FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you wondering, how much does a tree weigh, how do I secure an exterior tree, or should I choose a fabricated, preserved, or replica tree? We’re here to help, with answers to all of your frequently asked questions! If you have an inquiry that isn’t listed on this page, contact us by emailing sales@treescapes.com, or call 1-800-527-8884 for further assistance.

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General Questions

Answers to general frequently asked questions about the TreeScapes & PlantWorks’ products and company.

Products by TreeScapes & PlantWorks can be custom designed to match your exact specifications, allowing you to determine the design and look of each piece. We offer a range of commercial-grade faux trees and plants that are ideal for any application.

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Our products are all custom-made, so they cannot be ordered off our website at this time. Information about the majority of our products is available online, and a representative can assist you via phone or email if you would like more details. To learn more, schedule a consultation, or place an order, please contact us by calling 800-527-8884 or email sales@treescapes.com

The ability to clean artificial trees and plants is a real advantage that many clients appreciate, now more than ever. Organic sanitizing and disinfecting products can be used regularly, along with more advanced options like some electrostatic sprayers. Please speak with our team to confirm if a particular product can withstand the type of cleaning you have implemented in response to coronavirus.

The vast majority of our products require no cleaning beyond regular dusting. The frequency depends on where your trees and plants are installed, however, we generally recommend cleaning every 3-4 months. This may vary depending on the amount of dust or air circulation in the area. More frequent cleaning makes the process easier. Please contact us for details on organic cleaning products that will not damage products.

Commercially foliated trees have 30% more foliage than standard and are slightly larger in diameter. With Reed and Sansevieria, the commercial foliage has 30% more product per square foot than standard foliage. We offer three levels of foliage density to suit your aesthetic and functional needs.

Standard foliation can be used for budgetary reasons, or when a tree is going into a corner or dark area. It’s also ideal if you want an airy look, or if you have a group of trees and the foliage density feeds off of the other trees. Commercial foliation is for a tree that stands alone, or is up against a window or high light. This can back light every leaf, making the tree look sparse if not fully foliated.

Our trees and larger plants can be designed with integrated usage, including anything from lighting and speakers to security cameras and monitors. Smart Trees™ by TreeScapes & PlantWorks can host radio equipment, LED lighting, and other types of computer equipment.

Another popular choice are misting systems concealed within exterior trees. Our trees are frequently used as support to hold signage, awnings and hammocks. We also design fabricated log furniture, and fun custom treehouses for schools, libraries, and playgrounds. We can even add secret compartments, or dispensers for your favorite beverages!

Exterior Fabricated Trees & Plants

Answers to frequently asked questions about our exterior custom fabricated trees and plants.

Fabricated trees are often surprisingly lighter weight than they appear. A 10 foot high tree with an 8 foot canopy and a 3-5 inch diameter trunk is less than 200 lbs, while an 18 foot high tree with a 20 foot diameter canopy and an 18 inch diameter trunk will weigh just over 600 lbs.

Exterior tree trunks are good for 15 years and longer, but the fronds  and foliage may need to be replaced every 6-8 years. We offer full replacement foliage and fronds or custom additions as needed.

The life of exterior products will vary greatly depending on the amount of sun, wind and exposure to the elements they get. Consider factors such as salt spray from the ocean, or sand blasted from wind storms in the desert areas. Exterior flowering material is more fragile and can last between 3-5 years with exposure to the elements being a mitigating factor.

Replica vs. Fabricated Trees & Plants

Answers to frequently asked questions about differences between our Replica products and Fabricated products.

Although both can have fabric leaves, Fabricated Trees and Plants have trunks and branches manufactured from manmade materials.  Replica Trees have natural wood trunks, grown by Mother Nature herself.

At TreeScapes & PlantWorks, we choose to call our plants Replica rather than “silk” because fabric plants have not typically been made of silk fabrics for many years. The majority are currently made from mainly polyester fabrics and many have polyurethane coatings.

We call them Replica, as the term replicated represents products that duplicate, copy or reproduce something from nature. People still refer to all manner of artificial products as silk plants, silk flowers, and silk trees, even though they are rarely constructed of actual silk.

Fabricated products are designed to withstand the elements, and have weather coated or non-fabric foliage and trunks.

Replica foliage is made for interior use only, and is not as waterproof or UV resistant as Exterior material. Replica foliage is usually Inherently Fire Retardant, whereas Exterior foliage is not. Most Exterior materials can be obtained Inherently Fire Retardant, though, if there is a sufficient quantity to warrant a custom batch of the material. Exterior foliage is designed for outdoor use but could be used indoors if desired, and would be especially beneficial in areas that have intense sun.

Preserved Trees & Plants

Answers to frequently asked questions about Preserved Trees and Plants.

Preserved Trees and Plants by TreeScapes & PlantWorks are made using real materials that are chemically treated to become “immortal”. This generally applies to palm trees, grasses, juniper, and boxwood foliage. These are paired with natural wood trunks and branches.

