Where to Get a Live Christmas Tree
byWith Christmas only a few weeks away, those who opt for real Christmas trees are getting ready to head out and find that perfect one. There is something very traditional and “Christmassy” about taking a break from the congested malls and heading into the country with your kids, partner or friends. Many tree farms also have caroling, hot chocolate and candy canes to add to the experience. Even if you aren’t into buying a tree most also have wreaths and boughs available.
Where to Get a Live Christmas Tree
Whether you are partial to full, groomed trees or have an affinity for more of a “Charlie Brown” style, there are plenty of options if you know where to look.
Tips
- The farms provide saws, leave the hatchet and chainsaw at home
- Most farms don’t allow dogs
- They close before or just after dark so make sure to check hours of operations (most close between 4:00pm – 5:30pm)
- A good quality tree will last you the month of December but make sure to water daily when you first bring it home
- Many are cash or cheque only (although a few do accept debit and credit cards)
- If you don’t know much about trees or what you are looking for, talk to the staff they are generally a wealth of knowledge on the subject
Recommended Farms
Frosty’s Family Christmas Tree Farm
Hours: Open Daily. U-cut 9:00am – 4:30pm, Fresh cut 9:00am – 8:00pm
Location: From Highway 1, take the 264th St. exit, and go over the overpass. Turn west on 56th Ave at the light. Follow 56th Ave to 248th St and turn south. At 52nd Ave, turn west and continue down the road until you see our festive family of snowmen greeting you at our Farm Entrance.
Features: Hot Chocolate, Hot Apple Cider, and Hot Dogs are available on the weekends till 4:30pm.
H&M Christmas Tree Farm
Hours: Pre-cut Monday to Friday 10:00am – 10:00 pm and Saturday, Sunday 9:00am-10:00pm. Open 7 days a week.
Location: 6640-6980 Steveston Hwy in Richmond
Features: Open fires, Christmas music, hot apple cider, ample parking and complimentary hot dogs.
Dogwood Christmas Tree Farm
Hours: Open Daily 9:00am – 4:30pm
Location: 8659 252 St. Fort Langley, 4 kilometers east of The Fort, on River Road & 252nd St.
Features: 18 acres of Douglas Fir, Grand Fir, Noble, and Fraser Fir. U-cut and farm-fresh cut trees, fresh holly, boughs, and wreaths. Complimentary Candy Cane,Christmas carols. Hot Dogs, Hot Chocolate, and Hot Cider are available on the weekends from Santa’s Snack Shack.
Should you have any family favourite locations not listed, please feel free to add them in the comments.
Update The following suggestions have been contributed for cut trees:
The Wildlife Rescue Association out at Burnaby Lake will be selling organic, salmon-safe Xmas trees on Friday, December 17, 2010 between 10:00am and 2:00pm. The trees have been generously donated by The Bees Knees Christmas Trees who own two organic farms out in the Columbia Valley. The charity is located at 5216 Glencarin Drive, Burnaby V5B C1 and a minimum donation of $20 is suggested.
Aunt Leah’s Independent Lifeskills Society has lots in Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam and on the North Shore. Your purchase will go to Aunt Leah’s programs that help prevent youth homelessness.
9 Comments — Comments Are Closed
They’re more expensive, but if you’re looking for a sustainable option, consider somebody like Carbonsync (http://www.carbonsync.ca/) or Evergrow (http://www.evergrowchristmastrees.ca/). I have no affiliation with either, I just wrote a post on sustainable trees a while back and those are two local companies doing it.
Thanks Darren, stay tuned because I’d found evergrownchristmastrees while doing some research and am looking to write a post about them individually.
I will be getting my first-ever fake tannenbaum this year. Hoping that once the ornaments and lights are on and the old angel is placed on top, it will look fairly real. (maybe hang one of those evergreen air-fresheners on it for the scent – maybe not)
Having grown up getting our trees from H&M (or whomever it was when we did back when I was growing up, it’s been a while), my vote is to head there. On a related sidenote, we also gained an unexpected pet after getting a tree there one year.
After finding the perfect tree and lugging it home on the top of our minivan, we were shocked to find that a ringed turtle dove had been trapped in the tree for the duration of the trip. We attempted to set it free, but during some point of us cutting down the tree and getting it home, one of it’s wings was injured. We went as far as taking it to the vet who said that it was best to give it time to heal, so we did the old school method of helping injured birds recover. Even after this, the bird simply didn’t want to leave when given opportunity to do so – so Buddy became a member of the Golden family.
There you have it. The Reader’s Digest version.
Here in Nanaimo we love going to GoGo’s Tree Farm. They give you a saw and you cut your own tree for $25. We choose a Norway Spruce and it is beautiful. It was fun taking the kids and wandering around until we found the “perfect tree”.
I think I like more an artificial Christmas tree
We got a tree from Evergrow (http://www.evergrowchristmastrees.ca/) last year and it was fabulous – having a live, potted tree was awesome. Sadly they’re out of our price range this year, but it’s a great concept and service for those that can afford it!
If only the strata let me have real trees in the building… I miss this tradition.
Thank You so much Rebecca, Aunt Leah’s is close to me, I have been working with them for many years. We really appreciate your support.
Owen