To buy a £300 Christmas tree?

[CredulousThickos]

A Balsam Hill one.

I deeply dislike the look of fake trees usually which means we spend £50+ every year on a real one, which then spends January forlorn in the garden before we get round to chopping it up and getting rid of it. It’s a ball ache.

I’ve read lots of amazing things about the BH realistic ones, and I’ve seen one we like online but it’s £318! I don’t mind investing in it but I’ve never seen one in real life and I’d rather not chuck them £30 for a sample as that seems an utter pisstake.

Does anyone here have one? Do they look super real or is it hype? The reviews are good tbf but I wanted to canvas opinions before we commit to it.

But, but, but......if I had a realistic tree it would be an awkward shape, and wonky and wobbly!! I don’t see how they can call their trees realistic!!

I bought a fake tree last year for £200. Pricey but I only have to get 5 years worth out of it to break even. Given my parents fake tree has been going for over 20 years, it's a no brainer.

I have two balsam Hill trees! I bought a small one and bought a bigger one this time in the sale.

Bear in mind, all fake trees look better decorated. Hides a multitude of sins.

I have been seriously thinking of one of these...I would like a 7ft but it is 48" round so might have to go for the slim one..

I’ve just realised I’ve got a 20% off code as well if anybody still needs one , it’s valid until 13/11

Chocolateteapot (or anyone who knows!) How do you know if you are getting a genuinely pot-grown tree and are they difficult to care for the rest of the year round? Think this would be my preferred option as the dc were aghast when I mentioned the idea of going fake this year, yet it took me until September (!) to get rid of last year's and it made me feel anxious all year looking at dying by the bins .

@Floralnomad please could you share it/PM it to me? I was all set to get the 6ft prelit Balsam Fir for £319, but now my mates are trying to goad me into forking out for a 7ft ! Our ceiling is prob 7.5ft max, so thinking a 6ft would be better?

@Floralnomad I would love the code if still available, please!

@Floralnomad Ooops, I have just seen @GoingRogue’s reply. Apologies.

@Pommes are you thinking of ordering tonight too? The voucher code I was sent is only valid until 13th...so not sure if that means midnight tonight or tomorrow night?! (Insert thicko/had too much wine emoji).

@GoingRogue I am indeed, this thread has tempted me away from our usual real trees. I’ll probably go with a 6ft or 6.5ft, I think.

Me too! It's so difficult though I have a top budget of £300. I've just tried to use the code I was PM'd and looks like I have to go right through to the end of the order before it shows as a discount? Which is a bit nerve-racking.

I'm a bit daunted by the width of some of the 6ft ones; 56" is quite big! Plus also just noticed a big discrepancy with the weights...one of these is the Norway Spruce 6ft Candlelight £239 (34lbs and 45" at widest part) and the other the 6ft Nordmann Fir (51lbs and 50") at £319.

Why must I be a chronic over-thinker?!

Maybe it's the easy plug that makes it more heavy? I do want it super easy to assemble, but would prefer a 6ft tree with a width of 45", but not slimline, and "most realistic". Gah.

Not to mention the choice in tree skirts @GoingRogue, have you looked at those?

I think I've found my perfect tree! (And yes, I do realise I'm talking to myself here )

Norway Spruce
6ft
44" at widest point
44lbs (not the lightest nor heaviest)
£239

It seems from the reviews that "narrow" isn't actually that narrow in the UK (I didn't want a skinny tree).

Shall I do it then?! And blame the

@Pommes no!!! I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THESE FECKING TREES FOR 18 sodding months ! Not looking at skirts...but do I need to? Will I need one?

You’ve got £61 left on your maximum budget @GoingRogue, which justifies having a peak at the tree skirts.

Who knew trees could have skirts? But then who knew this morning I would be abandoning our first-weekend-in-December tree-picking-at-garden-centre tradition?

*peek!

If you go for a pot one how big a pot are we talking for a 7’ tree? How do you get the beast in and out of the house?

We are getting a tree skirt from Next , £25 faux fur as we have some illuminated polar bears and penguins that sit around the tree . If you have trouble with the code rogue ring customer service tomorrow , we had a bit of trouble with a code for £20 off that dh had found and they just refunded it to me .

We’ve had an artificial green one for at least 6-7 years, maybe longer. It certainly wasn’t that expensive, maybe £40 but looks very, very good. Don’t see the point of spending so much, there are many cheaper alternatives.

@BagelGoesWalking I've looked in garden centres, DIY stores, Next, John Lewis, Argos etc over the last few years and still haven't found anything that looks like it would touch a BH tree So jealous of friends who have struck lucky and found an amazing tree for £40 and under.

I've got down to these four and am giving up and going to sleep on it (there's nothing between them!). Fingers crossed the extra 20% off code still works tomorrow.

Before I fall asleep...just noticed this review on one of the trees

I'd never heard of these but my bonus argument for having an artificial tree is that the tree itself becomes a Christmas memory. I have built up our tree decorations collection over the years, never had colour schemes or any "less is more" nonsense and am proud to say I could pick out a picture of my Christmas tree from anytime in the last 15 years in a line up instantly!