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Christmas

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Original poster

Balsam Hill Trees

33 replies

gbpaln · 27/09/2021 09:46

Does anyone have any comments? A lot to invest in an artificial tree and wondering about peoples' experiences?

OP posts:
psuedocream3 · 27/09/2021 10:33

We have one, worth every penny, you do have to spend time fluffing to make it full but it does look really nice, ours have had lots of compliments.

Only issues we had, bare in mind we ordered five years ago, was that there was huge issues with people not getting their orders. We ordered September and ours luckily arrived Christmas Eve, but the transformer was broken. We switched it for a transformer from anther set of lights we had and had no issues since.

I would say worth the money, but also to keep an eye on their social media pages to see what other customers are saying and if there are similar issues. I would have thought they have fixed the issue as they are still trading but it doesn't hurt to keep an eye on it.

MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously · 27/09/2021 10:37

I bought one of the slim ones that are quite minimalistic rather than the big floofy ones and I really like it. I bought it in the hope that my chunky cat would be unable to climb in it, so it's quite dainty. I think the branches look pretty realistic and it's well made. They do have sales so you might want to wait because they are quite pricey. I wouldn't have paid full price tbh.

OddsNSodsBitsNBobs · 27/09/2021 10:43

Totally worth the investment, they are beautiful and very realistic. This will be mines 4 christmas so I've almost made the money back already with years of life left in it. No mess and no faff once its up and fluffed.

MrsSkylerWhite · 27/09/2021 10:45

Had one for several years now, very realistic. I buy the little green pine scented sticks to hang in it and most people think it’s a live fir.

Stickyblue1987 · 27/09/2021 10:47

I ordered one in July in the sale. We haven't taken it out of the box but I've heard really good things so finger crossed!

Hedgesgalore · 27/09/2021 11:19

Mine is on its 3rd christmas. I absolutely adore it and it looks utterly gorgeous even undecorated.

BUT ... mine is 8ft which means that the box it came in is huge, I'm reluctant to squeeze it all back in the box so two sections are in the box and two sections are in the bag. If I put all four sections together in the bag or the box I wouldn't be able to lift or move it.

Mine is heavy, while I like how solid it is when dealing with the top two sections I am very careful, I nearly fell off the chair the first time I took one of the sections off it almost took me with it Shock

It takes me a few days to get it down from the attic, put up, fluffed, fluffed again, put my lights on, decorate it. I start before December to make the most of it.

Original poster
gbpaln · 27/09/2021 11:26

Thank you all for your comments. Really helpful and I appreciate you taking the time.

OP posts:
PinkJam · 27/09/2021 16:03

We have had ours for 5 years so far and it’s still in perfect condition. Just make sure to take your time and pack it away really carefully each year.

Our tree is a 6ft one but I agree with @Hedgesgalore that they are very heavy!

OuiOuiBonjour · 27/09/2021 16:06

Had one for a while now...at least 7 years. It is brilliant. Takes a while to pack away but worth it and now have a system for doing it.

Bipbopbee · 27/09/2021 16:12

We have had ours for five years and it’s stunning. Absolutely love it. Like someone else said, you can but the scented sticks to hang on the branches and they smell lovely.
Managed to get one in the sale as yes they are pricey but so beautiful!

Dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby · 27/09/2021 16:16

Measure carefully before ordering, as the widths are significant even on the 'slimline' trees. I have bought two of the 'most realistic' ones and think they are excellent. The first year is the worst for the fluffing up so long as you collapse minimally thereafter and store in 2/3 bags not just 1.
It is worth getting pre-lit as that is what saves you the pfaff with untangling lights etc.

Dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby · 27/09/2021 16:17

Royal Blue Spruce has a good balance between fullness and width.

NoviceNewMN · 27/09/2021 16:17

We have a normal Balsalm Hill one without lights imbedded in it. It is great but as others have said you do need to follow the instructions, put the gloves on and pull out the various branches - or 'fluff it' .

Once it's all fluffed up it looks fabulous.

If you get one, DO NOT forget to make sure you label the sections correctly before you pack it away. They come with labels for top, middle etc. If you forget or get the labels mixed up it is a hassle (ask me how I know).

You may also find that some additional long lengths of ribbon or tape to tie them back up come in useful. They are a bit mean with the ones supplied and the tighter you can squeeze the branches in, the easier they are to get in the bag.

