An artificial tree beside front door? yay nor nay! (I say yes!)

[M0reC0ffee]

I have black fingers. If I get a real one it'll die. I have seen some artificial trees on line and they look convincing on line at least. Does anybody have one? Would anybody admit to it?

[Queenofknickers]

I don't have one but would like one!! And I'm not ashamed ....

[SanityClause]

I have black fingers, but have only managed to kill one bay tree out of five.

[CuddyMum]

I have two! They look great. I am not ashamed either. Everyone thinks they are real :)

[M0reC0ffee]

I will order one, and I will not be ashamed either! There are some lovely ones.

[SunnyUpNorth]

I want them too! Our front door is shaded so any plant there would die for sure.
Where are you getting yours from?

[dyslexicdespot]

Nay! Get a plastic pink flamingo instead, they are classier!

[M0reC0ffee]

If I wanted to, I would! And other people would copy me. So there.

[M0reC0ffee]

SunnyUpNorth, I saw some nice ones on bloomingartificial. I would buy pots separately of course.

[M0reC0ffee]

I quite like this one it might look less clichéd than a bay tree not that I don't like Bay trees, I do.

I also like the lavender. I might get some next summer and put it in a glavanised planter.

[SunnyUpNorth]

Hmm I will prob just go for a bay tree as I do like that look! Would be interested to know how realistic they are. I think my sister got two trees from that site, I must check them out.

[dueanamechange]

I have seen some where the plastic is quite faded, for that a definite nay. I would spend decent money on it so you get one that does look real.

[IHaveA]

I would say no to the fake bay trees, they look very plastic'y after awhile and they are usually an obviously fake 'perfect' shape.

I think most fake plants don't last well outside and start to look plastic'y after a while.

What about a pair of planters with some attractive branches in them. Something like this but less xmassy.

You could use some thing like these for a more structured look.

You could try and grow ivy up either of my suggestions. It's nearly impossible to kill and happy in the shade.

I have tall obelisks like this set in plant pots potted up with tall grasses like this but not as healthy looking . I use grasses because they are often very hardy and drought resistant AND they often look nice even after you have accidentally killed them

[CarlaBrooni]

A definite no from me and I'd hate if a neighbour had one too!

[BloooCowWonders]

Neighbour opposite has them. They never look real enough even from a distance. And I know they're not going for the ironic/ kitsch look...
Brand new seems relatively ok but they look worse as time goes on.

IHaveA ^ has good ideas

[FlatCapAndAWhippet]

No, dreadful!

[InsertUsernameHere]

Random aside - if you do go artificial make sure the pots are heavy enough that they (a) don't blow over or (b) get lifted by people a bit drunk walking home from the pub - not bitter no, but one of two lavender pots and it was half dead ffs-

[Fridayschild]

Dsil has one and it looks great. I am too disorganised to copy her though I often intend to....

It is not a cheap one. It gets replaced after about 3 years. I would not to go for lavender to be honest as the lack of a smell will make the fake plant seem more obvious.

[ILikeBirds]

The ficus you linked to is an indoor plant so will certainly look fake if placed outdoors.

[kitsmummy]

Totes tacky. If you got a large enough pot, watered it v occasionally and fed once in a blue moon you really could not kill it

[M0reC0ffee]

That five foot conifer is intended to be an indoor plant? really?! wow.

I don't really care if people who closely examine it realise it's fake. I wouldn't want it to look fake from ten metres away, which is as close as most people will get.

[M0reC0ffee]

Oh, I am thinking of two different plants.

[M0reC0ffee]

By the way, people who think I could not kill a plant, a neighbour dropped in a rose plant in a small pot (a living Rose plant). Shall I leave it inside now for the winter and then plant it outside when the weather gets warmer? I don't want to kill all living things! It just works out that way.

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

Yes - keep it warm for the winter ! And yes to faux trees. My only concern would be if they were in a south facing - full on sunshine all day position - as the colour will fade out very soon and your leaves will turn turquoise ! ( speaking from experience !)
Hope that helps ! :-)

[poocatcherchampion]

useful thread. we need something for the front of our house too.

in the meantime I'm off to get the potted rose from the rather cold garden.

[GrendelsMum]

I think that if you're not a gardener yourself, you might find them more convincing than someone who's a keen gardener would. But if you're looking for something that you personally think is pretty, then you don't need to worry about 'getting it right'.