DIY Flocked Christmas Tree: How it Looks Five Years Later
It’s been five years since I first flocked my own Christmas tree. And since this is one of the DIY projects I get the most questions about, I figured this was a great time to update you all on how my DIY flocked Christmas tree is faring 5 years later.
I originally published this update one year after flocking my tree to share how it was holding up. Now that it’s been five years, I’ve updated the post to reflect how the tree has continued to hold up over time.
For those that don’t know, flocked Christmas trees are those beautiful trees that look like they are covered in snow. They can be completely white or they can have just a ‘dusting’ of snow on the green branches, but either way they are gorgeous.
I wanted one of those beautiful trees so bad, but I couldn’t justify buying a whole new tree when I had a perfectly good artificial tree already.
So I did what I always do in those situations – I figured out how to get what I wanted by doing it myself for way less.
And it worked!
If you haven’t read about my flocking experience, you can check out the full tutorial of my DIY flocked tree here. But suffice it to say, the tree looked amazing.
The flocking made the whole tree look fuller, more realistic, and more beautiful.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve gotten tons of questions about my tree and how it is holding up. So today I am going to share the good, the bad, and the ugly of flocking your own Christmas tree.
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Where did you get the flocking spray?
There are several ways to get a gorgeous flocked tree. You can buy one that is already flocked. You can have your tree flocked at some Christmas tree lots or florists.
Or you can do it yourself like I did.
Most professional flockers use a fancy machine to spray the ‘snow’ on but you can do it yourself without any fancy equipment.
When I decided to flock my tree, I looked into all kinds of ways to get a pretty snowy tree. Some people use spray snow or white paint. Some people stick cotton batting in their tree or make their own flocking mixture with glue and glitter and paint.
All of these could be great options, but I couldn’t find a single picture of a tree that truly looked snowy that wasn’t done with proper flocking powder.
So I decided to get the real stuff.
I did my research and purchased a five pound box of SnoFlock from Amazon. It worked beautifully!
This is the real deal flocking powder and I can personally vouch for it.
I used roughly half of a 5 lb box to lightly flock my 7.5 foot tree. You could probably get by with a 2 lb box if you don’t plan to heavily flock your tree.
This year I decided to do a little test to see if SnoFlock really is the best. You can see all the details of my quest to find the best flock here, but I’ll go ahead and share that I found SnoFlock and Sno-Bond Flock in a Box both work really well and look absolutely beautiful on your tree.
(This is especially helpful to know because SnoFlock sells out frequently, so having another awesome option really helps.)
How messy is flocking a Christmas tree?
To be honest it is pretty messy. Verging on really messy.
The process of flocking the tree is quite messy and I would definitely recommend doing it outside or in a basement or garage where a bit of mess isn’t such a problem. It can be done inside though if that is your only option; just be sure to cover your floor with a drop cloth first.
Damp flocking will stick to both you and the floor as you are flocking your tree. It isn’t too difficult to clean up though. Just throw your clothes and drop cloth in the laundry.
Unfortunately, it continues to be messy any time you move the tree including when you move it into the house, when you decorate it, when you fluff the branches, etc.
Whenever you move the tree, some of the flocking will flake off and land on the floor.
But since it is now dry, it will basically be like white dust falling off the tree.
It is very easy to clean up with a broom or vacuum and once the tree is decorated and just hanging out in the corner, it will stay fairly neat.
How has your flocked tree held up after one year?
As I mentioned, the tree does shed some of its snow whenever it is moved or jostled, so it will gradually become less and less snowy.
We are very fortunate to have a large basement so for the last few years, we have moved our entire tree to the basement without disassembling it. (We did this even before I flocked the tree.)
This is the best time-saver ever and if you have extra room in your basement, garage, closets, etc. I highly recommend it.
We used to throw some old sheets over our tree to keep the dust off and then bring it back upstairs the next winter. We now use this Christmas tree cover bag to cover and move it and it is so much easier.
Because of this, I can’t say for sure how much snow would be lost in disassembling and reassembling the tree each year. I would imagine quite a lot – maybe even half.
I doubt all of the snow would fall off though. And what did fall off, could be easily cleaned up as you pack away the tree.
Even without packing our tree into a tiny box, we did lose some snow between decorating it, undecorating it, and then moving it to the basement. I would say we lost 1/4 to 1/3 of the flocking I had originally added.
Obviously these two pictures aren’t showing the exact same branch, but you get the idea. After a year of use and then storage, it was looking a little ragged.
I still had plenty of flocking powder left over from last year so before I brought the tree back upstairs this year, I added more.
I added more all over the tree and I still have maybe 1/4 of the 5 lb box left. Adding extra flocking probably took 30 – 45 minutes.
