U-Cut Xmas Trees

Having all the family together or spending time with your family friends is what the Christmas season is all about. Some of my favorite childhood memories of Christmastime revolve around stocking filled with treats, Christmas dinner and the non-stop treats delivered by everyone you know.

There’s nothing better than to walk into a house that is filled with the wonderful smells a baked goodies. Nothing except, of course, arriving just in time to enjoy them!

Holiday Gift Ideas

• Make homemade vanilla and bottle it with custom labels to give to neighbors: MakingVanilla.com
• Advent Pocket Calendar
• A very neat and creative way to re-use old Christmas cards to make new gift tags and jar toppers

Great Holiday Treats

• 17 Christmas Cookies Around the Web
• Snowflake Gingerbread Cookies
• Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes
• Gingerbread Muffins
• Peppermint Eggnog
• Peppermint Hot Chocolate
• Hershey’s Kiss-Stuffed Oreos
• Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
• Cakeball Snowman

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We’re on the hunt for some great ideas and tips for decorating Christmas trees this year. How do you ‘trim the tree’? Well, bookmark this post as I’ll be continually adding to it throughout the season.

Below are some of my favorite posts and pics I’ve seen this year:

Decorated Trees and Christmastime Decorations

• Martha Stewart’s Christmas Tree workshop
• DIY Newlywed’s Beach-inspired decorations

Making Your Own Decorations

• Gingerbread Man Cookie Ornaments
• Better Homes and Garden’s Advent Cookies as Tree Decorations
• 15 Homemade Christmas Tree Ornaments

If you have a great picture or blog post that you’d like to share please share your link or email me: photos (AT) ucutxmastrees.com

Thanks for visiting us and be sure to read some of our other articles for How to pick out a real xmas tree, real vs. artificial Christmas trees, how to care for a real xmas tree and be sure to search our listing for Christmas tree farms and tree lots to find a quality pre-cut or u-cut xmas trees.

Tags: Christmas Tree Decorations, Decorating
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When you think of tree farms chopping down Christmas trees you may have images of Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax come to mind. You remember the story; it’s the one with the “super axe hacker” and the “axes that chop” which lead to a clear-cut forest de-void of trees and animals. Well, getting a real Christmas tree is nothing like that.

Isn’t it Bad for the Environment to Cut Down a Christmas Tree?

• Real Christmas trees are typically grown similar to a crop like corn or wheat. They are planted, cared for and trimmed each year to foster a tapered, traditional shape.
• They are renewable and recyclable and are grown on farms throughout the US.
• Similar to other crops, once they are harvested new seedlings are planted to replace the harvested trees.
• The average life of an artificial tree is about 5 years after which they will take hundreds of years to decompose in the landfills. Real trees can be recycled, made into mulch or even composted.
• A live or burlapped tree is also a popular take on using a real tree. These don’t dry out and may be planted after Christmastime to enjoy for a lifetime.

According to the Christmas Tree Farmers Association of New York an acre of 8-12 year old Christmas trees can provide the daily amount of oxygen for 18 people. New York has around 17,000 acres of traditional Christmas trees. These growing trees in New York and around the US provide a wonderful habitat for wildlife and can even help remove dust and pollen from the air. The continual replacement of these trees aids this as these are renewed each year.

So if you haven’t already, take the leap and go out and get a real Christmas tree from one of our Christmas tree farms or lots. You’ll love the ambiance, the fragrance and the look of a tree that is as real as your Christmas spirit. Happy Holidays.

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There are many great New York tree farms to choose from. Real Christmas trees provide a great habitat for wildlife, filter dust and pollen from the air and won’t fill up the landfill. Did you know the average artificial tree will last for six years in a home and centuries in a landfill.

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Appleton, NY (Niagara County)

Stoney Acres Tree Farm

For the 2012 season, we are offering LARGE/TALL only U-Cut Douglas Fir & Frasier Fir trees in the field ranging from 10-12 ft and taller. U-Cut and U-Haul for $45 each. Also, we have smaller Pre-Cut Frasier Firs up front ranging from 5 ft – 8 ft tall for $35 each (these are NY trees cut the week before Thansgiving and brought to our farm). We have some tie down twine for securing. We do not allow any customers to drive any type of motor vehicle into our fields.

