Persistent sale of real holiday trees proves popularity
Sure, those fake plastic Christmas trees are made to look like the real thing, smell like the real deal and feel like a real pine or fir tree. But deep down, they're a fake tree. Fake trees do have their upside: they're convenient, less messy and you don't have to do any hard work to get one.
However, the sale of real trees indicate the popularity of trees that need water.
Last year, 31.3 million homes had real trees, while 17.4 million homes pulled their tree out of a box, according to the National Christmas Tree Association.
But Janice Ziegler, who owns Ziegler Christmas Trees in Elgin with her husband, Jack, said there's one quality that cannot be compared: the smell of a fresh-cut tree.
"They just smell really good," Ziegler said.
Graham Knott has been selling seven varieties of tree from his Huntley farm since 1988. Still, Knott says he understands why millions of families choose plastic trees.
"Some people have allergies," Knott said. "Others say it is too messy. But I think people go back and forth."
But, Knott says, there are a few of things that make real Christmas trees special.
First, chopping down a tree becomes a tradition.
"I have customers who used to come out here with their parents and now they bring their own children," said Knott, who owns PineApple Acres in Huntley.
Then there's baling the tree up and taking it home to decorate.
Lastly, try as they might, manufacturers of fake trees have failed to capture that real Christmas tree smell.
"You just can't replicate that smell with a fake tree," Knott said. "That's the biggest comment we get, is how great the smell is."
Now that you've been persuaded to cut your own tree this holiday season, what should you look for as you peruse the acres and acres of trees?
Knott says a tree lined up on the farm with other trees will look much smaller than when it is standing in your living room.
Next, check for trees that have flexible limbs.
"Trees should have flexible limbs, unless it is frozen and they snap off," Knott said.
Ziegler adds that the length of the needle does not necessarily correlate with the lifespan of a tree.
"Some people say longer needles last longer, but sometimes that is true and sometimes it is not," she said.
Once the tree is home, the tree should be kept in the garage to acclimate it to the warmer temperature in the house, especially if it has been extremely cold outside, Knott said.
The butt of the tree should also be trimmed further because trees heal themselves over, which could affect its water intake, Knott said.
Watch the tree's water consumption daily for the first two weeks. The tree should take in a lot of water in those two weeks before tapering off about a month later.
"A tree should last at least a month, and longer," Knott said. "If you look after them and maintain their water, you will have less pinfall."
So where can you find the perfect pine, finest fir, or special spruce in the Fox Valley? Check our list for a number of options, including cut-your-own-tree farms, pre-cut tree sales and organizations selling trees and other locally grown goods for a cause.
Where to buy your tree - or wreath
Batavia
Calvary Episcopal Church
222 S. Batavia Ave.
(630) 879-3378
Open: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6 and 7
Available: Locally grown Christmas wreaths and roping. Proceeds will benefit the outreach ministries of the church.
Cary
Pine-Apple Farm 309 Three Oaks Road (847) 639-3248
Directions: Route 14 west to Cary, then right on East Main to Newbold Road, left to Three Oaks Road. Turn right on Three Oaks Road, fourth driveway on right.
Open: 9 a.m. to dusk, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 25
Available: Scotch pine; Douglas and pre-cut Fraser fir; Colorado blue spruce; Black Hills spruce. Saws and tree wrapping available for free; pre-cut Fraser fir; fresh handmade wreaths; stands for sale; twine provided; free shaking and netting of trees.
Elgin
Ziegler Christmas tree Farm 42 W 109 McDonald Road (847) 464-5776
Directions: From I-90 or Route 20 from Elgin, take Randall Road south to McDonald Road, then west five miles straight to farm. From St. Charles and southern areas take Randall Road north to McDonald, then west five miles.
Open: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 25, until sold out.
Available: White and Austrian, Scotch pines, Douglas fir, Blue spruce, balsam fir. Also wreaths, crafts and table top trees, evergreen boughs, garland, gift shop. Saws available. Free shaking and baling.
Huntley
PineApple Acres 41 W 651 Powers Road (847) 669-3251
Directions: One mile north of I-90 on Route 47, east one-quarter mile on Powers Road; signs on Route 47
Open: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, except Mondays, until Dec. 21.
Available: Red, white and Scotch pine, Norway & blue spruce; Douglas, concolor and Fraser fir
McHenry
Pioneer Tree Farm 4614 Pioneer Road (815) 385-8512
Directions: Three miles north of McHenry on Route 31, then one-half mile up Pioneer Road.
Open: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6 and 7 only
Available: Scotch, white, and red pine; Colorado blue spruce. Pesticide free trees. Saws provided. Free netting and shaking and evergreen boughs. Wagon rides. Wreaths and craft items. Warming house with free cocoa and coffee. Ten percent of tree sales is donated to McHenry County Defenders.
Sugar Grove
Spring Bluff Nursery 41W130 Norris Road (630) 466-4278
Directions: Five miles north of Sugar Grove off Bliss Road at Norris Road. Six miles west of Aurora.
Open: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 6 and 13, and Sundays, Dec 7 and 14
Available: Red, white, Scotch and Austrian pines; Norway spruce. Handmade wreaths (with dried flowers), roping garland, free hayrides to and from Christmas fields.
Woodstock
Oney's Tree Farm and Nursery 16608 Route 14 Woodstock, IL 60098 (815) 338-4108
Directions: On Route 14 in between Woodstock and Harvard, about seven miles west of Route 47.
Open: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
Available: White, Scotch, and Austrian pine; Norway, blue, white and green Spruce; also Serbian spruce, Douglas, Fraser and concolor firs; pre-cut balsam and Fraser fir. Shaking and netting of most trees free. Ball and burlap also available. Saws and twine for tie-down. Pony rides. Handmade wreaths (custom decorating available), roping, garland, center pieces, bundles of greens. Gift shop and snack bar. Live reindeer, horse-drawn wagon rides and pony rides and Mrs. Claus on weekends. Arborvitae maze.