEYNUTS]

Okay, so I was doing my Christmas tree "research", and I wanted opinions on what to go for. Do most people like height more than fullness?? slim trees??
I've also never done the pre-lit trees, does anyone have them, and are they worth the extra bucks?

Just wanted opinions, thanks!

we like both height and fullness, ours is also prelit and beautiful. we purchased from Bronners in Frankenmuth, MI, Also Known as the largest Christmas store in the World. Unless you are next to ours you cannot tell it is not real. sometimes even then people question. Check them out on line at Bronners.com they have some great sales right know. Spend the extra on a nice one and it will last for years.

 

[disneymomof2boyz]

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...3&productId=100641324&N=10000003+90401+530423

have any of you been to homedepot to look at the trees? If so what do you think of this one?

I haven't been to Home Depot, but I do plan on going. I looked at this one oneline and it looks nice, I like the fact that it's not overly green, and it has some brown in it so it looks more real.

I plan on stopping by later today to see the Christmas trees. I'll let you know if I see other interesting ones.

 

[Nie0214]

I've had both real and fake trees throughout my life. The cat would go spastic when there was a real tree, and a real tree was a lot of work.

Now that I'm single and out of the house for the first Christmas, I don't have any decorations. I was given a small fake tree that could go on a coffee-table and it's cute and festive and all I need. Christmas is what you make it!

 

[MommytoaSweetie]

We're looking for a fake tree this year, too! Last year was our 2nd year getting a real tree (before then our apartments were too small so we had a tiny tabletop fake one), and we did love getting them with the smell and even the falling needles . However, last year on Christmas morning we came downstairs to our tree totally fallen down, broken ornaments, and water on our daughter's new toys. We think it had just gotten too dry (despite constant watering!) and it wasn't as stable as we thought, so this year that experience plus our allergies (we all have them) plus our Disney vacation while the tree is up (how could we water it then?), we realized we just need to invest in a nice fake one. I still prefer the idea of a real one, but it's not always worth it I guess! Anyway, we need to go tree shopping soon and watch for sales... if anyone finds a great one out there for a good deal, please post!

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

We're looking for a fake tree this year, too! Last year was our 2nd year getting a real tree (before then our apartments were too small so we had a tiny tabletop fake one), and we did love getting them with the smell and even the falling needles . However, last year on Christmas morning we came downstairs to our tree totally fallen down, broken ornaments, and water on our daughter's new toys. We think it had just gotten too dry (despite constant watering!) and it wasn't as stable as we thought, so this year that experience plus our allergies (we all have them) plus our Disney vacation while the tree is up (how could we water it then?), we realized we just need to invest in a nice fake one. I still prefer the idea of a real one, but it's not always worth it I guess! Anyway, we need to go tree shopping soon and watch for sales... if anyone finds a great one out there for a good deal, please post!

In regards to your tree falling down, did you have a drilled tree with the pin in the bottom? We always got ours drilled to it would stand straighter. Also you can anchor your tree to the wall if you wanted to. Just giving you ideas in case you don't want to do the artificial tree yet.
Lori

 

[pigget74]

We put up a real tree every year knowing that we may have to take it down. The first year we tried a real tree oldest DD was 8 and was allergic to everything. It was after Katrina and by the time we thought about it there were no fake ones left that looked decent. So we went with a nice $40 real tree that we cut down. She did ok and we have done the same every year since. With the younger two we still say the same thing--depending on their asthma. We are going the day before we leave for Disney to tag our tree.

 

[MommytoaSweetie]

In regards to your tree falling down, did you have a drilled tree with the pin in the bottom? We always got ours drilled to it would stand straighter. Also you can anchor your tree to the wall if you wanted to. Just giving you ideas in case you don't want to do the artificial tree yet.
Lori

Thanks for the suggestion! We did have a drilled thing at the bottom, but it wasn't anchored to the wall. We discussed doing that this year, but the biggest thing this year is that we'll be gone (in WDW) for a week while the tree is up, and definitely don't want to leave a tree unwatered then (even with the fancy self-watering things). We may go back to a real tree at some point, though... we do love them!

 

[crisi]

We have our stand bolted to a 3x3 peice of plywood for stablity - did that when the kids were little and we worried about them pulling the tree down on themselves.

My first artificial tree was a despiration move of poverty. I spent $20 that year on a real tree, and got a $25 gift certificate to Target for Christmas from my grandmother. A week after Christmas, there was a $16 fake tree. Money had been SO tight that year, and I didn't expect to be wealthy the next year either - it didn't take a genius to figure out the fake tree was going to be good for the budget. I still have it - 20 years later - its only about five feet tall, still looks good, and the kids set it up in the basement.

I thought I'd hate it - we ALWAYS had real trees growing up. And the lack of mess, the ease in setting it up - the fact I could have a tree up for weeks if I chose, that I wasn't rushing to get it down the day after Christmas before all the needles left - I was an instant convert.

Our current tree was much more expensive - $300 at 60% off after Christmas, ten feet tall, prelit. Bought at a nursery.

If you CAN hold off until right after Christmas - or right before - you'll get a better deal than getting one now. If you can borrow one or Craigslist one for this year before getting your own, that might be a budget saver.

 

[3mickeymom]

I hang a few on my fake Christmas tree in an inconspicuous spot so when you walk past you can smell the fragrance. I like Balsam and Cedar. Mistletoe is nice too.