Handmade wreaths, kissing balls, and boughs are also offered starting at $10 (pre-orders on these items are welcome). Be sure to check us out and like us on Facebook as Stoney Acres Tree Farm.

Hours: Saturday and Sunday 10 am – 4 pm

Phone: 716-778-5301

Address:
2110 Hess Road
Appleton NY 14008

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I recently read an article from a Colorado tree farmer’s website entitled Avoid Supermarket Christmas Trees and I’d have to say that I agree with them 100%. I watched with intrigue this year as large chain stores all around town got their trees dropped off (literally dropped). I was hoping to capture a picture of Home Depot trees being dropped off with dump trucks as I had seen in the past years, but I missed it. In the past the trees got mangled, damaged and left to dry out on top of asphalt out in the sun.

Let me show you two photos to help illustrate my point. Take a look at a charity lot (top) and a supermarket (bottom). The trees on the top were gently lifted off the trucks and moved to shaded holding bins for a church fundraiser. I can’t say as much for the ones on the bottom.

Good: Christmas trees being carefully handled and loaded into shaded holding bins for a charity event.

Bad: Christmas trees dumped in a pile out in full sun on top of the hot pavement.

Reasons to Avoid Supermarket Christmas Trees

• Some of these trees are cut up to a month earlier to be prepped and trucked to the large chain stores.
• There simply isn’t the care or knowledge at these stores that pre-cut lots and u-cut farms will have. They just don’t know how to care for them and there are much better options out there.
• These trees are subjected to heavy sunlight, hot pavement, thrown or dumped out of trucks, neglected and quite often these trees are even overpriced which is just sad.
• Many large chain stored don’t re-cut the base which limits the longevity of the tree. This is one of the many tips I recently posted on how to care for a Christmas tree.

Now, this isn’t to say that you can’t be a savvy shopper and use my tips for picking out your own Christmas tree in order to get a great tree. You can if you know what to look for and you know what to avoid.

It’s just sad to me that many, many people will bring home one of these neglected trees and may be forever turned off of buying fresh Christmas trees because it didn’t last until Christmas day. I’ve had several conversations with friends that will only go cut their own trees and avoid pre-cut lots. Most of them have had a bad experience from trees from places like supermarkets. Yes, you know exactly what you’re getting from a u-cut or when you get a permit to remove a tree from a forest, but I wouldn’t go as far as to write off all pre-cut trees. No, far from it! Most family and charity tree lots take great pride in their trees and offer great service to boot! Just take the time to read my other articles and you’ll be able to pick the perfect Christmas tree and take good care of it.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check our listings to find a local tree farm or pre-cut lot near you. Have a happy holiday!

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Picking out a Christmas tree can be a great family tradition that can bring everyone together to pick out the perfect evergreen as this year’s Christmas tree. Christmas trees come in many varieties, shapes, sizes and even many different shades of green. For this reason you should shop for a tree during the daytime.

Start by finding a Christmas tree farm near you. Know what you are looking for. Below are some helpful tips on how to pick a Christmas tree.

Preparing for Your Visit

Dress warm. Wear warm clothes, gloves and boots if it’s cold or wet. Other items that you may not think of are a measuring tape, hand saw (if not provided), a piece of plastic to kneel on, a bandana or ribbon to mark favorites for comparison. An old blanket and ropes may come in handy if you plan to tie the tree on your car.

Many u-cut Christmas tree farms will provide a saw if you don’t have one and some farms are really “choose-and-cut” which means they will do all the cutting and hauling for you. Visit their website or call ahead if you have any questions. In fact, it’s always best to call smaller farms to make sure they’re available at the time you’d like to go and that they still have a good selection. If you don’t know where it is make sure to ask for directions or whether people have a problem finding them by GPS.

How Tall Can Your Christmas Tree Be?

What is the height of the ceiling where the tree is going? If the ceiling is 9 ft, then plan to buy a tree at least 18 inches shorter. 7 ft 6 inches will allow for a foot for the tree topper and 6 inches for the tree stand. Also plan to cut 1-2” off the base when you get the tree home (see my tips for caring for a Christmas tree).

