Over 15,000 producers grow Christmas trees in the U.S. Montgomery County is home to a handful of family-owned spruce tree farms.
Christmas trees are a labor-intensive crop, requiring 125-175 hours per acre to harvest. With a narrow window to harvest, farmers can work up to 14 hours a day during peak season.
This year’s Rockefeller Christmas tree in New York City was cut from Elkton, Maryland. The state produces nearly 368,000 Christmas trees each year. And that’s good news for the 34% of Marylanders who prefer a real tree over a fake one, according to Western Maryland Research & Education Center.
Real trees are greener, too. Fake trees may contain non-biodegradable plastics, while real trees are recyclable.
Butler’s Orchard in Germantown opens its gates for Christmas tree sales, offering two choices to customers. With a reservation, families can cut their own tree, or select a pre-cut tree without a reservation. There is no entry fee on weekdays, but weekend visits will cost $5 per car. Butler’s Orchard will sell trees through Dec. 23.
In Dickerson, Naughty Pine offers three varieties of spruce trees for your holiday. Douglas fir is durable and fills a home with that special evergreen smell. The silvery blue spruce has sturdier branches for heavier ornaments. And the Norway spruce offers a more classic, dark green look. Naughty Pine will be open every weekend until Dec. 19.
The Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad’s annual Christmas tree lot is also open, with all proceeds directly benefitting department operations. The sale lot will remain open through Christmas Eve, unless the trees sell out, which has been common in previous years.
MCFRS reminds residents to take caution with living trees, as they could pose a fire hazard if they dry out or are kept too close to a heat source.
