Don't want a fake Christmas tree? Here's where to get a real evergreen in the Erie area

Erie Times-News
·7 min read

Whether it's the appeal of the scent of pine in the house or the tradition of traipsing through a snowy field to find the perfect fir, putting up a real Christmas tree is a must for many at this time of year.

The Erie region has numerous options for those who don't want to decorate an artificial tree.

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Brian Huster, 41, left, and his wife, Akaris Huster, 40, of Erie, choose a 7-foot-tall Fraser fir Christmas tree on Monday at A u0026 J's Trees, 5675 Wattsburg Road in Millcreek Township.
Brian Huster, 41, left, and his wife, Akaris Huster, 40, of Erie, choose a 7-foot-tall Fraser fir Christmas tree on Monday at A u0026 J's Trees, 5675 Wattsburg Road in Millcreek Township.

If you just want to pick out a real tree, tie it onto the top of the car and head home, many places sell precut trees. Farms usually offer you the opportunity to venture out into nature and cut down your own tree. They might provide help with the sawing if you need it. And some sellers feature root ball trees, otherwise known as "balled and burlapped" or B&B trees, that you can plant and continue to grow after the holiday season.

Prices vary not only by location but can also be determined by the variety of tree or its size.

Hours also vary by location and it's a good idea to check before you go to make sure a farm or lot is open at that time and all the trees haven't been sold. Some lots last year were empty by at least mid-December.

Also check with individual sites for requirements, such as masks, related to COVID-19.

Here are some of the locations we found around Erie, Crawford, Mercer and Warren counties and western New York:

The Schauffele family of North East carry their Christmas tree to their vehicle, Dec. 7, 2019, at Heaton's Tree Farm, 12270 Cole Road in North East Township. The family business grows about 18 acres of blue spruce, white pine and Fraser fir trees.
The Schauffele family of North East carry their Christmas tree to their vehicle, Dec. 7, 2019, at Heaton's Tree Farm, 12270 Cole Road in North East Township. The family business grows about 18 acres of blue spruce, white pine and Fraser fir trees.

Christmas tree sellers

  • A & J's Inc.: 5675 Wattsburg Road, Millcreek Township. Precut trees. Varieties include concolor fir, Fraser fir, Canaan fir, blue spruce. 814-825-7001, ajstrees.com

  • Abers Acres: 884 Routre 394, Kennedy, N.Y. Precut and cut-your-own trees. Varieties include Fraser fir, balsam fir, Douglas fir, Norway spruce and blue spruce. 716-267-2431, abersacres.com

  • Al's Melons Farm Market and Greenhouse: 10304 Route 6, Conneaut Lake. Precut trees. Varieties include Fraser and Douglas fir. 814-382-3152, bit.ly/3d74nVT

  • Art Samples Trees and Shrubs: 4989 Route 474, Ashville, N.Y. Cut and bagged. Varieties include concolor and Fraser fir. 716-763-1251, asamplestreesshrubs.com

  • Concolor fir and Fraizer Fir. Cut and bagged available.

  • Arkwright's Tree & Wreath Farm: 8662 Kinsey Road, Cranesville. Precut trees, cut-your-own trees and root ball trees. Varieties include balsam fir, Fraser fir, Douglas fir, Canaan fir, Norway spruce, blue spruce, white pine. 814-572-4464, arkwrighttreefarm.com

  • Bear Lake Tree Farm: 8021 Bear Lake Road, Stockton, N.Y. Precut and cut-your-own trees. Varieties include Fraser, grand, concolor and corkbark fir trees and blue spruce. 716-680-2157, Facebook.com/BearLakeTreeFarm.

  • Berkey's Nursery: 44251 Rogers Road, Spartansburg. Precut trees. Varieties include Fraser fir, Canaan fir, concolor fir, Douglas fir. 814-654-7513, 814-694-9200, berkeysnursery.com

  • Coan's Dusty Acres: 1199 Frew Run Road, Frewsburg, N.Y. Cut trees. Varieties include balsam fir and blue spruce. 716-338-3374, coansdustyacres.webs.com

  • Gerlach's Garden & Floral Center: 3161 W. 32nd St. Precut trees and root ball trees. Varieties include Fraser fir and Douglas fir for precut; spruce for root ball. 814-838-2363, gerlachs.com/garden-center

  • Gifford's Tree Farm: 14317 Main St., Wattsburg. Precut trees or dug trees. Varieties include blue spruce, Norway spruce, white spruce, fir, pine. 814-722-0740, facebook.com/giffordstreefarm

  • Haff Acres Farm: 5065 W. Lake Road, Mayville, N.Y. Precut trees. Varieties include Fraser fir, Douglas, fir, concolor, blue spruce and white pine. 716-753-2467, Facebook.com/HaffAcres

  • Hayes Tree Farm: 11215 Springfield Road, Girard Township. Precut trees and root ball trees. Varieties include Fraser fir, Colorado spruce, Englemann spruce, grand fir, concolor fir and Canaan fir for precut; Norway spruce, Colorado spurce, Englemann spruce and Fraser fir for root ball. 814-602-6489, bit.ly/hayestreefarm

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Manager Julie Yurchak, left, transports a 7-foot-tall Fraser fir tree for Brian Huster, of Erie, at A u0026 J's Trees, 5675 Wattsburg Road in Millcreek Township.
Manager Julie Yurchak, left, transports a 7-foot-tall Fraser fir tree for Brian Huster, of Erie, at A u0026 J's Trees, 5675 Wattsburg Road in Millcreek Township.

