logo
  • Track Order
  • User Profile
  • Favorites
  • Cart


    Shop Sale

    1. Inspiration Home
    2. Shaping Your Christmas Tree

    Shaping Your Tree

    Updated last June 2, 2025

    Balsam Hill Christmas trees arrive in sections of branches, each compressed for easy shipping. Gathering family and friends to shape your tree can be a delightful event, making it appear lush and full in your space. Shaping a typical 7.5-ft tree may take a couple of hours the first time, but the results are well worth the care and effort.

    The following video demonstrates the proper way to shape most upswept trees, but you can select the Christmas tree type that applies to you for a better understanding and improved results.


    • BH Balsam Fir®
    • BH Fraser Fir®
    • Vermont White Spruce®
    • Classic Blue Spruce®

    Shaping Tips

    • Host a gathering and invite family and friends to assist.

    • Wear the included shaping gloves to protect your hands.

    • Use a photo of your tree from the package, a Balsam Hill catalogue, or on balsamhill.com. Some trees are designed to have upswept or downswept branches. Angle the tips upward or downward to achieve the desired look.

    • If you purchased a pre-lit tree, plug in the lights so that you can replace non-working bulbs with the extra bulbs that came with the tree.

    The tree always takes the longest to shape the first time, but it should be much quicker next time.

    How to Shape Each Tree Branch


    Shape the tree section by section, starting at the bottom. So, if your tree comes in 3 sections, shape the lowest section before putting the second section on top. You might also consider tying up the higher levels of branches in the sections to keep them out of your way. You can use the ribbon that came on your tree.


    Step 1

    Working branch by branch, separate individual branch tips and pull them away from the centre of the tree.

    Step 2

    Separate and spread outward-facing branch tips. Your branches should resemble a peacock’s fanned tail.

    Step 3

    Gently bend the branch tips upward to create the lush fullness of a real tree. Repeat separating and shaping to fill in gaps.

    Tree Shaping Video Tutorials

    Watch how to shape your Balsam Hill tree from these videos:

    BH Balsam Fir®



    BH Fraser Fir®



    Vermont White Spruce®



    Classic Blue Spruce®


    Read More Christmas Tree Guides

    Visit the links below for more tree setup guides and holiday decorating ideas.

    • How To Assemble Your Balsam Hill Christmas Tree
    • How To Store Your Christmas Decorations
    • How To Decorate Your Christmas Tree Like a Pro
    Back to Inspiration Home

    We use cookies to make using our website easy and meaningful to you, to provide our services, and to better understand how it is used by our customers. These cookies include targeted advertising and social media cookies, and advanced analytics cookies. If you do not want to accept all cookies, click “Manage Cookies.” You can also choose to change your cookie settings anytime you want. To find out more, you can consult our Privacy Policy at any time.

    Customer Support

    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Check Order Status
    • Shipping & Orders
    • Returns & Exchange
    • Warranty
    • Email Preferences
    • Promotion Details
    • Avoiding Fraud
    • Business Sales

    Resources & Ideas

    • Resource Centre
    • Tree Buyer's Guide
    • Blog
    • Videos

    Company Information

    • About Us
    • The Balsam Hill Difference
    • Careers
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Privacy Policy

    Stay Connected

    instagram
    Facebook
    pininterest

    For Expert Advice

    Call 888-626-0965 or Contact Us

    Shop With Confidence

    PayPal
    COPYRIGHT © 2025 BALSAM HILL® ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.