2024 Christmas Tree Guide: Where To Buy A Tree In Alsip-Crestwood

ALSIP-CRESTWOOD, IL — If you’re planning to put up a live Christmas tree this year, it’s a good idea to scope out what will be available in the Alsip-Crestwood area.

>>> Where To Cut Down Your Own Christmas Tree 2024: Illinois Tree Farms

There are more than 16,000 Christmas tree farms in the United States, stretching over 292,050 acres, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Larger tree farms control about 75 percent of the supply, but if you’re interested in supporting a local business this holiday season, here are some places to chop or pick out a tree within driving distance of Oak Lawn:

• Palos Lions Christmas Tree Lot, 127th Street and Harlem Avenue, Palos Heights. Affordable and high quality trees will be on sale Nov. 23 through Dec. 15 or until the trees run out at the Lot hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The trees were cut a few weeks ago by a local farmer outside of Green Bay, Wis.
• Home Depot, 4060 W. 95th St., Oak Lawn; 1200 S. Cicero Ave., Alsip; 300 Commons Drive, Chicago Ridge
• Lowe's of Chicago, 7901 S. Cicero Ave. (79th Street and Cicero)
• Menards, 9100 S. Western Ave., Evergreen Park; 9140 S. Harlem Ave., Bridgeview; 4701 W. Cal Sag Road, Crestwood
• Fasel & Sons Garden Center, 10841 S. Cicero Ave., Oak Lawn
• Graff Gardens & Farm, 7250 Southwest Highway, Worth

Recent data from the American Christmas Tree Association’s 2024 Consumer Report shows 99 percent of survey respondents intend to display at least one Christmas tree in their homes this year, and among them, 22 percent will opt for a live tree.

According to PickYourOwnChristmasTree, real trees will cost about $13 a foot, depending on the type of tree. At that cost, a typical 7-foot tree would cost about $90.

Years of extreme weather — drought conditions in some parts of the country and excess moisture in others — have affected Christmas tree farms.

This year, attention is focused on the Northeast, where tree farmers are struggling under severe drought conditions that are killing off young trees and could cause future shortages.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, about a fourth of the region was in severe to extreme drought, which hits young trees especially hard. It typically takes a tree seven or eight years to grow to the desirable height for decorating.

“Christmas tree farms in the Northeast have, unfortunately, been hit with drought conditions that will impact the crop for several years to come,” American Christmas Tree Association executive director Jami Warner told CNN.

“While consumers will be able to find their Christmas trees this season, some growers in the Northeast will not be able to harvest as many trees as they have in past non-drought years,” Warner said.