Learn More About Preserved Trees & Plants

Preserved Trees and Plants are considered to be “immortalized”, but it is important to remember that the plant tissue is still natural, organic plant material. The tissue has microscopic openings in the surface called stomata; they are like the pores of human skin. Even in a preserved state, there is interaction between the surrounding ambient air and the plant tissue through stomata.

Do not expose preserved foliage to too much or too little moisture in the air, nor temperature extremes. The recommended environment is temperature not exceeding 85 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees centigrade) and relative humidity between 30% and 80%.

This depends a lot on the environment where the plants are installed. Preserved Trees and Plants react to environmental conditions such as heat, light and humidity in a very similar manner to live plants. If a plant is in a stable environment without excess heat, light or humidity, Preserved Products can last for 8 years or longer. The trunks are usually more durable than the foliage. Quite often just the preserved foliage can be replaced, making the tree or plant look brand new again.

We suggest planning and budgeting to replace 1/3 of the foliage on each Preserved Palm Tree every 3 years. If your fronds are subject to more sun or abuse, you may need to increase the percentage.

Incorporate the replacement with the cleaning of the fronds and move the older fronds to the bottom of the tree, disposing of the more damaged or faded fronds, and be sure to put all the new fronds at the top center of the tree and it will look just as Mother Nature intended.

The new growth will be on the top and the older more worn fronds at the bottom. This allows for a consistent and natural look while at the same time maintaining a steady budget rather than waiting until the trees look completely worn and then having a large expenditure to replace them all at once.

Humidity is the primary issue with putting Preserved Products outside. Preserved Products react to the environment in a similar manner to live plants and trees. If the air is humid, the leaves will absorb more moisture from the air than the cells can hold, and some solution may eventually leak out. The leaves also become very heavy and will soften and droop. Even though an area is protected, the humidity will probably be very high at night and there will eventually be problems. Other reasons include sunlight, which will cause the leaves to fade quickly, and wind, which will damage the leaves.

Preserved Palm Trees generally weigh anywhere from 3-30 lbs per foot tall, depending on the species.

Tree Installation

Answers to frequently asked questions about the installation and set-up of our trees and plants.

All products are securely shipped to the project location or design company. Local deliveries are available to nearby locations. This is the most popular option for our Las Vegas casino, hotel, and restaurant clients.

Most plants and floral arrangements are ready to display immediately upon arrival – no assembly required! Tree delivery will depend on the size and shape of the tree.

Replica Trees up to 10 feet tall are shipped as one piece, and usually only need to be placed into their container. Some, but not all, Replica Trees over 10 feet are broken down into individual components to facilitate shipping.

Fabricated Trees under 10 feet in diameter will come as one piece and will only require a few minutes to install. Larger and special custom Fabricated trees will require assembly by our trained technicians.

This will depend on the type of tree, and how large it is. Trees up to 10 feet tall can usually be installed without any equipment, in approximately 30-45 minutes per tree. They tend to be shipped as one piece, but may need to be shipped as individual pieces. Larger trees may require assembly by our trained technicians.

Trees between 10–20 feet require a ladder, and approximately one hour per tree to assemble. Trees reaching heights above 20 feet require a mechanical lift, and installation time averages an hour to an hour and a half per tree. If a steel base-plate is used and bolt holes need to be drilled, add an extra 30 minutes to an hour per tree.

Replica Trees up to 10 feet tall are shipped as one piece and only need to be placed into the decorative pot, requiring approximately 15 minutes per tree. Some, but not all, Replica Trees over 10 feet are broken down into individual trunks and branches to facilitate shipping.

Upon arrival the components need to be set back into their PVC or steel collars. These are secured with nuts and bolts that we provide. The trunks, branches, and collars are color coded for easy identification as to which element fits into which collar. There may also be wiring in the canopy of the tree that needs to be attached. It takes approximately 1 hour to assemble a tree of this size.

Fabricated Trees under 10 feet in diameter will come as one piece and will only require a few minutes to install. However, most Fabricated Trees will require assembly by one of our trained technicians. The time needed for this will vary for each job.

Interior Trees that have a cantilever or are taller than 20 feet will require a base plate and bolting.

This will vary depending on the type of tree and the location where it is going, but generally we recommend a base plate for material that is 15 feet or taller.

Because factors such as soil type, earthquake zones, and wind loads vary from area to area, this information needs to be determined by a soils or structural engineer in your area.

The concrete should be at least 3 inches deeper than the embed depth.

This depends upon the height and type of tree being installed, but usually a 5 – 6 inch embed depth is sufficient for Interior Trees. Larger bolts would be needed for exterior applications. The bolts need to come out approximately 3 inches above the concrete for the nuts and washers. Excess length can be cut off afterwards if necessary.

Our base plate details are not wet stamped. We wet stamp, as requested and for a fee, on a project specific basis. We include actual site conditions, particular tree specifications and a project title block on wet stamped trees.

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