As you can see, I added more flocking this time than I did originally. I wanted it to look even snowier, plus I knew that some of the snow was going to fall off.
This time, I got a tip from the sellers of the flock to add a little white school glue to my water to help it stick better so I tried that, but I really couldn’t tell that it made any difference.
This is the mess that was created putting on the lights this year. (I sadly didn’t realize I should have just left the lights on when I undecorated last year until it was too late!) I love Christmas lights so there are seven strands of lights on there wrapped around each individual branch.
If you just add a string or two, the mess will not be nearly this big. Also, this mess was definitely helped by my two year old who thought shaking the tree to watch the snow was really fun.
DIY Flocked Christmas tree five years later
It has now been five years since I originally flocked our Christmas tree and we have been using the same tree every year.
There is a good chance we will be replacing the tree in the next year or two, not because of the flocking, but because some of the bottom branches are getting very droopy and almost touching the floor. I’m okay with that -it’s lived a nice long life for an artificial Christmas tree.
Update – this is the flocked tree I ended up getting when my old tree finally died and I’m really happy with it!
As far as the flocking goes, it continues to look beautiful. The flocking has not yellowed or changed in appearance at all from day one.
As I mentioned previously, the tree does lose a bit of flocking each year but I have not needed to add more flocking every year.
When I initially flocked the tree, I kept the flock fairly light. When I added more flocking the next year, I flocked it more thickly so it would be more white. Since then I have added more flocking only once more and it continues to look beautiful. And yes, I use the exact same Sno-Flock every time. I’m a pretty firm believer in sticking with what works.
Here is a photo of my tree from last year (year 5 of use). It honestly still looks gorgeous.
And here’s a photo showing all five years we have used this same tree from year one on the left to year five at the right.
Is tree flocking safe for pets?
I have been asked this quite a lot – good for you conscientious pet owners! I do not have any pets, so I can’t say for sure. I do know that the flocking says it is biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and nontoxic.
It also says they recommend wearing a dust mask when applying it and that it should not be used by people that are allergic to trees or corn. (Yeah, I don’t know. That’s just what it said.)
Personally, I would probably skip it if you think your pet may try to eat it. Also, if you are worried about your pet tracking flocking powder all over the house, that could also be a problem.
Can you flock real Christmas trees?
Absolutely. You can use this on real or fake trees as well as wreaths, garlands, Christmas villages, etc. It would actually probably stick better to a real tree as their needles are not as smooth and slick as fake ones.
Can you flock a pre-lit Christmas tree?
Yes! You can definitely flock pre-lit trees.
While my original Christmas tree was unlit when I flocked it, I have since flocked several smaller Christmas trees that were pre-lit. The flocking doesn’t adhere well to the lights, but some flocking does stick to them.
However, it doesn’t affect how the lights work at all – they still light up the tree beautifully.
If you are flocking an unlit tree, it is probably a bit easier to add the flocking before adding the lights, but either way is fine. Just remember to allow your tree to thoroughly dry after flocking before plugging in the lights.
Was flocking your own tree worth it?
Despite the messiness and the fact I needed to refresh my tree after a year, it was 100% worth it to me. I think it turned a perfectly ordinary budget fake tree into a very beautiful one.
It was easy to do and fairly inexpensive. The mess is kind of a pain but is easy to clean up. And I love the way it looks all beautiful and snowy.
If you’re looking for more details on all things flocking, I’ve got you covered with the posts below:
- DIY Flocked Christmas Tree – walks you step-by-step through how to flock a Christmas tree.
- What is the Best Christmas Tree Flocking Powder – compares the most top snow flocking powders to see which is best
- 15 Gorgeous Flocked Christmas Trees for Any Budget – for when you don’t feel like going the DIY route
- Easy DIY Flocked Wreath – if you want to start with something quick and easy
- 23 Beautiful Flocked Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas – all kinds of gorgeous inspiration for decorating your flocked tree
I absolutely love your tree!!! I have been looking for a tutorial on flocking for a while now and I am so glad I found yours! I would love to flock my Christmas tree this year! Love the snowy look!
Thank you Cierra!
Have you chosen the winners yet for your blog post?!
I just got on your site for the first time and I am in LOVE.
Thank you Sheryl! You are so sweet!
I adore your tree! I have been wanting to flick my tree for years but just can’t seem to get to that point. A flocked tree would look so good with my vintage Christmas decor. Thanks for the tut, the update, and the chance to win!
I love your blog post! I can’t wait to try it on my own tree! :)
Can’t wait to try this!
Looks great!
Every year we have a real tree for “pretty christmas” and a fake tree (6 ft.) for our childhood and fun ornaments. This was a tradition from my husband’s family, which is awesome, but I don’t love fake trees. I think this would go far to make it look nicer! Thanks for sharing!
