Where To Cut A Christmas Tree In The Bel Air Area

BEL AIR, MD — 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 Bel Air area tree growers.

Residents across Harford County have several options, sortable by ZIP code and by type, on the Real Christmas Tree Board website. They include:

• Environmental Evergreens: 3631 Berkley Road, Darlington; 410-459-5362; opens Nov. 25 through Dec. 24; hours are weekdays noon to 4 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Hale Tree Farm: 4827 Norrisville Road, White Hall; 410-557-7892; opens Nov. 24; hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Black Friday weekend and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends in December.
• Hickory Hill Farm: 3123 Copenhaver Road, Street; 410-838-2820; open now until Christmas; hours are Fridays through Sundays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Jones Family Farm: 3500 Prospect Road, Street, and 2100 Philadelphia Road, Edgewood; 410-676-3709; opens Nov. 26 through Dec. 24; hours are Monday through Thursday noon to 5 p.m.; Friday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Winterfarm: 4336 St. Clair Bridge Rd., Jarrettsville; 410-322-6364; open now through Dec. 3; hours are Nov. 24 (Black Friday) from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Nov. 25-26 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Nov. 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Dec. 2-3 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Various Lowe's and Home Depot locations.

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.

“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.