Here's Where To Buy Your Own Fresh Christmas Tree In Lakeland

LAKELAND, FL — People in the Lakeland area who prefer fresh-cut Christmas trees shouldn’t have any trouble finding them in 2022, according to a survey of Christmas tree growers by an industry trade group.

The prediction by the Real Christmas Tree Board comes after a survey of 55 wholesalers that supply two-thirds of the market for fresh trees and 1,500 U.S. adults ages 21-49.

“The real Christmas tree industry met demand last year, and it will meet demand this year,” Marsha Gray, executive director of the Real Christmas Tree Board, said in a news release. “This is essentially a year without surprises.”

Families that love exploring Christmas tree farms in search of the perfect tree and then cutting it down themselves don't have many options in Florida.

The most popular Christmas trees for cutting and decorating for the holidays simply don't grow in Florida's humid environment and inhospitable soil, including the Fraser fir, the Douglas fir, the balsam fir, Scotch pine and blue spruce.

Most of these trees are grown in the five top Christmas tree-producing states — Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

However, it's not impossible to start a family tradition and cut your own tree in Florida.

According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, there are 16 tree farms in Florida where families can cut their own Christmas trees, although the varieties grown in Florida aren't the prettiest, fullest or most aromatic.

In Florida, red cedar, Virginia pine, sand pine, spruce pine and Leyland cypress can be grown specifically for use as Christmas trees. But it's a lot of work for the growers, which is why farms are so few and far between.

Each year, the young trees must be shaped or pruned to encourage the tree to branch more quickly and gradually achieve the full, bushy appearance people prefer in their Christmas trees. It takes three to six years to grow a well-shaped tree that is 6 to 8 feet tall.

The closest farms to Lakeland are Ergle Christmas Tree Farm, 3325 Trieman Blvd., Dade City, which opened on Thanksgiving Day, and will continue to be open every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. throughout the holiday season, and Lazy Lay Acres Christmas Tree Farm at 14920 Swift Road, Dade City, which is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The 25-acre Ergle Christmas Tree Farm was founded by Omar Ergle, an agriculture teacher in Dade City, in the 1970s and is now run by his daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Tom Harris
The Harris family grows long-needle pine and Southern cedar trees that families can cut themselves. But for those who prefer a more traditional variety, the Harrises import Fraser firs and bal fra firs (a hybrid balsam and Fraser fir) from the North.

Lazy Lay Acres Farm allows families to cut down their own sand pines and red cedars. In addition, the farm ships Fraser firs from North Carolina.

If you're willing to make a day trip, National Forests in Florida is allowing residents to cut their own Christmas tree at the Ocala National Forest with the Christmas tree permit. The permit allows you to cut a Christmas tree within designated areas of the national forest for $10 a tree with a maximum of five trees permitted from now through Dec. 24.

Last year, Lake Wales Ridge State Forest allowed the live Christmas trees to be cut to help clear out the forest's growth.

Residents can get information on obtaining a Christmas tree permit and advice on cutting a tree here.

Click here for other cut-your-own Christmas tree farms in Florida.

Whatever cut variety of Christmas tree you choose, the Florida Department of Agriculture said to make sure it's fresh. The needles should be resilient. The tree should have a good fragrance and good green color.

Christmas Tree Lots

Seasonal Christmas tree lots, some of which support nonprofit groups, churches and schools, can be found throughout Polk County.

Serving the Lakeland area for 44 years, Booger Mountain Christmas Trees is located at 709 W. Pipkin Road, Lakeland, at Ardella Baptist Church. They offer fresh-cut trees ranging in height from 3 feet to 11 feet. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

The Christmas tree lot at Trusting, Believing, Acting Church, 1815 County Road 540A, Lakeland, is open. This is a privately owned lot that is not associated with the church.

BG's Trees has three tree lots with a variety of types and sizes open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 1400 Georgia St., Bartow; 3002 James L. Redman Parkway, Plant City; and 921 Cypress Gardens Blvd., Winter Haven. BG's will have a professional photographer at the Bartow tree lot on Dec. 10. Those purchasing a tree will receive $20 off their photo session.

The Plant City Optimist Club Christmas Tree Lot is at the corner of Maki Road and West Alexander Street just outside Plant City High School. It is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Live trees are also available for purchase at Lowe's Home Improvement Center, Home Depot, Walmart and even at some grocery stores. Click here to find the nearest location.

Potted Trees

Ergle Christmas Tree Farm and other tree sellers are also offering an increasingly popular Christmas tree option: live, potted Christmas trees.

If they follow the growing instructions and re-pot their tree as it grows, families can continue to decorate them year after year.

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is a big fan of live Christmas trees. Northern varieties can be transplanted to progressively larger pots as they grow while living trees suited for Florida like red cedar, Arizona cypress, Leyland cypress, Torulosa juniper, sand pine, and, in South Florida, Norfolk Island pine, can be planted in your yard after Christmas by following this advice from the UF/IFAS.

Home improvement stores, including Lowe's and Home Depot, are also offering potted Christmas trees along with the popular varieties of cut trees imported from the North.

Real Trees May Be Pricier

Trees, like everything else, may cost a little more this year. Tree growers answering the Real Christmas Tree Board’s survey said growing costs have increased. About 36 percent of respondents said costs were up 11 percent to 15 percent compared to last year, while 27 percent said costs increased 16 to 20 percent. Another 10 percent said the year-over-year increase in production costs was more than 21 percent.

As a result, 71 percent of growers said they would likely increase wholesale prices. That means trees could cost anywhere from 5 percent to 20 percent or more.

Consumers seem to be taking the expected price hikes in stride.

“While our grower survey tells us wholesale prices are likely to be higher for real Christmas trees this year, our consumer survey tells us people expected as much,” Gray said in the news release.

“The good news is fans of real Christmas trees say they believe the trees are worth the price, and they are willing to pay more this year if necessary to get one — and that’s not a surprise either.”
Growers’ expectations of a healthy season are also tempered by fears of supply chain disruptions, the No. 1 concern of 44 percent of growers. About 35 percent said their top concern is that inflation-strapped consumers will cut real Christmas trees from their lists this year. About 21 percent of respondents cited labor availability concerns.

The Origin Of Christmas Trees

The origin of the Christmas tree can be traced to long before the advent of Christianity, according to History.com.

In ancient times, it was commonly believed the sun was a god. It appeared to be sick as daylight waned in the winter, but evergreens thriving during winter were a reminder that the sun would become strong again and lush greenery and warmth would return.

Evergreen trees were seen as a symbol of eternal life among ancient Egyptians, Hebrews and Chinese. Pagans throughout Europe used evergreens in their homes to represent fertility and new life.

Christmas trees were first used by devout Christians in Germany. The 16th-century Protestant reformer Martin Luther is believed to have added lighted candles to trees. He was composing a sermon as he walked home on a winter evening and was struck by the sight of stars twinkling above the evergreens, and recreated the scene in a tree in his family’s main room.