With lights built into the branches, pre-lit Christmas trees save you the time and effort of untangling and hanging the lights yourself. But just like living evergreens, these trees come in many shapes and sizes. You want to make a choice that you’ll enjoy for many years—so how do you pick a pre-lit Christmas tree? Here are the qualities to consider:
- Type of Lights
- Color of Needles
- Height of the Tree
- Shape of the Tree
- Species of Tree
- Branch Construction
- Tip Count and Needle Quality
1. Type of Lights
When buying a pre-lit Christmas tree, you’re also picking your lights at the same time. Most trees come with clear and simple warm white lights. Others come with multi-colored bulbs, or lights that change color. The density and spacing of the lights differs and greatly affects the retail price (If you squint your eyes gently while looking at the trees, you will be able to easily compare the quantity of lights while shopping). Some twinkle on the tips, while others are woven into the branches. Many pre-lit trees have long-lasting LEDs.
2. Color of Needles:
Most pre-lit Christmas trees are solid green, but that’s by no means the only option. You’ll also find white trees that glimmer like snow, or green trees with a dusting of white frost. Even among the green pre-lit trees, you have the choice of various shades, like emerald, pine green, and others.
3. Height of the Tree:
How high of a tree do you want? It’s a question to ask no matter what kind of tree you’re buying. Pre-lit Christmas trees come in many sizes, like miniature 4 footers that are perfect for your front entrance or 12 foot trees for a wide open living room, and everything in between. The choice depends on how high your ceilings are, and simply how big of a tree you want. Don’t forget you will need room to store this tree in the off-season!
4. Shape of the Tree
Besides the vertical dimension, you also need to pick a width. Do you want a classic pyramidal shape, or a slim Christmas tree? Each has its own special personality and practical benefits, depending on how big of a room you have.
5. Species of Tree
Even when buying an artificial tree, you still have the choice of different “species.” You’ll find pre-lit Douglas firs, balsam firs, white spruce, long-needle pines, and many others. It’s the look of the needles that distinguishes them. To make your pick, see what kind of needle you like—short, long, bushier, or more thinly spaced? You’ll even find some pre-lit artificial deciduous trees that imitate a leafless tree in winter.
6. Branch Construction
Artificial Christmas trees, including pre-lit ones, have one of two different types of branches: hinged or hooked. Hinged branches are the most common and are permanently attached to the trunk. Hooked branches are separate from the tree. During set up, you hook them into assigned spots on the trunk, and afterwards, you unhook them for storage.
7. Tip Count and Needle Quality
Tip count refers to the density of the branch tips on each tree. The higher the tip count, the more dense the branches will be. How do you like to decorate? Do you need lots of space for decorations or want a look of fuller branches? Another quality to consider is the quality of the tree itself, especially the needles. Higher quality needles and branches are more likely to keep their shape year after year.
So how do you pick a pre-lit Christmas tree? At the end of the day, you want to pick one that will last for several years, and, of course, one that you like. The decision really comes down to your preference for the size, shape, lights and color of your tree.
If you have more questions, and would like to see our in-store options, please visit our garden centers in Bloomingdale and Carpentersville!
Platt Hill Nursery is Chicago’s premier garden center and nursery in the Chicagoland area.