Artificial PE Christmas Trees

When you invest in a Christmas tree you need to bear in mind that it should last you about 15 years. This means that it needs to be able to stand the strain of being packed, stored & unpacked 15 times & still look at its best. So purchasing a good quality tree that will maintain its appearance over 15 years will make the cost a worthwhile investment.

Choosing the right tree just takes a bit of forward planning, it might seem obvious, but before you buy a tree you need to know where you are going to put it. You may want to have a change of location occasionally so you need to have some idea of the dimensions of those spaces and know that you are within reach of an electrical socket, or have the ability to run an extension cord without the risk of somebody tripping over it! Most ceilings are about 8ft high but hallways and conservatories may allow you to choose a taller tree. You also need to consider the tree's width and the amount of floor space available in the spot that you want the tree to sit. Nowadays, you can get slim versions of some trees like our Bayberry Spruce but whichever tree you buy, don't forget room for the fairy on top!

Tree design is also an important consideration, especially if like me you have to fit your tree decoration into a couple of hours in the evening. In general, branch construction in Artificial Christmas Trees falls into two major categories according to whether the branches are attached to the trunk or not.

• Hooked trees - each branch needs to be hooked into a bracket that is attached to the tree's trunk. This method is the cheapest to produce but will take you longer to set up and you will have to put the Christmas lights on each year.
• Hinged trees. All the branches are permanently attached to the tree trunk with hinges; the branches just simply fold down into the correct position making it quick and easy to assemble. Often you will be able to position the Christmas lights permanently to avoid removing them each year.

If you are looking for tips on how to shape your trees like the professionals then have a look at this video demonstration. You should end up with a tree with evenly spaced branches and ready to decorate. To keep your tree looking good year after year store it in a storage bag to avoid damage by dust and insects; it probably will not fit back into its original box and if you want less work reshaping your tree the following year it is best not to try and force it.

New PE Artificial Christmas Trees

The biggest development in recent years is the material and method used to create the Christmas tree needles. Until now, most artificial Christmas tree needles were made of Poly Vinyl Chloride or PVC which was pressed into thin sheets then cut into fine needle like strands. These strands were twisted between two strands of wire to form the tree branches. These needles still have a flat appearance and are easily discernable as fake close up. Cheaper trees would just have the branch ends cut off square but a more expensive tree would have rounded or sculptured branch tips making it look much nicer and more natural.

However, the newest Christmas trees on the market today are the Feel-Real PE trees. Intricate molds are made using real tree branches from different species of conifer then Poly Ethylene is used in an injected molding system to form realistic branches and needles. These molded polymer needles have the thickness and density of a real tree branch for a more realistic look as opposed to the flat needles on the PVC Christmas trees. You'd have to get very close to see that the PE Christmas tree is not real. Also, because the needles are three-dimensional rather than flat, a wider variety of styles can be created with realistic looks. There are also countless colors and textures available to choose from with Poly Ethylene giving you a wider choice. Some trees may use a combination of PE and PVC to make the tree look fuller towards the trunk. It should not be assumed that the inclusion of PVC needles means a lower quality or less realistic tree. In fact, these mixed branches often create a very full, authentic look that is often better than a tree that is all PE.

We have an even better selection of PE trees this year as they were so popular last Christmas. They range in size from 4.5ft to 9ft and we have introduced some new ranges this year including the Liberty Pine and the Balsam Fir. The selection of trees includes standard Christmas trees, pre-lit trees, frosted trees & decorated trees. There is also a slim Bayberry Spruce under 4ft wide for those awkward spaces. The pre-lit Poly Ethylene trees are the simplest and quickest trees to set up. Just let the branches fold down and run your fingers through the Poly Ethylene branches to separate and fluff them a little. They will need a bit of tweaking if you want them to look evenly spaced. New for this year, all our pre-lit trees come with long life, energy efficient LED lights. These have replaceable bulbs in case of breakages & a spare is included. A much more cost effective & safer way to enjoy your Christmas!

All you need is to decorate your tree, switch on the lights and sit back and relax!