Whether you need to replace your artificial Christmas tree or you’re new to the factory-made rather than forest-grown kind, it’s good to know what to look for, and understand why some Christmas trees cost far more than others.
A long-term investment
Unlike a real tree, your artificial Christmas tree should give you many years of use, so it’s worth spending your money wisely. If you choose a low-quality tree, you could be tempted to buy another as soon as the sales are on. If you do this, it’s false economy to buy a cheap tree.
What to look for
There are three key characteristics to check out when comparing trees – the tip count, the style of branches and the materials used for manufacture.
Tip count
A generous number of branch tips is usually a sign of a better quality tree. More tips make for a fuller, more abundant tree. If you can see the central pole, it suggests the tree probably doesn’t have a high tip count. A tree with more branch tips can also hold more baubles.
Branches
Artificial Christmas trees come with either hinged or hooked branches. Hinged ones simply fold up and down, making the tree much easier to set up, whereas hooked branches have to be placed individually.
Material
Most artificial Christmas trees will be made from either PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or PE (polyethylene). PVC is usually cheaper, but sometimes gives a rather flat, two-dimensional appearance. A tree made from PE generally has a fuller, more realistic look.