The tree looks great. Do you know of any Canadian distrubers?
Tori, good question. I don’t know of any – I’m sorry!
Love the flocked tree because I’ve always wanted one. Thank you for the tutorial. Very easy to follow & all of your tips are helpful.
Amazing write up Carrie!
Yes, Sno-Flock can get messy, especially if your artificial tree has very slick branches. The more you spray when you do the application procedure the more it tends to stick. The reason we mention the disclaimer about allergies is that our product is 100% natural, and does contain both tree and corn products. We also have never had a problem with pets, however they are family and should be treated with care and concern; so if anyone’s at all worried about their pets eating Sno-Flock to a large extent, we would advise against its use. Additionally, there was a fair-bit of Sno-Flock loss on your tree, much more than normal. Generally it could be a result of not enough water was used during application, but you can always contact us and we will be more than glad to help resolve such issues. Good luck to all who register for the giveaway, we are so excited to have Lovelyetc. host this! Merry Christmas everyone!
Thanks for chiming in! It is especially good to know that Sno-Flock is all natural. And I’m thinking my toddler had a lot to do with the excessive snow loss – but if I flock again next year, I will add more water and see how that helps.
can you remove the flocking the following year if you want to? i really want to flock mine but worried that if i want a plain green tree the following year that i wouldnt be able to remove it?
any instructions for this? is it possible?! thankyou
Yes and no. You can hypothetically remove the flocking the next year but it would be a major pain to do so. Even though there is usually some shedding, a lot of the flock sticks to the tree pretty well. You can definitely pull it off with your fingers if you are trying, especially after a year has passed, but to get the tree completely bare again would be incredibly time-consuming. If you just wanted it to be less flocked, that wouldn’t be so difficult though. All in all, if you don’t think you want to keep your tree white, I probably wouldn’t flock it.
I totally love that you updated with new information a year later. Really, that is the only way a person can make the right decision, especially since I can’t afford to replace my tree(s) if I wreck them, lol. I decided I’m going to give it a go!
Yay! Good luck!
Carrie, thank you for all your instructions and comments concerning the Sno-Block. I have always wanted to give this a try and was unsure of the various results, including messiness. I would now love to give this a try on a new 4 foot tree I just finished putting lights on. Your tree looks fabulous!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I just found your site through Pinterest and I LOVE it!!! I can’t wait to flock my old Christmas tree!!
Your tree looks so beautiful! The flocking made a huge difference. I, too, have always wanted to do this on my tree and maybe even the greenery for my bannister-excited to give it a try!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS! I wanted a flocked tree this year and was thinking of trying the spray flock but that can look so clumpy. I didn’t know this was available to DIYer’s. Yea for you and Thank You. Now for the question. Next year or the year after when I change my mind (who me? Naw, never, it will never happen, ((who am I trying to fool?)) and decide I want a green tree again can I remove the flock? Hose it down or maybe brush it with a boom? I have to plan ahead because I know I will want something different…again, and again
Becki, great question. I thin it might be tricky to remove all of the flocking, but you could definitely get most of it off with a bit of work. If you brushed at it with a broom and gave it a really good shaking, you could probably knock a lot of it off. I don’t know if water would help or hurt though since the adhesive is activated with water.
I want to flick a large wreath for the peak of the house. In NW FL will the rain turn it into a goopy mess?
Great question Donna! I don’t have experience with this, but I wouldn’t recommend this flocking for use outdoors. There is definitely a chance that rain or even very strong winds could ruin it.
I just love your tree and how it came out. What type of tree is this one you put the flock on?
Thank you so much Lori! I don’t know exactly what tree it is because we’ve had this tree for quite a few years now. It was a pretty basic artificial pine Christmas tree though.
I have seen tree bags, Just pull it up and tie it off until next year..so you don’t even have too take everything off so that may also help with the mess
Amanda, that’s a great idea. I’ll have to look into it!
Thanks for the info. I ordered a 5lb box and it should arrive today. My tree is 10 ft (I think… or maybe 12). I’m definitely going to work in the garage but I seriously considered just hosing it down first instead of spraying. Do you thing this would work? It’s not pre-lit and it is in 3 sections. However, I wrap lights up and down each branch every year and I’m now considering lighting it before flocking. If so, I guess I couldn’t hose it down anyway. Thoughts on hosing or pre-lighting? PS: I have a few pre-lit trees as well and I also cut the non-working lights off with wire cutters. You’re not crazy!