Picking a Christmas Tree

U-Cut / Choose-and-Cut Christmas Trees
The first trees to get picked over tend to be the ones near the parking lot, so the other end of the farm may offer a better selection. There are many different varieties of Christmas trees that may be available depending on your area and the Christmas tree farm. This may be simply a personal preference. Some people prefer a slender tree, like a Fir or Cypress, while others prefer a fuller tree like a Spruce or Pine.

Pre-Cut Christmas Trees
For pre-cut Christmas trees you will want check out these tips for making sure you pick a tree that is fresh. First of all, you should avoid pre-cut trees at most large chains and supermarkets. Most of these are cut way in advance of being shipped to the store – not too fresh. For real pre-cut lots narrow down your favorites and try a few of these tricks to check to see how fresh they contenders are. Leave a good “handle” or stump on the tree you cut so you can later trim off 1-2 inches.

• With the last 6 inches of a branch place your thumb and forefinger on the needles and run them down to the end of the branch like you would if it were a feather. The needles shouldn’t fall off. They should be flexible and resilient.
• Feel the bottom or butt of the trunk. If it is sappy and moist then the tree is fresh.
• Try bending the needles to check for resilience. If it does not break, but springs back into position, then the tree is fresh.
• Bump the base of the tree on the ground and notice any outside needles falling off. These should stay firmly attached if fresh or only a few should fall off. Inside needles may fall off as they may be naturally stuck from autumn.

Getting the Tree Home

The tree should be shaken to remove the loose needles and bailing the tree will wrap up the branches to help it fit inside your car or truck. If you plan to put the tree on top of your car then plan on bringing an old blanket to lay down to avoid scratches. Aim the base or the ‘butt end’ forward so branches don’t catch the wind. If you have a luggage rack you can secure it in at least two places on each side so it doesn’t move. You can also run the rope through your doors or windows (if you don’t need to open your doors). It’s also a good idea to run a rope to the front and back of the vehicle.

Drive safe and stop to check your tree after a few miles of driving. If the tree has shifted then re-tie it. Once you get home you can keep the fresh tree in a buck of water in a cool place until you’re ready for it.
Then before putting the tree in the stand you should cut a disc off the bottom. For information on this and more be sure to read our article on How to Care for a Real Christmas Tree. Follow those tips and your very own Christmas tree will stay beautiful the entire holiday season.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

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If you’re like me you may feel that Christmas just doesn’t feel like Christmas without a real Christmas tree. So now that you’ve bought a u-cut Christmas tree or a pre-cut Christmas tree how do you take care of it? Well it does take a little bit of care, but having the smell of a freshly cut tree in your house all season long will be more than worth it.

Tips for Caring for a Cut Christmas Tree

• Make a straight cut on the bottom of the tree and place it immediately in the water pan. The tree should also be re-cut if the base has been dry for over 4 hours.
• Place the Christmas tree in a tree stand that holds at least 1 gallon of water or a good rule of thumb is one quart of water for every inch of the tree’s diameter. During the first day after a tree is cut it will absorb as much as a gallon of water. Thereafter the Christmas tree may require as much as a quart or more of water each day. Using hot tap water will soften up the sap and help water absorption. Watering will keep the tree fragrant and beautiful.
• Always keep the base of the tree in water. If the base dries out resin will form and seal over the cut making it dry out quickly. Plain water is fine. Some tree farms have their own solutions and this is fine. If they have good experience with adding something to the water then it’s worth listening.
• The tree should be kept in a cool section of the house (away from fireplaces, furnace vents, house lighting, sunlight and open drafts). Even slightly lowering the room temperature will help slow down drying and lessen water consumption.
• Check for worn Christmas light cords and use only UL listed electrical cords to avoid a fire hazard when lighting the tree. Also, using smaller lights and turning the lights off at night will reduce the drying effect on the tree.

If properly cared for your freshly fresh Christmas tree will last up to five weeks. When the tree does dry out it should be removed from the house. Be sure to dispose of your Christmas tree safely. Enjoy your Christmas season and enjoy your beautiful, fragrant, real Christmas tree!

