Looking for the perfect Christmas tree in South Florida? Here is your shopping guide

The tents are open. The displays are in front of the big stores. People are driving with their favorites strapped to the car roof.

You can smell it in the air.

Christmas tree buying season is back in South Florida.

Now that Thanksgiving is over and the Dec. 25 countdown continues, more of us are searching for the perfect tree. And you have choices.

The most obvious ones are the dozens of tent and church sales dotting the region. And you can’t walk into Publix or Home Depot without noticing the displays of trees for sale out front.

Then there are less obvious options.

We’ve put together a shopping guide to help you in your search for a tree. Because, as we all know, you’ll need to do the hard work before you do the fun work: getting it home and decorating it.

So, do you shop online or travel to the store? Should you choose a local seller over a big retailer this year? Can you get a tree that’s controlled by Amazon Alexa or Google Home? Will a 14-foot tree fit in the living room?

And how are you going to fit it into your Mini Cooper anyway?

Here are tips and tricks on where you can find the perfect natural or artificial tree.

South Florida Christmas Tree Tents

If artificial trees aren’t your style or you’re looking to support a local business, there are plenty of tree tents open for the holidays, with trees from states where Christmas trees are aplenty.

Here are some businesses where you can shop for a real tree:

Santa’s Garden Christmas Trees

Open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. , Santa’s Garden has nine tree farm locations across Miami-Dade — from Kendall to Little Havana. This farm is stocked with trees ranging from 5 to 14 feet and priced between $85 and $700.

Unlike other local spots on this list, Santa’s Garden has an online order and pickup or delivery service, just like a big-box store. Santa’s Garden also offers professional light installation, starting at $350.

For location addresses and contact numbers, visit www.santasgardenfl.net.

Flamingo Road Nursery

Open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, at 1655 S. Flamingo Rd. in West Broward, this location is fully stocked and having no problems with shortages, the business told the Miami Herald.

With trees ranging from 3 to 11 feet and priced from $35 to $350, the Flamingo Road Nursery will load and secure your tree into or on top of your car.

For more information and contact numbers, visit www.flamingoroadnursery.com.

Hart-T-Trees Farms

Open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Hart-T-Trees Farms has nine locations in Broward County, from Hollywood to Coral Springs.

A manager at the Fort Lauderdale shop said there is a shortage, but “as of right now we are in pretty good shape.”

These tree farms carry 3 to 15 feet trees ranging in price from $30 to $230.

For location addresses and contact numbers, visit www.hartttreefarms.com.

Firefighters Christmas Tree Farms

Open from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, at 5501 Granada Blvd., Firefighters Christmas Tree Farms has a good stock of North Carolina-grown Christmas trees.

The tallest trees in stock are 7 feet and prices range from $75 to $150.

For more information and contact numbers, visit www.firefighterschristmastrees.com.

Jack’s Christmas Trees

Open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. in Tamiami (12701 SW 137th Ave.) and Miami Gardens (17701 NW 57th Ave.), Jack’s Christmas Trees has an assortment of 3 to 14 feet trees. Prices range from about $40 to $800.

All locations offer full service with the tree and will prepare it for your tree stand.

For more information and contact numbers visit www.miamichristmastrees.com.

Retail Store Christmas Trees

Home Depot

The big-box home improvement store stocks a variety of trees, including artificial ones. The store also sells pre-lit trees.

The home supply store’s online Christmas tree hub offers guides and options for finding the perfect fit. Free delivery of fresh-cut trees and pickup options are also available.

While the selection is large, pricing can be higher than elsewhere. But there are budget options.

Walmart

Christmas on a budget and Walmart are a good pairing when it comes to tree shopping.

Like other big-box stores, you can walk in to your local Walmart or shop online. The best tip is to not waste gas and time, and check out the stock online first. Brick and mortar stores tend to have less stock the closer it gets to the holiday.

Walmart’s selection of trees is large and you won’t be looking too long to find many trees under $100.

Publix

If you’re living in South Florida, some part of your holiday meal will most likely come from Publix. So why not look for a tree there?

While there isn’t much information on sizes and prices of Christmas trees at Publix locations, the popular supermarket carries North Carolina-grown Fraser firs, according to a store blog post.

Stores that carry trees and have them in stock will have tree farms out front or in the parking lot. Call ahead to your local store to ask about selection.

Amazon

While not the conventional idea for Christmas trees, Amazon has choices — many artificial and pre-lit — from different sellers.

Like most anything on Amazon, trees will range in price depending on size, quality and elaborate light setups. If you want an Alexa-controlled tree, you can find that, but expect to pay.

Because of the overload of tree selections, the best shopping tip is to trust tree sellers with high-star reviews.

Tree Shortages?

Retailers that sell artificial Christmas trees have reported raising prices 20% to 30%, with natural trees also expected to cost more this year due to extreme weather events in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest and supply-chain issues, according to the American Christmas Tree Association.

While there are tree farms in Florida that grow a variety of cedar, cypress and pine trees that can be used for Christmas trees, many of Florida’s traditional Christmas trees, like the Fraser fir, come from other states, including North Carolina.

Jodi Utsman, who goes by the title of Chief Elf for Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest, a tree farm in Central Florida, said the price of Christmas trees in Florida has increased this holiday season because of shipping costs.

And while tree shortages aren’t expected this year, certain tree sizes, like eight to nine feet, might be harder to find, Utsman said. That’s because farmers didn’t anticipate the demand and didn’t plant enough trees, Utsman said. Christmas trees take 10 years to reach this size.

Utsman recommends shoppers buy early and be flexible when looking for a natural tree.

Transporting And Keeping A Christmas Tree

You’ve seen the tree of your dreams and imagined it perfectly in your living room. Now, how are you going to get it in the car?

Before you leave home to buy a tree, you’ll need to get a blanket and rope or bungee cords. Most tree sellers offer some help with getting your tree in or on the car. If not, here are some tips:

First up is how the tree is packaged.

Artificial trees are usually no problem. Coming neatly stuffed in a large box means trunk space is your only need. But for real trees, make sure the business you buy from will net it. Netting is when the tree is tightly wound with twine or rope, making it less unwieldy and reducing wind damage.

If this natural, netted tree doesn’t fit in the trunk, it has to go on the roof. First, place your blanket on your roof. You don’t want to scratch the paint. Place the trunk of the tree toward the front of the car and tip facing the back. This helps with aerodynamics. The steps:

▪ Using your rope or bungee cord, tightly secure the tree to your roof. Now you’re all set to head home.

▪ This next step may be hard to hear for Miami drivers, but drive slowly and stay off the highway if possible.

Now that the tree is in the house, how are you going to keep it alive?

One manager at Hart-T-Trees Farms says trees are easy to care for. They just need to be given plenty of water.

The Florida Christmas Tree Association advises to put one quart of water for each inch diameter of the stem in the stand. After that, just check water levels daily.

Tips for Christmas Tree Decorations

Now that you have the perfect Christmas tree, decorations are next. With the season in full swing, finding that perfect ornament set or tinsel trimming may be difficult if you shop the traditional way.

Art supply stores, including Hobby Lobby and Michael’s, or retail stores, like Walmart or Target, are almost always running holiday sales. But driving to a store to peruse the aisles may not be the go-to move this year. Shelves are quickly emptied.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many stores have perfected the art of the online order and in-store pickup system. Just like you would buy a tree, a big tip for finding the perfect ornament set is to go online.

Online shopping has been around for decades and it may seem simple enough, but the best and cheapest holiday merchandise can be snagged this way this year.