  • Heaton's Tree Farm: 12270 Cole Road, North East Township. Precut trees, cut-your-own trees and root ball trees. Varieties include Fraser fir, scotch pine, white pine, blue spruce. 814-725-5091, bit.ly/heatonstrees

  • LGL Tree Farm: 95 Christmas Tree Lane, Pittsfield. Precut trees and cut-your-own trees. Variety is Fraser fir. 814-563-4060, lgltreefarm.com

  • Love's Christmas Tree Farm: 21959 Britton Run Road, Spartansburg. Cut-your-own trees. Varieties include Fraser fir, Canaan fire, balsam fir, white fir, blue spruce, Serbian spruce. 814-564-0577, loveschristmastreefarm.com

  • Mason Farms: 839 Peninsula Drive and 4115 Old French Road. Precut trees and root ball trees. Varieties include Frasier fir, Douglas fir, concolor fir, blue spruce, black spruce, Scotch pine, white pine. 814-833-9933, 814-864-7276, masonfarms.com

  • McClimans Family Christmas Tree Farm: 153 Good Hope Road, Jamestown, Pa. Fraser fir, blue spruce. 724-932-3000, mcclimanschristmas.com

  • Paul's Trees: 5144 Old French Road. Precut trees. Varieties include Fraser fir, Douglas fir, concolor fir, blue spruce. 814-866-1253, bit.ly/paulstrees

  • Port Farms: 2055 Stone Quarry Road, Waterford. Precut trees and cut-your-own trees. Varieties include blue spruce, Fraser fir, white pine. 814-796-4500, portfarms.com

  • Potratz Floral Shop & Greenhouses: 1418 Buffalo Road. Precut trees and root ball trees. Variety is Fraser fir. 814-453-5501, potratz.com

  • Rensma's Christmas Trees: 46164 Harger Road, Titusville. Precut trees and cut-your-own trees. Varieties include Frasier fir, Canaan fire, white pine, Englemann spruce. 814-827-7670. Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 10 a.m. 4 p.m.

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Lee Farley, of Edinboro, carries a Christmas tree down a muddy, icy path, Dec. 4, 2016, after cutting it down at Rick Walker Farms in Washington Township.
Lee Farley, of Edinboro, carries a Christmas tree down a muddy, icy path, Dec. 4, 2016, after cutting it down at Rick Walker Farms in Washington Township.

  • Rick Walker Farms: Walker Bros. Buick Chevrolet, 700 Erie St., Washington Township, for precut trees or 12525 Hamilton Road, Washington Township, for cut-your-own trees. Varieties include Fraser fir, concolor fir, blue spruce, white pine. 814-434-2582, 814-790-2282, rickwalkerfarms.com

  • Sanford Tree Farm: 1075 Lauger Road, Youngsville. Precut trees, cut-your-own trees and root ball trees. Varieties include Fraser fir, Canaan fir, Colorado spruce, Norway spruce, white spruce, white pine. 814-688-5961, sanfordtreefarm.com

  • Stan's Garden Center: 5001 Buffalo Road and 5341 West Lake Road. Precut trees at both locations and potted trees at Stan's East. Varieties include Norway spruce, Black Hills spruce, Austrian pine, white pine. 814-899-5424, 814-835-6960, facebook.com/stansgardencenter

  • Wesleyville Hose Co.: Denny's Service Center, 2817 Buffalo Road, Wesleyville. Precut trees. Varieties include Douglas fir, Fraser fir, balsam fir, blue spruce, white pine. 814-899-6704, bit.ly/wesleyville

Some large retailers, such as Home Depot and Lowe's, also sell real Christmas trees. Check with your local location for availability.

We know there might be other places out there that we missed. If we did, send the details ― name, location, kinds of trees, contact information ― to reporter Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com so we can update our list.

Christmas trees are shown for sale on Nov. 29 at A u0026 J's Trees, 5675 Wattsburg Road in Millcreek Township.
Christmas trees are shown for sale on Nov. 29 at A u0026 J's Trees, 5675 Wattsburg Road in Millcreek Township.

Tips for selecting and caring for a real Christmas tree

The National Christmas Tree Association has this advice:

  • Measure your space and your tree. Know how tall and how wide of a tree will fit inside and remember that trees tend to look smaller when they're out in a field.

  • Consider your ornaments. Know if you need a tree with wide open spaces for ornaments to occupy or stiffer branches for heavier ornaments.

  • Be prepared for the weather conditions. Dress appropriately, especially if you're going to a farm and need gloves and boots.

  • Have the right equipment. If you're cutting your own tree, ask if you have to bring your own saw.

  • Consider the tree trunk. Look for one that's straight and will fit in your stand without having to be whittled down.

  • Cut the trunk. Make a fresh cut straight across the bottom to remove about half an inch from the base of the trunk to help it take up water.

  • Water your tree. Place the tree in water as soon as possible. Temperature doesn't matter, just make sure the level of the water doesn't go below the base of the tree.

  • Avoid heat. Keep the tree away from fireplaces, heaters, heat vents and direct sunlight, and lower the room temperature to avoid the drying process.

  • Be safe. Always turn off tree lights when leaving home or going to bed.

Find more tips at realchristmastrees.org.

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This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: If a real Christmas tree is on your list, here's where to get one