Once Black Friday is behind us, the next big holiday purchase is quickly approaching: Christmas trees.
Nationwide, the Christmas tree industry is changing. Drought and disease have led to a shortage of tall pines and Douglas firs that tend to be a favorite of Christmas-celebrating families, and inflation may spike the prices of the trees, depending on where you shop.
Luckily, Delaware is home to dozens of local Christmas tree farmers and suppliers, some that have been in operation for decades.
Here's what to know about the Christmas tree industry in Delaware, and your guide to tree shopping this season.
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Christmas in July: Delaware farmers' yearlong mission
Christmas trees may emerge as a thought only once at the end of every year, but for these Delaware-based farmers, it’s a year-round job.
Trees take anywhere from six to 12 years to fully grow and are extremely particular in terms of the type of soil and root system available.
Part of the reason why there is a nationwide shortage of trees is due to a reduced number of trees planted around the time of the Great Recession in 2008.
Pat Dyer has owned and operated Dyer’s Tree Farm in Dover for over 50 years. Now in his mid-80s and with no heir to the family operation, he plans on going out of business in the next few years as the last of his trees on his 3.5-acre plot are sold.
John Clark of Clark’s Tree Farm in Smyrna also has been in the Christmas tree business for over five decades and has downsized his farm over the years in order for him and his two sons to better manage the labor-intensive maintenance work. He, too, is done planting trees.
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For these growers, the work begins as early as May, when the trees must be continuously shaped and sprayed to protect against pests, weeds and fungi.
In recent years, labor has been harder and harder to find for Christmas tree farms. Most local growers keep the work in the family, but as owners begin aging out of the business, it’s been more difficult to find people that are willing to put in the work during the industry’s “off-season.”
“Most people are thinking about the beaches in the heat of the summer,” Clark said. “But the Christmas tree industry is hard at work at that time, doing things out in the field and trying to keep the bugs and weeds under control.”
Lynette McCarthy of Middletown’s McCarthy Tree Farm has owned and operated her family-run farm alongside her husband since 2004. The organic farm plants anywhere from 500 to 1,000 transplants per season. No fertilizers or sprays are used, which poses different challenges of its own.
“The fields must be kept mowed at all times,” McCarthy said. “We water each tree individually with a tank sprayer after spring planting and keep an eye on the growth of the trees during the season.”
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Dyer explained that the lack of rain during the growing season poses additional problems for the trees and the farmers who tend to them.
“Climate is also affecting the trees now,” Dyer said. “It’s drier in the summertime. Unless you have an irrigation system to keep them watered, it’s very difficult.”
Despite the laborious practice, the reward for local growers outweighs the hardships associated with the industry.
“I just like to see families and kids out here,” Clark said. “I’m not a millionaire by any means, but it’s just a fun time of year.”
What to know if you are buying a real Christmas tree
According to the Real Christmas Tree Board, the most popular times for real Christmas tree shopping is right after Thanksgiving and the first week in December.
Although prices for supplies like fertilizers and labor costs have continued to rise, they’re doing so at a lesser rate than in years past. Despite the shortage, the industry consistently meets the demand for real trees throughout the season.
The best advice for shoppers is to shop early and be flexible and don’t panic if the first place you go doesn’t have the perfect tree, there will be enough for everyone.
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Additional advice from the Delaware Christmas Tree Growers Association:
- Take into account the placement of your tree and the height of your ceiling, make sure to leave room for the tree stand, topper, gifts and room to walk.
- Make sure to factor your pets into account; curiosity may not kill the cat, but it may shatter your expensive ornament.
- Look for a tree with a straight trunk, well-rounded base, and a dense conical shape.
How to make sure your tree is fresh:
- If you bend a needle, it should spring back into place.
- If you thump the base into the ground, no needles should fall.
- The bottom of the tree should be sappy and moist.
Where to get a Delaware Christmas tree
Here are just some of the local Christmas tree growers in Delaware.
You can find a more extensive list here.
Clark Tree Farm: 104 Clark Road, Smyrna
- Hours: Starting Black Friday, Clark’s farm is open “sun up to sun down” on weekends
- Prices: Trees are $30 each and cut by a member of the staff.
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Coleman’s Christmas Tree Farm: 550 Silver Run Road, Middletown
- Hours: Starting Black Friday, open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
- Prices: Pre-cut trees start at $50; trees cut from the field start at $95
Don’s Tree Farm: 6396 Hickman Road, Greenwood
- Hours: Opens Black Friday at 10 a.m., then Thursdays from noon until 5 p.m. and from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays
Dyer’s Tree Farm: 36 Lake Drive, Dover
- Hours: Starting Black Friday, open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Black Friday; only open on the weekends after that.
- Price: Trees are $48 for any tree up to 8 feet tall, and an additional $5 per foot on anything taller.
Gaines Christmas Tree Farm: 1948 Hopkins Cemetery Road, Harrington
- Hours: Black Friday weekend, Dec. 1-3, Dec. 7-9 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
McCarthy Tree Farm: 1061 Dutch Neck Road, Middletown
- Hours: Starting Nov. 25, open Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
- Price: Starts at $55, families cut their own trees
Poynter’s Christmas Shop: 13480 S Dupont Highway, Felton
- Hours: Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Fridays through Sundays from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Contact Molly McVety atmmcvety@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter@mollymcvety.