 

[Camping Cat]

We have to have a fake tree. Not only do we always vacation at WDW for 10 to 15 days every December, but I leave my tree up for a long time. After New Years Day, the Christmas decorations come off and on go the Mardi Gras decorations. It has really become a New Orleans tradition to have a Mardi Gras tree and that would be impossible with a real tree.

 

[KristinU]

Okay, so I was doing my Christmas tree "research", and I wanted opinions on what to go for. Do most people like height more than fullness?? slim trees??
I've also never done the pre-lit trees, does anyone have them, and are they worth the extra bucks?

Just wanted opinions, thanks!

We're fake tree folks. I grew up with a fake, so I really have never had any desire for a real one nor "wax nostalgic" about a real one. The other thing about fakes is that you start "knowing" it - rather than a strange tree every year, it is the same one that you have come to know and love...sounds weird and corny, but that's how I feel.

Anyway, we went with a pre-lit slimline a few years ago the day after Christmas from Lowe's and we love it. Our old fake took forever to put together and string lights on, then another day was devoted to the ornaments. Now we have it all up and decorated in one day. We don't use all of our ornaments, but I like it that way - it just helps simplify for us. If you're one that has to put the ornaments away in their original boxes etc (like me), then a slimline will save you time an aggravation in that you won't put up as many ornaments.

 

[HGD24]

We have to get artificial since I'm allergic to the real thing. We bought a prelit one at Target last year and we LOVE it!!! DH grew up cutting trees from his parents' property so he's really picky about Christmas trees and even he said the one we bought looks real. It's the light bluish-green color. The dark green ones looked more fake to me. Anyway - we love it and people who visited us thought it was real too.

 

[Jenvenza]

I wanted a new artificial tree this year, because I bought mine about 10 years ago and it looks a little dated now. I also want to get a pre-lit tree. I am on a real busget this year, so I am thinking maybe I will just wait until after Christmas to buy it for next year.

 

[SLK1]

I am so jealous! I grew up with a fake tree - it was like part of the family! My husband refuses to go fake. I think getting a real one is a huge waste - of time, money, and the cleaning up of needles and disposing of the thing is a drag. Once you get a fairly decent fake tree, there are so many ornaments on it, it's kind of hard not to tell it's not real, and as for the smell, light a candle! Enjoy your fake one as I lug in a real one, get sap on my fingers and floor, and pay over $100 for some tree to sit in my house - a tree, frankly, that should have been left on a farm to grow big and strong, not be cut down! Merry Christmas!!!!!

 

[HGD24]

I wanted a new artificial tree this year, because I bought mine about 10 years ago and it looks a little dated now. I also want to get a pre-lit tree. I am on a real busget this year, so I am thinking maybe I will just wait until after Christmas to buy it for next year.

We bought ours a few days before Christmas and got it for at least 30% off.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

We're getting a fake tree this year, much to DH dismay! We discovered last year that DD is allergic!! The ENT said it's more like the mold that is natural in the tree rather then the tree itself. No matter what I'll be fake tree shopping soon! DH can draghis butt through a cold, wet christmas tree farm for effect if he wants. I'll be home in the nice warm, dry house enjoys a nice fake tree!

 

[brockash]

Just in case anyone has any ideas...

I'm looking for a 7 - 71/2 ft. unlit x-mas tree.- Does anyone have one they like? -I also would like it as full as possible, and for under 200 if poss. I had found one on Walmart's website that had great reviews and was under 100, but it looks like I've waited too long, because I can't find it any longer Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[puffkin]

We have 2 artificial. One is 6 ft tall and has the individual branches. I got it at Boscovs about 10 years ago. The other is a prelit 9 foot. I got it at Namco 4 years ago. The key to both trees is to spend time spacing the branches. I actually find the prelit harder to do than the other tree. It takes me a LONG time fluffing up the branches. I usually put my trees up about a week or 2 before Thanksgiving. I like to let them sit undecorated for about a week because every time I walk by I see a new hole that needs to be fixed by spreading the branches out. By the time I am ready to decorate them, the tree is perfect.

I also tend to go more towards the trees with a blueish-green tint. I think the dark green trees look too fake. I grew up in a house where we had an artificial in the living room and real tree in the family room. I always hated the mess of the real tree and the fact it was only up for about 2 weeks. I put a lot of effort into my trees, so I like to leave them up awhile!

 

[brockash]

We have 2 artificial. One is 6 ft tall and has the individual branches. I got it at Boscovs about 10 years ago. The other is a prelit 9 foot. I got it at Namco 4 years ago. The key to both trees is to spend time spacing the branches. I actually find the prelit harder to do than the other tree. It takes me a LONG time fluffing up the branches. I usually put my trees up about a week or 2 before Thanksgiving. I like to let them sit undecorated for about a week because every time I walk by I see a new hole that needs to be fixed by spreading the branches out. By the time I am ready to decorate them, the tree is perfect.

I also tend to go more towards the trees with a blueish-green tint. I think the dark green trees look too fake. I grew up in a house where we had an artificial in the living room and real tree in the family room. I always hated the mess of the real tree and the fact it was only up for about 2 weeks. I put a lot of effort into my trees, so I like to leave them up awhile!

Ahhh-Boscovs... -I'm from Lancaster, but live in Colorado and haven't heard about Boscovs in a long time Thanks for the advice- I really like the idea of having up for a week or so before you decorate it to find all the holes