116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Christmas tree farms look to sell out this weekend
Fraser firs, pines available at farms across Iowa
Dec. 8, 2024 5:00 am
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If you are still looking to cut down your own Christmas tree this year, you need to hustle.
Most Christmas tree farms in the Corridor area will sell out of cuttable trees this weekend, if they haven’t already.
“Cedar Rapids seems to buy their trees earlier than they did,” said Dan Hoffman of Hoffman Tree Farm in Marion. “We've been out here selling trees for 54 years. The big selling weekends used to be around the eighth and ninth of December till about the 15 or 16th, but now it's Thanksgiving weekend.”
Hoffman told The Gazette he expects to sell all of the available trees by today, but noted the farm will stay open til the last tree Is sold.
Trees always sell out
“Every Christmas tree grower in Iowa always sells out. The demand is greater than the supply,” said Bob Moulds, president of the Iowa Christmas Tree Association.
Moulds, who runs Wapsie Pines Christmas Tree arm outside of Waterloo, said he’s been selling Christmas trees since 1986 and has sold out every year. On average, he said, the farm sells around 2,000 trees a year.
“I don't know of any tree farmers that don't sell what they want to sell. Of course, you have to control what you sell, or you won't have anything left for the next year, ” Moulds said.
The most popular Christmas trees in Iowa tend to be the Fraser firs, Scotch pine, Canaan fir and a white pine, though tree selection can vary from farm to farm.
Buying a tree
At the Hoffman tree farm, Fraser firs, white pine and Scotch pine are available this year.
Hoffman said the pines cost around $78 though that price varies on the size of the tree. The firs typically cost around $110 range, depending on the tree.
Hoffman said pine trees are typically less expensive because they only take 10 to 12 years to mature while a Fraser fir takes 12 to 15 years.
The Frasier firs are typically the most popular tree variety each year, he said.
“It's a short needle, and holds its needles very well, holds ornaments, has a great aroma,” he said. “Yeah, it's definitely become the one we sell the most of.”
Christmas tree farms
Here are some of the Christmas tree farms in Eastern Iowa where you can either pick out and cut your own tree or buy precut ones. It’s a good idea to call or check a farm’s website before you visit to see if trees remain in stock.
The Iowa Christmas Tree Association also has a list of Iowa tree farms at iowachristmastrees.com/.
Cedar’s Edge Evergreens
2188 Ivanhoe Rd., Ely
(319) 361-7967, cedarsedgemarket.com
Colony Acres Family Farm
1150 Front St., North Liberty, Iowa
(319) 626-6091, https://colonyacres.farm/
Handley’s Holiday Hillside
1731 white Oak Ave. NE, Solon
(319) 624-3646, facebook.com/handleysholidayhillside
Hoffman Tree Farm
9409 C Ave., Marion
(319) 377-0977, hoffmantreefarm.com
Wickiup Hill Tree Farm
Wickiup Hill Road, Toddville
(319) 361-9634, wickiup-hill-tree-farm.business.site
Comments: megan.woolard@thegazette.com
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