When to Cut Your Christmas Tree

When do Christmas tree farms open?

Each farm sets its own season. Most of the farms we list open on or around Thanksgiving weekend, some a week or two earlier for tagging trees, and many close in mid-December or as soon as their cuttable trees are gone. Farms usually post their dates in November. Every farm page on U-Pick Spots shows the farm's own dates when they are out, and what the farm says about its usual opening until then.

How long does a cut tree last?

Extension sources give a range that depends on the species and on care:

• Most trees: about three to four weeks with good care (Illinois Extension, NC State Extension)
• Fraser fir in water: about four to six weeks (NC State Extension)
• Grand fir: best within about two weeks of Christmas (Real Christmas Tree Board)
• Blue spruce and Black Hills spruce: best for two to three weeks (Real Christmas Tree Board)
• Eastern red cedar: may last only two to three weeks (Illinois Extension)

Purdue Extension advises against putting a blue or Norway spruce up early, and recommends getting a spruce into water as soon as possible after cutting to limit needle drop (Purdue Extension).

Why cutting your own is the freshest option

Most trees sold on lots and in stores are harvested in the first couple of weeks of November, and trees shipped across the country are often cut earlier still (Penn State Extension, UW–Madison Extension). A tree you cut yourself goes from the field into your stand the same day, which gives you a head start of several weeks.

The best time to go

For the biggest choice: the first weekend or two the farm is open. Illinois Extension advises shopping early, before the best trees are taken (Illinois Extension), and popular sizes and species can sell out at small farms.

For a quieter visit: weekdays, or early on a weekend morning. Thanksgiving weekend is busy at most farms.

If you want the tree to last past New Year's: pick a fir with good needle retention, such as Fraser, noble, Nordmann or Canaan, and follow the watering advice in our guide to keeping a tree fresh.

Cutting early but decorating later

If you cut your tree before you are ready to bring it inside, keep it in a cool, shaded place such as an unheated garage, standing in a bucket of water (MSU Extension). Make a fresh cut before it goes into the stand indoors.