Thanks for the assurance I’m not crazy! I love the idea of pre-lit trees but the lights just don’t last long. Or at least the old ones didn’t. You can really do the flock or the lights first. If it was me, I would probably do the lights first just to get them out of the way. I wrap my lights in around each branch too and it takes way longer to do that than the flock. But that’s only if you are ok with your lights getting flocked too. If you decide to do the flock first, you could definitely use a hose with a sprayer set on a mist setting. That would go super fast! Sorry I’m not more definitive but really you can do it whichever way you prefer.
I’m really excited to try this product and am very appreciative of your post! I custom decorate 4′ or smaller tree with stems, ribbon and ornaments securely wired into the tree (florist wire). I chose 4′ or smaller as they are portable and easily stored (covered) until next season. No need to redecorate each year! I’ve wanted to use a flocked tree but their cost was prohibitive. Not any longer!! Thank you!
Kimberly, your trees sound beautiful! I hope you love the flocking as much as I do!
It’s that time of the year again! I absolutely love your tree and the tutorial, I wanted to do this so bad, however there are no flocking materials available here in Australia. I decodes to order a packet of fake snow instead, its just a dry powder with no adhesive added to it. It expands with water. I am going to use the same method, except I will add some glue to the water spray and keep my fingers crossed it will stick. Thank you for inspiring me!
Good luck Bridget! I really hope it works well for you!
Your tree is absolutely beautiful! I want to try doing mine this year, but I’m worried how it’ll hold up stored. Specifically…does the white flock turn yellow?
Hi Kelli! The white flock does not turn yellow over time. We have been using this same tree for five years and I have added more flocking a few times but the original flocking still looks good as well.
So just to be sure, I can flock my pre lit tree without ruining the lights?
Thank you!
Yes, you can. Just don’t plug them in until the tree and flocking are completely dry – I would wait at least 24-48 hours.
Any ideas if there is anything that can be sprayed on the tree to keep the flocking from coming off and making a mess? Thanks.
Carol, this is a good question. I have wondered about this myself. You could try using a matte spray sealer but I feel like it might just flatten the fluffy flocking. I did try using spray adhesive on a mini Christmas tree to apply the flocking instead of water to see if that made a difference. It turned out that plain water worked just as well though.
Love this post! My tree already has some lights on it. Would you recommend putting tape over every light to ensure they aren’t covered by the flocking powder? Seems a bit tedious but I don’t want to cover up the lights!
No, you shouldn’t need to tape the lights! The flocking won’t stick to the lights very well since they are so smooth and they should still work just fine. Also, the instructions on the flocking powder say that it is fine to use on pre-lit trees.
Hello! Thanks for these great posts, they are super helpful! I’m hoping to flock a real tree this year. I was just wondering… would you recommend putting the lights on before or after flocking the tree?
You can really do it either way. If you put the lights on before flocking, some flocking will stick to the lights. It shouldn’t affect the lights themselves because the flocking won’t stick well to the actual smooth lightbulbs. But when you remove the lights after Christmas, there will definitely still be flocking on them which you may or may not want in the future. If you put the lights on after flocking, you avoid that problem but the more you mess with your tree, wrapping lights around the branches, the more flocking is likely to get knocked off.
This is exactly what I have been looking for! I have been wanting a flocked tree so bad but didn’t want to buy one, but I was worried it wouldn’t turn out well (or just be way too messy). Your’s looks gorgeous even on the second year and I can handle vacuuming up some white dust:) Thank you!!
Thank you! I think you will love your flocked tree!
How much glue did you did to the water?
I added a few tablespoons of glue to the spray bottle.
Thanks for this post! I flocked my tree with Sno Flock three weeks ago (I know, a started early, haha!) and it’s coming off in chunks in some places…I wonder if the branches are too smooth (it is a really cheap tree I got as a gift) or if I didn’t put enough water on it in the beginning…do you think I could get that heavily flocked look if I go over it again with the glue/water solution instead? Your tree held up so well!!!
Hmm, I have flocked a bunch of trees at this point including some really cheap small ones. Some hold flock better than others, but I haven’t had it coming off in chunks. If I were you, I would go over it again with a bit more flocking and quite a bit more water. I have added glue to the water some times and not others and can’t tell a big difference but it’s worth a shot. Be sure to spray with water before and after adding the flocking powder to make sure the glue in the powder is fully activated. Good luck!
Your tree looks wonderful! I am wondering how you store it? mine is in a box and was worried about all the flocking coming off when squeezed into the original box
Thank you! We are lucky enough to have a full unfinished basement so we just carry it down there still assembled and cover it with old sheets. I do think a bit more flocking would probably come off while putting it in and out of the box, but definitely not all of it.
I’m so glad I found your info on flocking trees. My friend gave me a 7 ft skinny green tree so do you think if it is a pretty day can I flock mine outside? Thanks so much for sharing this info.
Yes, flocking outside would be ideal! Good luck!