Wouldn't hesistate to recommend.

Dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby · 27/09/2021 16:22

The Cathedral Fir is excellent in very small places but a bit underwhelming in a large room despite the height.

Dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby · 27/09/2021 16:27

No one should buy these though:
www.balsamhill.co.uk/p/gold-christmas-tabletop-tree-set

They look like plastic resin....who do they think they are kidding?

WellTidy · 27/09/2021 16:31

We had one as a Christmas present from my parents about four or five years ago. It is absolutely lovely. Yes, you do have to fluff it, and that takes quite a while to get right, but it’s worth it for the effect. We have one with the lights already in it and it is really pretty. Wish we’d gone bigger but the bigger they are the pricier they get.

LifeInAHamsterWheel · 27/09/2021 16:34

Absolutely love ours, we went for candlelight pre-lit and it is just so sparkly and beautiful - and just one plug! No more getting tangled up in various sets of lights and needing an extension bar at the bottom Grin
Definitely a LOT of faffing the first couple of times you set it up, but then it gets easier to fluff out and anyway it's worth it!

Floralnomad · 27/09/2021 16:34

We have 2 , a pre lit 7’ Fraser and a 4’ slim ( goes on a sideboard ) . They are excellent although as pp said you do need to put the time into fluffing . We’ve had our first one (7’) a few years now and I’ve never seen a tree in a garden centre or shop that comes close to being as nice at any price .

OuiOuiBonjour · 27/09/2021 16:40

@NoviceNewMN

We have a normal Balsalm Hill one without lights imbedded in it. It is great but as others have said you do need to follow the instructions, put the gloves on and pull out the various branches - or 'fluff it' .

Once it's all fluffed up it looks fabulous.

If you get one, DO NOT forget to make sure you label the sections correctly before you pack it away. They come with labels for top, middle etc. If you forget or get the labels mixed up it is a hassle (ask me how I know).

You may also find that some additional long lengths of ribbon or tape to tie them back up come in useful. They are a bit mean with the ones supplied and the tighter you can squeeze the branches in, the easier they are to get in the bag.

Wouldn't hesistate to recommend.

This is exactly what I do. Try and keep the instructions and photocopy as soon as it arrives so you have a spare if ever you lose it. It has a "map" on it of how to assemble so it looks as intended.

I find proper postal string is best for tying now as the branches are very "springy" and sometimes the gift ribbon snapped. I store each number's branches in a heavy duty refuse sack, and then also tie each back down with string. You could probably cling film each branch down instead of string to protect it and wrap it tightly but not very environmentally friendly. I number each bag then put it in a plastic christmas tree box in the garage.

Got it down to a fine art now. First year I looked like I'd been attacked by a cat! Now I wear heavy duty gardening gloves lol.

Namechangedzzz · 27/09/2021 17:03

Love ours. Third or fourth year now. I am so glad we got one with lights on!!! Never getting tangled in them again. It is the best fake tree we have seen.

RosieposiePuddingandPi · 27/09/2021 17:05

We bought one last year when they went on sale and I absolutely love it. Ours is pre-lit so no fussing with strings of lights and only one cable which is fab. It came with a big storage bag as well so really easy to pack away and store which was a bonus! Well worth the investment.

GoldStarAngel · 27/09/2021 18:32

I love mine but I got it free from a friend who got it through work so not sure I would love it quite so much if I had had to pay hundreds for it

39andThreequarters · 27/09/2021 18:34

I always fancied one, especially after seeing the threads and reviews on here... however last year I bought a '6ft Ultra Mountain Pine' from Christmastreeworld, it was just over £100 in the sale I think and it's gorgeous! It's hinged, so minimal fluffing required and I bought the storage bag to keep it in as experience has taught me they do not like going back in the original box!

BasementIdeas · 27/09/2021 18:39

We got one on the sale a week or so ago. Haven’t opened the box yet but it came within a few days

PawPrintsInMyPansies · 28/09/2021 06:20

I’ve always fancied one of these.
My tree which I’ve had 10 years + is getting a bit raggedy. It has individual clip in branches which is a bit of a pain.
Do BH trees have individual branches you have to clip in, or do you just have to put the trunk together and fluff?