92 replies to this topic

[Jeanne515]

Fake - can't leave a real tree up from Nov 1- Jan 1st!!!

[sns128]

Fake pre lit I like the real ones but I just don't have what it takes too keep in alive long enough.

That's me

[guilliam]

We have a fake one, but always get a real one. We have a tree stand that you only need to water once a week. And there is a great tree farm close to us if you don't mind walking hills

[Turtle Mommy]

We have 1 of each.

[Giggles]

Fake for me too. I can put it up and take it down whenever. I usually go to the woods and cut down some geenery to decorate. I get some smelly stuff to. I love the smell of real trees, but hate the mess.

[marcimomof4]

Fake pre-lit. We decorate too early in the season to use a real one.

[trbarginhunter]

Fake. There is no good way to keep a real tree alive that long in Southern California. This way I can have it up a really long time (Thanksgiving till Jan 2) without it drying out and becoming a fire hazard. And it makes it easier for DH and DD's allergies :-)

[Grants Dad]

Gotta have a real one. I'm a christmas geek though, love to go Griswold on the house with lights, and even the best fake trees still look plastic to me.

[Steakgoddess]

Fake. I am allergic to real ones

[siageah]

A real tree. We never have a huge mess problem, just keep it filled with plenty of water. I had to decorate hundreds of fake trees over the years in stores and a fake tree just feels like "work." A real tree is a holiday! That said, I also have a fairly sizeable collection of really FAKE trees in pink, silver, lime green, blue etc in smaller sizes that I put around the house. If a tree is fake, I want it to look fake and sparkly. And LOL at the 'Griswold" remark.

[zadyju]

Fake, prelit. My boys all have allergies to trees and asthma. Have to be careful.

[Grassy]

Fake, but I put my own lights on so I can change between white lights and colored lights depending upon my MOOD that year! Also-for those of you that say you miss the pine smell of a real tree--- Just buy some Glade Potpourri Pine Sccented aerosol spray and spray your tree down when people come over!!!!!!! That's what I do! (I actually use the "Christmas Tree" from bath and body works-YUM!)

[vonnyb]

We have a pre-lit fake tree, just because it is easier

[Princess7915]

Real. My mom loves her fake tree but I can't stand them. I don't see why you bother to put all that work into a fake tree that looks like that!

[jenniferw72]

Real!!! Family outing to the tree farm, Christmas card picture, and tree decorating all in one day!!! We have 3 trees in our house, but we do have a fake one in one room.

[dd50]

I have used a fake tree for the last 8 years and gave away my tree on freecycle and now when I am looking the trees I like are $300 to $400 so I may just buy a real tree this year and buy a fake when they are reduced. I do love the smell of the real trees tho.

[dee16]

fake

[PeachieKeen]

Fake, because the real ones die too soon and you can't leave them up near long enough....although I really love real trees....the pine scent and all....just reminds me of christmas....but I have to have my tree up for over a month....so real one's just don't cut it....

[mrsladymontague]

We have always had a real 10-12 foot Fraiser Fir, but this year we bought a 9 ft Fake pre-lit tree, so we will see if we like it. I also put up 5 other "smaller" trees around the house. I am definitely going to have to get some real branches to make swags out of for the smell. I love that fresh pine scent.

[Princess7915]

Everyone says the real one's don't last but we but ours up on the Saturday or Sunday after Thanksgiving and leave it up until New Years. It looks beautiful every year. How long do you guys leave your trees up?! If you keep it watered you shouldn't have any trouble. Just don't put any crap in the water - like bleach or sugar. You only add sugar to boiling water on the very first night because you have cut the tree. Other than that you are doing more harm than good. (I used to work for a florist)

[coleman4905]

I owuld love to get a real one but the son have severe allergies,..so a fake one it is.

[trbarginhunter]

[quote name='Princess7915']Everyone says the real one's don't last but we but ours up on the Saturday or Sunday after Thanksgiving and leave it up until New Years.


I think it depends on where you live. In Southern California, it's too dry that time of year--there is just no good way to keep a tree fresh that long. And a lot of us worry about the fire danger (especially this year, I'd guess). We usually get more Santa Ana winds in December, so the humidity is even lower...just not worth the risk.

They do smell great, however.....

[KittySkyfish]

Fake. I can't kill a tree for Christmas and keeping one alive through the holidays is just too much more stress.

Same here. I love plants and find it depressing to hang pretty decorations on a dying tree.

We have a non-lit fake tree from TreeClassics. It's gorgeous! So dense and full - I love it! We keep this one by the picture window and it's so dense the outside light doesn't filter through the branches.

Adding: we bought the non-lit version because I like variety in Christmas lights. We've done multi-color c-7 LEDs and mixed up clear and yellow lights. Both turned out so pretty!!

[chilimak]

I love the smell of a real tree, but I hate the mess, the constant watering, etc. I grew up with fake trees and dh and I had fake trees most of our Christmas' together. We have a fake prelit tree and it is still very pretty and much less hassle. Elena

[pinkroses4mommy]

I have always put up a fake tree, but my husband wants to put up a real one. I don't want to spend alot of money on a live tree when I have a beautiful fake tree. Home Depot has the 5-6 ft Douglas fir trees for 19.99 on BF. Has anyone had any experience with them? I have hardwood floors in my living room, and do not want to have sap everywhere. And I have a 7 month old who puts everything in her mouth, so I don't particularly care to have needles everywhere. (Guess I shoud stick with the fake tree!) Anyway, I would appreciate any input. Thanks.

[dd50]

I haven't had a douglas fir in many years as I have been doing artificial, but what I do remember is that they keep their needles well and they are beautiful trees. What I didn't like about them was that they are very soft trees and heavy ornaments must be put more in the middle and not on the tips.

[nikkilugi]

I prefer the Frazier Fir - but any Fir is good as far as I am concerned. I don't like Pine personally.

[Stowasser]

I usually get Douglas or Frasier Firs, I love the look of pine trees but generally they don't have strong enough branches to hold ornaments well. The firs are generally cheaper in cost than pine. We would get ours from a local grocery store which actually had fresher trees than the lots for $25 (about 6-7' tall). We use to go to one that brought them in from a farm in the Northern part of our state (Montana) but they went up to nearly $50 for a tree. We have a fireplace in the Living room so they dry out very quickly so don't want to pay big bucks and have it dropping needles in two weeks. I put a big sheet on the floor first (you could also buy a tree bag) than put up the tree, than the tree skirt. When its time to take the tree out, I wrap it really tight in the sheet and haul it out with minimal needle dropping. The tree bag can do the same thing but sometimes they don't fit the tree well (girth wise). I love fresh trees but last year we went to fake because of the fireplace drying the trees out too much

[tootsieroll23]

Fake, DH puts sooooo many lights on it that the branches on a real one wouldn't hold all of the lights.