We need to move to an artificial Christmas tree. Looking for advice

Didn’t put a tree up last year because I w as recovering from.my second complete knee replacement. Our ceiling is only 7,5” high so I was in the final stages of decorating our 7” tree when it almost tipped over. I was trying to push it into the final spot it would occupy. My knees don’t let me have the mobility to get into positions easily that would have made moving the tree a more controlled affair. LOML declared we’re at the point of going to the artificial tree. We lost some family treasure “Decorations” that fell and broke. Some were close to 100 years old. We realize a nice artificial tree is expensive but we’re willing to do that. We just don’t know where to start looking, or what brands to look at, etc. Anyone out there been through this that could give some advice or even a couple brands to look at, web sites to check out? I looked at what HD sells and wasn’t too impressed. Thanks for any words of wisdom or guidance. Don M

We changed to an artificial tree for similar reasons. A really good decision.

I'm sure you know all this, but in case something escapes your memory:

Although an artificial tree can be lighter for the same size (height & diameter), it depends on the quality of the tree. A reference that may help you decide http://www.bestproducts.com/home/dec...hristmas-trees/ . A good tree will have good branch/trunk connections, strong adjustable (bendable) branches, fullness, 360° uniformity in appearance, and a wide base to support the tree is very helpful for stability. It also helps if the tree can be stored with the branches remaining on when the tree is stored. Folding branches help in this regard, I lay the full tree down on a tarp, roll & tie it off for storage, making it ready to go for next Christmas. If you don't like hanging the lights on a tree (I don't) you can get them pre-lit ready to go for each season.

A good quality tree can be expensive, I'd say starting at $200. Good luck with your search. If you are not into the seasonal search for a tree, you'll be happy with the convenience offered by an artificial.

I bought a 10 foot artificial tree about 20 years ago and it is still a good looking tree. Unfortunately, we don't use it any longer as I can't get up on ladders and neither can my wife. I believe we paid in the $200 to $300 range.

We've had 3. The first two came from Lowes or Home Depot, not sure which. We replaced #1 after moving from our first house to a bigger house with a cathedral ceiling in the living room and that first tree looked ridiculously small. After about 10 years #2 started shedding some needles and generally looking a little beat up, though it still looked nice decorated so we started watching for a new one. We found #3 at Costco and have had it for probably 3 years now. Its a 3-section pre-lit LED tree that only requires putting the base together on section 1, then adding #2 and #3 on top of that. The branches are hinged and just fall into place. I love the simplicity. Both previous trees got passed on to others who got at least a couple more years out of them.

Couple other random points.
- If you get even 5 years out of a $200 tree you are probably break-even. You'll probably get a lot more.
- Early on the 26th is a really good time to buy a tree if you don't plan to use it this year, but set it up briefly and make sure there are no issues.
- Most of these, even if they have a recognizable brand name are imported from China by a specific retailer with a license to use that brand name.
- They can require significant storage space. The current one takes a whole big shelf on the warehouse-style shelves we have in our basement. Its maybe a 60x24x18 box if I had to guess.
- If you have any doubts left, watch some videos of even properly watered real trees burning.

On a side note, I'm surprised no one has come along griping about artificial trees yet and insulting your intelligence for buying one.

We've used artificial "forever". The last "real" tree was back when I was a kid. The one we have currently, going into its second year, is the best yet. It's very realistic (RE: it has "imperfections") and utilizes LED lighting which is so much better than the incandescent lamps on previous trees. We bought it "off season" online from Home Depot. That's the best time to buy this kind of thing...after the holiday rush. I think we paid about 1/3 of the original "list" price.

In our case, it's a 9' tree, but they are available in a variety of heights and widths to fit the intended environment.

I will likely always have artificial...I do prefer it. But I am probably in the minority that dislikes the prelit ones. I find getting the light connections right on our tree to be a huge PITA, and eventually bulbs will fail and you're hunting through the branches to replace them because one section won't light up anymore. I just buy separate lights in 100 light sections and string my own lights now...it's easier and less hassle to me.

We love real trees, but they are a mess. We got our artificial one at a garage sale for $15, but will be looking for a better one after this Christmas when they are on clearance. We saw some at Sears in previous years for 75% off after the holiday.

I still have my aluminum tree with the color wheel in a box in the basement for when we really need to celebrate.

We got an artificial tree when we moved because real trees suck. You have to go get them, bring them home, set them up, then deal with needles for the next 12 months. At the end of the season, you have nothing to show for your investment because the tree goes out in the trash. So after 23 years of real trees, we got a fake one at Lowes last year and it is infinitely better. It's a 3-section prelit that goes up in minutes, looks perfect from all angles (you don't have to figure out how to put the "bad side" against a wall) and comes down just as fast. If you like the smell of a real tree, you can get a product called Scentsicles that you hang on the tree and it smells like the real thing. I'd never go back to real.

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Originally Posted by Nathan Johnson

I will likely always have artificial...I do prefer it. But I am probably in the minority that dislikes the prelit ones. I find getting the light connections right on our tree to be a huge PITA, and eventually bulbs will fail and you're hunting through the branches to replace them because one section won't light up anymore.

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I absolutely felt the same way about the previous pre-lit trees we have had, but feel a lot more comfortable with the LED versions now...I suspect they will be a lot more reliable for a longer period of time. It's not easy finding a non-pre-lit tree in certain sizes and quality, too. Nature of the beast...

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Originally Posted by Jim Becker

I absolutely felt the same way about the previous pre-lit trees we have had, but feel a lot more comfortable with the LED versions now...I suspect they will be a lot more reliable for a longer period of time. It's not easy finding a non-pre-lit tree in certain sizes and quality, too. Nature of the beast...

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I suspect you're right, and LED won't burn out nearly as fast.
I've been cutting the lights off our tree a little each year.

Happy with our Pre-lit LED 9' tree from Costco. On our third year and all still working great. Like that it does either white or multi-colored lights, depending on your mood.

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Originally Posted by Jeff Heil

Happy with our Pre-lit LED 9' tree from Costco. On our third year and all still working great. Like that it does either white or multi-colored lights, depending on your mood.

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That sounds like the same one we got except ours is 7.5.

Yea, ours is exactly like that...white or multi-color...and 9'. At the time, the deal we got from HD off-season was better than Costco, strangely enough.

Our first artificial tree was purchased because we spend so much time away from home for the holidays. It was the type where you put the individual branches on the trunk, then put the lights on. It started looking a bit shabby after 15 years so we bought a new, pre-lit tree a few years ago. Problem is the darned thing is so heavy it's a pain to put up. We just used the top 2 sections this year and set it on a table. Still looks nice that way.
We bought it at a landscaping/flower/plant store in town.

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I still have my aluminum tree with the color wheel in a box in the basement for when we really need to celebrate.

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That's my idea of a "real Christmas tree".
Back when I was a kid - in the 1950's - when those things first came out, my grandparents bought one and set it up every year.
When my grandfather moved to Florida to live with my aunt and uncle, in the 1970's, he gave the tree to me.
I celebrated a number of years with it - until it literally - fell apart.

I've thought a lot of finding a replacement, but,,,,,it wouldn't be the same.