The top reason for survey participants include allergies followed by the mess and maintenance of live trees

According to the American Christmas Tree Association, 75.2 million American households will be displaying an artificial tree this year. That’s a staggering number of fake trees. What I learned during my own research and social media survey is that folks are passionate about their artificial trees and that a myriad of decisions come into play before buying one.

The top reason for survey participants include allergies followed by the mess and maintenance of live trees and the cost value. At zulily, we love a great deal, so a Christmas tree that you can reuse each year is a huge plus that resonates with us. The below is a roundup of the best deals and latest innovations currently available in artificial trees.

According to the American Christmas Tree Association, 75.2 million American households will be displaying an artificial tree this year. That’s a staggering number of fake trees. What I learned during my own research and social media survey is that folks are passionate about their artificial trees and that a myriad of decisions come into play before buying one.

The top reason for survey participants include allergies followed by the mess and maintenance of live trees and the cost value. At zulily, we love a great deal, so a Christmas tree that you can reuse each year is a huge plus that resonates with us. The below is a roundup of the best deals and latest innovations currently available in artificial trees.

Hiking through a dense forest, cutting down the perfect pine, and strapping it to the top of the family car is picturesque in movies, but such an adventure is often not very practical. In modern day,, fiber optic Christmas trees have taken over the market because of their convenience, their picture perfect shape, and their durability, which allows you to reuse them year after year. Before buying yours, understand what makes a fiber optic tree different from other artificial trees and how to choose the right one for your home.

Many brands of artificial Christmas trees offer different types of foliage options in their trees

In most cases, having more branch “tips” is preferred because an abundance of needles creates a full look for the tree. However, if the Christmas tree is designed with the intention of seeing the inside of the tree (e.g., it has a faux trunk), that Christmas tree should have fewer tips than a comparable tree designed to hide the center pole. Also, if an artificial Christmas tree has long needles, fewer tips are used to prevent the tree from looking like an overgrown bush. Since it is virtually impossible to compare specific trees across manufacturers, when buying a tree online, we recommend looking at a close-up photo of the whole tree to see if it looks good. Especially for artificial Christmas trees that are described to look “full”, look closely to see if you can see the center pole of the tree — if so, that is a clear warning that it is a very low-quality tree.

Many brands of artificial Christmas trees offer different types of foliage options in their trees that are made from either PVC or PE materials. While some trees use one type of foliage exclusively, others may use a mix of foliage types to achieve a particular look. Usually, you can find out what foliage is being used by reading the description of each tree. Regardless of the type of foliage or type of tree you prefer, when buying a tree online, we recommend that you look carefully at the photographs of the trees you are considering. At Balsam Hill™, we always provide "super zoom" photos of the complete trees so you can look at the detail of our quality and craftsmanship. If you are considering an artificial Christmas tree from another source, make sure you can view a high-resolution photograph of the tree to gauge quality. Many Christmas trees look great at low resolution but do not look as good when you see them up-close and in-person.

Artificial trees are made from PVC plastic. Researchers believe that millions of artificial trees, especially older models, could be harboring lead, which can easily spread inside the home. Furthermore, PVC plastics release dioxins over time. These dioxins are extremely toxic to both humans and animals. When they’re released into the air or water, they’re stored in our fatty tissue and can cause cancer, neurological damage, and many other serious health issues. According to the USDA, almost all of the real Christmas trees sold in the U.S. are grown by U.S. farmers. On average, 25-30 million real trees are sold each year. This helps employ over 100,000 workers right here at home in all 50 states where Christmas trees are grown.

A benefit in pre lit Christmas trees is the time and energy saved in not having to wrap

A benefit in pre lit Christmas trees is the time and energy saved in not having to wrap and unwrap light strings around A benefit in pre lit Christmas trees is the time and energy saved in not having to wrap and unwrap light strings around the tree branches. Pre lit Christmas trees are available with clear or multi colored bulbs, and if one bulb burns out, the rest will remain lit. Lighting options available:

Measure the space for your holiday tree. Popular heights range from 4' up to 12' in pre lit Christmas trees, and widths can be pencil thin for tight spaces, or full for larger areas. Height is measured from the floor to the tree top, and leave 6" - 12" space for a tree topper. To place gifts beneath the tree, consider a style with ample space beneath, such as our Colorado Pine pre lit Christmas trees.

Amid the baking of Christmas cookies, wrapping of gifts, and playing of Christmas carols lies the center of the holiday festivities—your Christmas tree. It is the focal point around which all the other holiday traditions revolve, such as opening gifts, caroling, and family photo-taking. As such, choosing the right tree for your home is a very important decision. In recent years, the industry has added even more confusion to the mix with the option of pre-lit trees.

There are both advantages and disadvantages to consider when choosing between pre-lit and unlit artificial Christmas trees. Each will appeal to different people for different reasons. If you are still undecided on which kind to purchase, the following pros and cons will help you with some important information to consider before making your final selection.

Christmas trees are so varied in shape and size that buyers have to choose from a variety of light string lengths when purchasing Christmas tree lights. Different people may have different ways of lighting their tree. An unlit tree provides the opportunity to customize lighting layouts so that your tree can be made brighter or dimmer than average, according to your needs. Experienced decorators can even create a recognizable pattern of lights.