70 percent of U.S. homes put up fake Christmas trees

Fake, faux, pre-lit, artificial: Whatever you call it, more and more of us are forgoing the pleasure of dragging home a real Christmas tree. More than 70 percent of the U.S. households that put up a tree choose a specimen born of factory, not farm. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, 8 percent of American households will purchase a fake tree in 2005, a number that sounds low until you realize that artificial trees can last for five to 10 years or more.

Plenty of tips exist for those shopping for real firs or pines. We decided it was time for a buyer’s guide for the faux. We consulted Bill Quinn, president and founder of www.christmastreeforme.com, a Dallas-based online resource that sells about 35 types of artificial Christmas trees.

• Check needle construction. Look for trees with thicker, stronger needles for more durability. Some trees offer mixed tips that mimic the look of new growth and mature branches. Tips should be rounded. Do a pinch test to see if the needles bounce back quickly.

• Examine branches. Look for models with metal hinges that allow trees to fold up. Branches should be permanently attached to the tree. Avoid older models requiring insertion of individual branches, a very time-consuming process.

• Evaluate the lights. A good pre-lit tree should have about 100 lights per foot. Lights should have a milliamp rating between 170 and 200 to give a bright, crisp light. Lights should be designed to allow bulbs to burn out without causing the entire string to go out.

• Consider your ornaments. If you like big ornaments, make sure there’s enough space between branches to show them to advantage. Subtract 6 inches from the ceiling height to determine the maximum height of a tree.

• Warranty. A high-quality tree should have the lights covered under warranty for three years or 3,000 hours.