Balsam hill and other trees

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Every year i promise myself that in January i will buy a BH tree in the sales, then in January i talk myself out of it. Our old artificial tree has done 15 years now and I think we will buy a new one this year. We have had real trees the last few years (last year brought in the potted 2023 tree but it has died this summer 😢) - but I think fresh trees will be super pricey this year. We were at our friends yesterday and they had (up, whole new thread 🙄) a balsam hill tree but it was £800! I did like the blue spruce ‘Matt’ feel to it and also the fact that all the branches were the same (eg my old tree has inner ‘filler’ branches and then outer ‘luxury’ branches) it still didn’t look real though it was definitely an artificial tree.

are there any recommendations for other brands of similar quality trees, I would like a prelit one and would need 7ft or maybe even 8.

I have 3 balsalm hill trees. Our main huge one for the lounge I got in the sale some years ago and it's been so easy to put up, never had a problem with the lights. Still in immaculate condition. Same for small kitchen one.

Just got a new one this year in the sale for the hall. I trust them completely , they are fab quality and stay perfect. I really recommend them (and I promise I don't work for them). 😁
I'd say treat yourself because they are so worth it, and when you've had one 5 years it's paid for itself anyway.

I ordered one this year. It does have the filler branches at the back though so I’d double check that if you order one. The first one was very gappy so I got in touch with them. After establishing that I had fluffed it properly they sent me another with a return label for the gappy one and the new one is lovely.

We got a tall slimline one from Christmas Tree World a few years ago and it has been brilliant. Look for ones with polyethlene (PE) branches or at least PE tips for BH-style real effect.

I have a balsam hill and am not impressed. For the money we paid we need to get a lot more years out of it, but bits fall off it every year and honestly I don’t think it looks better than ones you can get in the supermarket

@RealChristmasBaby I think I need to wait til January if I’m going real deal balsam hill 🤔 I just cannot justify £800 on a tree! 🌲

@HermioneWeasley this is my worry, the BH ones still are very obviously artificial trees, can they really be worth the price? Is a £200/300 alternative from a garden centre going to be much different? 🤔

I second Christmas tree world. I think mine is the mountain pine, 7 feet pre-lit. Absolutely fabulous. Really simple to put up. IMO More lifelike than the BH trees.

have had a couple of Balsam Hill trees and ended up giving them both away. Will never buy from them again after shocking customer service with the last one.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/recommended/christmas/best-artificial-christmas-trees/

This article might be helpful.

The white company ones are really beautiful and do seem a good alternative to the balsam hill ones. I now have one in my basket, just having a think about it!

I'd always recommend Christmas Tree World if you're based in the UK and looking for a realistic artificial tree. I've not come across any brand that does the realism as well.

Ooh this came up and it’s my thread! We actually bought a beautiful one last year from a local fancy garden centre. It was half the price of balsam hill, but my friends had a bh one and to be honest I found it a bit ‘dry’ looking, if that makes sense. This one we got is very lush looking with plenty of lights, and it’s an 8ft tree so it’s massive

Our Balsam Hill tree is 12 years old and not had a single issue with it. The lights still work perfectly, it is really easy to adjust the branches and if looks just as full now as when we first put it up so can’t have been many bits come off it.

Balsam Hill trees are ok until something goes wrong, usually lights. There is a FB page called Balsam Hill Complaints, which is rather off putting.
We have an 8ft Woodland Pine from Christmas Tree World. Our DSs were so impressed they each bought the 6ft version.