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Irvine, California

Tanaka Farms

Christmas Trees will be for sale November 24-December 16, 2012. Open every day 9am-7pm. Our Trees are pre-cut and we have a full range of Douglas Firs, Grand Firs, Nordman Firs, and Noble Firs from 2′ to 12′ in size. We carry wreaths, garland, poinsettias, tree reindeers, and more. We also do flocking, fire retarding, delivery, and have a full line of fruits and vegetables as well. Visa, Mastercard, and Discover Accepted.

Visit the website at www.TanakaFarms.com

Hours:
Christmas Trees will be open November 24-December 16, 2012. Open everyday 9am-7pm.

Phone: (949) 653-2100

Address:
5380 3/4 University Dr.
Irvine, California

Los Gatos, California

Patchen California Christmas Tree Farms

Cut your own Christmas tree in the Santa Cruz mountains. Many varieties of trees to choose from and stands are guaranteed forever. Handmade holiday wreaths. Come enjoy the picnic areas and visit our gift shop. Bring the whole family and see Santa Claus visits on the weekends. Free hot mulled cider, wi-fi, digital photos, and candy canes. Dogs on leashes are welcome.

Two different locations

Hours:
Rancho Location: Open daily Thanksgiving through Christmas from 8:00am to 5:00pm

Old Town Location: Open daily Thanksgiving through Christmas from 7:00am to 7:00pm (under the lights after dark)

Phone: (408)353-1615

Addresses:
Rancho Location: 17430 Old Summit Rd

Old Town Location: 22217 Old Santa Cruz Highway

Directions:
Click for Printable Directions

Wilton, California

Billy’s Farm Fresh Christmas Trees

Choose and Cut Fresh Christmas Trees locally grown in the foothills of Sacramento County. Just 45 minutes east of Sacramento off of Highway 16 and Dillard Road. We take Visa, MasterCard and AMEX!

Find us on Facebook as Billy’s Christmas Trees or visit our website at www.billysfarm.com.

Hours:
9:00am to 5:00pm Weekends Only
Thanksgiving weekend until the weekend before Christmas

Phone: (916)687-8354

Address:
8430 Dillard Road
Wilton, CA. 95693

Directions:
3.1 miles south of Jackson Highway

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Lisbon, Maryland (Howard County)

Fleishell Hilltop Farms

Balled and burlap Christmas trees. Pre-cut trees ranging in size from 5-10 feet. Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, Canaan Fir, Concolor Fir, Colorado Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Pine. ($30 – $55) Tall trees 10 – 14 feet ($60 – $100) Table top trees up to 4 feet ($20). Fresh homemade wreaths (plain and decorated) from 8 – 54 inches. Graveside displays, white pine roping, greenery. Fire barrel and melodies of the season. Pet friendly. Restroom facilities. Complimentary treats and hot beverages. “Lisbon Olde Fashioned Horse Parade” on Dec. 8.

Hours: Friday, November 23 thru Sunday, December 23. 9 am – 8 pm. Weekends open at 8 am.

Phone: (717)422-7228

Address:
16041 Frederick Road
Lisbon, MD 21765

Directions: From Route 70 take the Route 94South/Woodbine Road exit via Exit 73. Enter the roundabout in Lisbon and take the 2nd exit onto Route 94 South. Trees are located to the left, look for the Waving Santa.

Queen Anne (Queen Anne’s County)

Fox Farm Trees

Visit the blog at Fox Farm Trees

Choose and cut trees, mostly Scotch Pine 5-12’ in our mowed fields. $30.00 for any size. You choose and we will cut or you may bring your own saw to cut your tree. Also handmade Christmas items are for sale. Easy access from Routes 50 and 404 on Maryland’s Eastern Shore 20 minutes east of the Bay Bridge.

Dates and Hours:
Open: Weekends only (Saturdays and Sundays) beginning Saturday, November 24th.
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Phone:(410)758-1819

Address:
313 Fox Meadow Road
Queen Anne, MD 21657

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Washington, Kansas (Washington County)

Bird’s Nest Tree Farm

Christmas trees are choose and cut (we cut them for you) Scotch Pines and White Pines. We also have fresh greenery and decorations.

Address:
Bill and Gracie Bryant
1884 Quivira Road
Washington, KS 66968

Directions:
1 mile north of Washington on the blacktop.

Hours:
Saturday: 9am – dark
Thursday, Friday, Saturday 12:30pm – dark

Phone:
785-325-2618

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