Where To Cut Or Buy A Christmas Tree In Fairfax City

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — It’s still early, but 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 from Fairfax City area tree growers.

Here are a few places to start:

• Fairfax High School Baseball Christmas Trees: All proceeds benefit the FHS Baseball. Weekdays, 5:30 to 9 p.m. and weekends, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Fairfax High School, 3501 Lion Run.
• Merrifield Garden Center: 12101 Route 29, Fairfax, VA 22030 and 8132 Route 29, Falls Church, VA 22042
• Knights of Columbus: St. Leo the Great Catholic School, 3704 Blenheim Blvd, Fairfax, VA 22030
• Depaul's Urban Farm, 2599 Chain Bridge Road, Vienna VA 22181 703-537-0744 info@depaulsurbanfarm.
• Annual Christmas Tree Sale by Herndon's BSA Troop 157: 1090 Sterling Road, Herndon
• Meadows Farms: Multiple locations.
• Cedar Forest Retail: 6501 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA 22312
• Saint Andrew's Christmas Tree Sales: Saint Andrew's, Episcopal Church, Arlington, Virginia 22207; Sale started on Nov. 25 and will continue until all are sold out. Hours Sunday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Last year, the median price for trees purchased directly from a grower was about $93, according to PickYourOwnChristmasTree.org. About 26 million live trees were sold last year, compared to 27.4 million in 2018.

A survey by the American Christmas Tree Association, an industry trade group, shows that of the 94 percent of Americans who plan to put up a Christmas tree this year, 23 percent will display a live tree.

Last year, live tree prices increased about 10 percent, largely due to inflation and drought, according to industry experts.

Years of extreme weather — drought conditions in some parts of the country and excess moisture in others — are expected to translate to slightly higher 2023 Christmas tree prices, according to a report from Country Folks Grower, a business-to-business publication serving fresh market and ornamental crops.

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“A lot can happen in a half dozen years that can change the outlook for a Christmas tree crop from one season to the next,” the report said. “Farmers will be facing challenges in the 2023 Christmas tree season brought about by developments over the past several years.”

At any given moment, about 350 million Christmas trees are growing on tree farms across the country.

It typically takes a tree between six and eight years to grow to the desirable height for decorating. Large trees — those 7 feet and taller — may be in short supply because sales of smaller trees have been strong in recent years, the report said. Also, people may need to settle for a different species than they’re accustomed to buying.