For Katie Lemen, of Silver Spring, choosing a Christmas tree all comes down to tradition.
The lifelong Maryland resident has continued her parents’ tradition of buying a pre-cut tree sold by a charity — usually an area church or even a volunteer emergency rescue squad — even if the tree costs a bit more than a tree sold at a major retailer or on a tree farm.
“It can be more expensive, and you can drive a few miles more and get something for $10 less,” she said. “But really it all comes down to tradition. That’s what makes the holiday.”
Tree growers, retailers and charities are all gearing up for a busy weekend selling trees whether they are pre-cut or on a farm that the buyers cut. Though some would rather find a lot and choose a tree quickly, many have carved out traditions that include daylong celebrations for trees that range in price from about $20 for a 3-foot tabletop model up to the $75 range for a large, premium tree.
“We get everybody — families, couples, people with dogs,” said Marilyn Stewart, who has owned Fox Ridge Farm in Great Falls with her husband, David, for more than 25 years. “They just like coming to the farm, spending the day. Some even bring their lunches and then walk around the farm. It’s a tradition and they love it … It’s just an exciting adventure.”
Todd Butler, of Butler’s Orchard in Germantown, said he and many growers talked to customers about the trees before purchase to ensure they bought a tree that best suited their space and needs.
“One thing that a lot of people — especially those who have never cut down a tree — don’t realize is that it doesn’t look as big in the field as it does in your house,” he said, adding ceilings should be measured before a tree is brought home. “Girth is also important. We have some that are sheared like an ice cream cone, others that are large all around. What you choose depends on your room.”
Jeff Holt, a partner in Joe’s Trees in Chantilly, agreed that discussing with customers the pros and cons of the different types of trees available for sale was key.
“We try to find out what they want and explain what they might like,” he said. “I personally try to talk to everybody about what they might buy and what to expect.”
Some tips Butler, Holt and others offer live-tree novices include:
* Keep them watered from the time they are brought home. Put the tree in a bucket of water and keep checking the level daily. Don’t panic if they don’t drink water right away.
“I just had a lady call me because she was concerned her tree wasn’t taking much water,” Butler said. “Since we’ve had a lot of rain, the trees might not be too thirsty.
* Consider using some fine wire to hold a tree in place. This will prevent trees from toppling onto children or pets.
* The best way to shop for price is to call various retailers and farms. Prices are often set by size, but many farms have one price for any full-size tree (generally in the $40 to $50 range). The best bargains are generally farther outside the D.C. metro area.
* Don’t forget charities. Although the Boy Scouts of America and others said no comprehensive list of tree sales in the area was available, ask neighbors and co-workers for worthwhile charities that sell trees.
Even though caring for a live tree is much more labor-intensive than an artificial tree, traditionalists such as Lemen wouldn’t think of switching.
“I love Christmas trees because they smell great, they get your hand all sticky, and there’s always a lot of family craziness putting them up,” she said. “That’s tradition, too.”
