Cutting down your own tree?

[ReineV]

My husband and I found a couple of local Christmas tree farms and were thinking of cutting down our own tree this year. We usually go to the local farmer's market and buy ours there, but that's only because that's where my mom used to take us when I was a kid and we really want to establish our own family traditions. Anyone ever cut down their own tree before? Is it more expensive than just buying a tree? Did you enjoy it?

[made582]

I have never had a real tree before but I always thought that it would be fun to go cut down your own tree and then bring it home and decorate it. I think that it would be a great tradition to start.

[Mumof2]

We have a few Farms here where you can pick your own tree,decorate it and come back in Dec and they cut it down.then there are some where you go and pick it out and cut it right there.I have done both.It's alotta fun.I would suggest you bring your own saw,some places will charge you to rent one.There is a website I've used to locate Tree Farms,Orchard's Etc.They also will tell you if they have Sleigh rides,what the farm sells.Some are fairly priced.The Farm we went to a few years ago charged us a deposit of $25 and when we went to get the tree we paid the remaining $10 for any size any type of tree.I would call ahead to make sure when they are open,how much the tree's are,and what types they have.Some Farms offer wreaths and seasonal Items as gifts. It's a nice tradition to start,and some great memories to be had.I suggest ya's try it once.I hope ya's Have fun!! :)
Here's a good site to find some farms in your area.
http://pickyourownchristmastree.org/index.htm

[Christmasstar]

I would love to be able to do that. Unfortunately we have to many allergies in the house and have to go with an artificial tree.
Of course, our tree looks amazing anyway!

[Chillywilly]

We have never had the opportunity to cut down our own tree. But it would really be nice. :tree:

[Laney]

We have started cutting down our own tree each year. It is the same thing of wanting to start our own traditions for our daughter. It is fun, but a lot of work. Make sure you don't go on a day that is forecasting rain. We learned that the hard way LOL.

Different tree farms do things differently. The one we go to is by FAR cheaper than any other tree lot or farm in town. They provide the saw and a cart of sorts to put the tree on to bring back to the house where you pay. During the weekends (when it is busier) they have hot chocolate and such for the kids. I prefer to go on the weekdays, though, when there aren't near as many people.

We got our tree last year on December 1 and it lasted until January 6 for Epiphany. I was really impressed. When you cut it down yourself, they are much fresher than at a lot or farmers market, so they last longer.

Give it a try this year! It is a ton of fun!

[Santa's Helper]

I do not get real trees but my friend at work does every year. He and his wife started going to a farm to pick out and cut down their own tree every year. They take their 3 boys with them and make a day of it. Their oldest boy is 18 now so we'll see if he still goes this year or not! haha!! But he said it's fun and that it's cheaper than going to someplace where the trees are already cut and sitting on a lot for you. I think he said that he got a tree for like $18 and it was probably at least 6-7'. I think that's cheaper than the lots charge.

[Christmas-A-Holic]

I have never done that but it would be fun to do sometime. Since I set my tree up the first week of November, a live tree would not work for us since that is very early. I put up my artificial tree in the den. Maybe some year I can put a live tree up in my living room in December.

[ballcoach]

I say try it! You never know if it is worth doing unless you try!

[Smiley21]

My husband and I found a couple of local Christmas tree farms and were thinking of cutting down our own tree this year. We usually go to the local farmer's market and buy ours there, but that's only because that's where my mom used to take us when I was a kid and we really want to establish our own family traditions. Anyone ever cut down their own tree before? Is it more expensive than just buying a tree? Did you enjoy it?

Up until I left for college we've always had a real tree. We never went & got a "pre-cut tree" we'd always go & cut it down at a tree farm. I like it, its very nostalgic. As far as prices go they vary. Last year trees on the farm were high because of the drought that GA had been going through. But depending on the height of the tree & the type of tree they vary. But its a lot of fun walking through the farm. Its very peaceful too!

[Smiley21]

Oh yeah & ReineV I don't know what part of Atlanta you're in but there's a really nice farm on GA-155N in Stockbridge called Sugarland they have nice warm apple cider waiting on you as you enter the farm...MMMM

[ReineV]

Yea!! I'm familiar with the area. My moms lives in Fayette County and I think I've seen that farm. They have pumpkin patches in the fall don't they?

ETA: We always went to the farmer's market in Forest Park to go get our tree, have you ever been to that one?

[Smiley21]

You're talking about the tree farm that's next to that one. There are two farms on 155. The one with the pumpkin patch has hay rides...kinda fun. I've never been to the one in Forest Park.

[Wenceslaus]

Going to Christmas tree farm is especially fun for children. They will look back and remember those times fondly for the rest of their lives.

A practical tip for anyone getting a real tree: Buy one of those giant plastic bags to put the tree in before you dispose of it when Christmas is over. I forgot to get a bag until they were sold out, and our tree left a thick trail of needles all the way from the living room to the curb. :-?

[MelissaE]

We have in the past. It is fun to walk around trying to find the best tree. Unfortunately the tree farms around us don't have the best looking trees so we have just been getting ours from a tree lot.

[Laney]

A practical tip for anyone getting a real tree: Buy one of those giant plastic bags to put the tree in before you dispose of it when Christmas is over. I forgot to get a bag until they were sold out, and our tree left a thick trail of needles all the way from the living room to the curb.

Hahaha - we learned that lesson the hard way last year. I am STILL vacuuming up needles around the door way where we tried to squeeze a 5ft across tree through a 3 ft doorway. I'm sure it was amusing to watch to say the least LOL

[novelist]

:tree:My husband cut his own christmas tree down for years, but the last time he did that was the first year we were dating, 1997. WE now have an artifiical tree that we just love.

[Bradmac]

We have an artifial tree, but we almost always use a real tree. We did a choose and cut once. It was great fun, but it was a little more expensive than just buying a pre-cut live tree. I don't know why. Either way, we plan to stay with a real tree.

http://www.mymerrychristmas.com/forum/album.php?albumid=192&pictureid=3030

[digbugsgirl]

Cutting down the Christmas tree was one of the highlights of Christmas during my childhood! I want to start doing it again, but right now we are using an artificial tree. My brother, sister, and I used to go into the woods and cut down a little cedar tree to put in our bedrooms, too. Such fond memories.... :)

[lauriebear777]

I only did this once we drove from Long Island to PA for our tree, don't ask we don't know why, it actually started to snow (very little bit) to add to a great memory. As we lived in a condo we said we will get a "small" one, and we did or so we thought we did until we brought it home!!! OMG!!! Talk about a sceen from Christmas Vacation, that is how we felt it was HUGE in the house!!! Ha, Ha, Ha, what a great memory thanks for reminding me of it!!!

Hope you have a great time!!!!

[ShihtzuBeauty]

This is the only way we will ever get a tree. My boys are 23 and 20 and we've never done it anyother way. There for awhile my son and hubby would cut them down themselves but we now let the tree farmer.

When my grandson whose 2 gets a little bigger he can take a whack at it.:hello: It's nice too the tree farm will have popcorn, hot cocoa, homemade wreaths or scraps for you to take home and make yourself, pretty ribbon etc...Here in our area Central IL it's no more expensive than going to the store it also though depends on the species of tree you get your furs are going to be a little more pricey.

I LOVE the pines but also enjoy the Douglas fir.:tree: