Merry Christmas from New Hampshire’s Christmas Tree Farms!

With only a week to go until Christmas, there’s still plenty of festive to go around at New Hampshire’s Christmas tree farms! Most of our farms are open through this weekend, with retail lots, cut-your-own tree, and holiday shopping available. Some farms cater to the last-minute holiday shoppers out there and will be open right through Christmas Eve.

To find out what’s happening at your favorite tree farm as the big day approaches, check out our interactive map and click on your farm of choice for details. 

Those of you who have already found your perfect Christmas tree and brought it home for trimming can find tips for keeping your tree farm fresh through the holidays at the tree care page on our website. 

And if you’re wondering what to do with your tree after the holidays, visit this page of the National Christmas Tree Association’s website for recycling tips – and to see some of the cool ways recycled trees are put to good use. 

From our farms to your home, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Welcoming the holidays at New Hampshire Christmas tree farms

It’s that time of year again… There’s a crispness to the breeze, a frost of white on the mountain peaks, and a magical twinkle in the air. Must be Christmastime!

At Christmas tree farms throughout New Hampshire, we look forward to this season all year long. Our farmers are busy through the hot summer months planting and pruning and shearing by hand many thousands of trees. So we love to see that work pay off with the coming of the Christmas season, when families arrive at our farms to find their perfect trees, browse gift shops, select hand-made wreaths, and enjoy the myriad other festivities of the holidays on the farm.

Each of our tree farms has distinct offerings, from choose-and-cut Christmas trees and horse-drawn wagon rides to Christmas carols and visits from Santa Claus. To find a farm to visit and learn more about what each one offers, explore our interactive map of New Hampshire Christmas tree farms. 

And before you head out to find your perfect tree for trimming, check out these Christmas tree selection tips from the pros: our farmers. You’ll also find suggestions for keeping your farm fresh Christmas tree, well, fresh, through the season at our website. For ideas on celebrating a green Christmas, check out this Blog post from a Christmas past.

We hope to see you this Christmas tree season at a New Hampshire Christmas tree farm!

Keeping your Christmas tree farm fresh

Once you’ve selected your farm fresh Christmas tree from your favorite New Hampshire Christmas tree farm, there are a few things you can do to keep it fresh and fragrant through the holidays. When a Christmas tree is cut, more than half its weight is water, so much of keeping your tree happy involves making sure it’s able to take in the water it needs. Here are some tips for keeping your Christmas tree farm fresh!

    * Before you set your tree up, cut the bottom ½-inch from the trunk. Then place your Christmas tree in water.

    * Make sure your tree stand is the right size for your tree – and that it can hold plenty of water in the reservoir. Christmas tree stands should provide a quart of water per inch of stem diameter.

    * Check the water level regularly to ensure the base of the tree is submerged.

    * Keep your tree away from heat sources like fireplaces and radiators to prevent excessive drying.

    * Use Christmas tree lights that produce only low heat to prevent drying. Lights should be inspected prior to use and replaced if they are worn. And they should always be turned off when you’re leaving the house or going to bed!

    * When you’re ready to bid adieu to your Christmas tree after the holidays, check with your local transfer station on recycling options. Christmas trees should never be burned in a wood stove or fireplace, as they create creosote and can lead to a chimney fire.

For more tips on keeping your tree farm fresh, visit the New Hampshire Christmas Tree’s tree care page. 

 

From our farms in New Hampshire, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Dec. 10th deadline for mail order Christmas trees!

We know the holidays are hectic for many people, and our New Hampshire Christmas tree growers are here to make the season easier for you! It takes only a few minutes to order a farm fresh Christmas tree, which will arrive fragrant, beautiful, and full of holiday spirit in your home.

To ensure delivery in time for trimming, however, please place your order by December 10^th if you live outside the New England region! Those within New England should order by December 15^th to ensure pre-Christmas delivery!

Our Christmas tree farmers cut mail order trees fresh and pack them in wax-lined cartons to keep them fresh and fragrant en route to your holiday home. To select a New Hampshire Christmas tree farm offering mail order trees (and wreaths, ornaments, decorations and more!), please peruse our mail order page.

If you miss the ordering deadline… well, what a terrific excuse to visit one of our beautiful Christmas tree farms! Many farms remain open right through Christmas Eve. To find a New Hampshire Christmas tree farm near your favorite place and learn more about what our Christmas tree growers offer, check out our interactive map. 

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a GREEN Christmas!

You’re probably dreaming of a White Christmas – and we are too! But here are a few eco holiday tips from our New Hampshire Christmas tree growers to help you also make your holidays GREEN:

     * If you’re reading this, you’ve probably already taken the first step toward an environmentally friendly holiday by selecting a real, farm fresh Christmas tree. If you’d like to read about the benefits of a real tree (and the dangerous pitfalls of artificial trees), we encourage you to check out this link from the National Christmas Tree Association. 

     * Handmade ornaments are another green holiday tradition. Cut paper snowflakes from colorful recycled paper, use craft paint and festive ribbon to decorate pine cones, tie sweet-smelling sticks of cinnamon with holiday ribbon to make pretty ornaments, save old Christmas cards to cut into shapes for tree ornaments or gift tags, string popcorn and cranberries and dried apples into garlands…. The possibilities are endless!

     * If it’s time to replace your Christmas tree lights, look for LED strands. They use up to 90 percent less energy and last up to a decade!

     * After the holidays, check with your local transfer station or a New Hampshire Christmas tree farm to see if there are Christmas tree recycling programs in your area. Recycled Christmas trees are put to use in a variety of ways, from helping to rebuild coastline and restoring sand dunes to improving fishing areas in New England and providing wildlife habitat. Visit the National Christmas Tree Association website to learn more about how recycled Christmas trees help the environment.

     * Trees may also be chipped for mulch or composted. Evergreen trees should NOT be burned in the woodstove or fireplace, as they may contribute to creosote buildup and increase the risk of a chimney fire.

May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmases be white… and green!

Christmas Tree Trivia

Have you ever wondered how long it takes to grow a Christmas tree? Or when the tradition of hauling an evergreen inside during the darkest days of winter started? As New Hampshire Christmas tree farms prepare for the upcoming holiday season, we share some Christmas tree trivia...

• The first record of a decorated Christmas tree comes from 500 years ago! Local merchants in Latvia decorated a tree in 1510 with artificial roses and danced around it before setting fire to it. (Today, of course, Christmas tree decorations are much more varied, and we leave the tree up to admire it and celebrate the season for much longer!)
• During the 1600s, Christmas trees were popular in Germany and were often decorated with apples.
• Americans caught onto the tree craze in the 1800s, and by the 1850s, Christmas trees were being sold commercially in the United States. Initially, these trees were cut from forests, but in 1901, the first Christmas tree farm was started in New Jersey. Today, some 30 million farm fresh Christmas trees are sold each year in the United States.
•  In 1853, President Franklin Pierce, who hailed from New Hampshire, brought the first White House Christmas tree to the Capital.
• Today, Christmas trees are grown on farms in every state, translating to some 15,000 Christmas tree farms, 350,000 acres in production, 350 million trees currently growing, and more than 100,000 local jobs! (Artificial trees, conversely, are generally produced in China and other Asian countries, using harmful heavy metals and petroleum products.)
• For every farm fresh Christmas tree harvested during the holiday season, tree growers plant 1 to 3 seedlings the following spring.
• It takes those seedlings several years to make it to Christmas tree height – an average of seven years.
• The most common types of Christmas trees grown by New Hampshire farmers are Balsam fir and Fraser fir.

Mail order NOW open!

Our New Hampshire Christmas tree farmers think about the holidays year-round. We know some of you are already thinking ahead to decking the halls, too, and we invite you to place an order now for mail order Christmas trees, wreaths, and all you’ll need to make your holidays merry and bright!

Many of our Christmas tree growers sell mail order, farm fresh Christmas trees in various sizes and varieties. Shoppers can order any time and select a shipping date close to the holidays for hassle-free holiday shopping. Our farmers will pack your farm grown tree in a special carton to preserve freshness and that wonderful fir tree fragrance.

Our farms also sell handmade wreaths, crafted from fresh fir clippings and decorated to your liking, as well as beautiful ornaments, helpful tree accessories, garlands, and more!

To find a New Hampshire Christmas tree farm offering mail order sales, please check out our farm directory.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

There's something magical about snow in December, and much of New Hampshire is now blanketed in beautiful, wintry white. Fat snowflakes falling in whispers to the ground make a visit to our of our New Hampshire Christmas tree farms even more special.

So if you haven't found your perfect tree yet, visit one of our farms for a fresh, fragrant, beautiful Christmas tree! Some farms also offer beautiful handmade wreaths and special treats like horse-drawn wagon rides and hot cocoa or cider, and many are open right through Christmas Eve. To find a farm and check days and hours of operation, please visit our Christmas tree farms map.

Accessorizing for a Happy Holiday

For New Hampshire Christmas tree farmers, this time of year is really all about the trees… which is why many of our farms offer a wide array of accessories to help you trim the tree with ease. For starters, we offer a tree stand that some have dubbed “the marriage saver.” It consists, simply, of a large water reservoir, four sturdy legs, and a metal spike that holds your tree securely in place (make sure you get your tree drilled at the farm if you want to use this magical stand). It’s easy to set up year after year – no tipping, no tying the tree to the wall, no fuss! Tree farms offer saws, watering spouts, and other helpful items to make your holidays hassle-free.

Your favorite New Hampshire Christmas tree farm may also sell uniquely pretty ornaments for trimming your tree. This year the New Hampshire Christmas Tree Promotion Board is offering its 16th annual pewter ornament, depicting Father Christmas himself carrying his farm fresh tree home. There are plenty of other ornaments available from New Hampshire Christmas tree farms, too, from whimsical snowmen and Santas to hand-painted glass orbs depicting snowy New Hampshire Christmas scenes. Many gift items and decorations available at tree farms are made locally by area artisans.

Finally, don't forget your wreaths, garlands, and - of course - the tree!

Decking the Halls… and Doors, Railings, Windows and More!

The Christmas tree is the centerpiece of a home’s holiday decorations. But wreaths – hung on doors, porch rails, or above the mantle – also add festive color and holiday joy to the cold days of winter. Many New Hampshire Christmas tree farms offer a variety of wreaths for sale – from plain to elaborately decorated, and everything in between.
Holiday wreaths are typically made on site at New Hampshire Christmas tree farms, using leftover greens – and creating jobs in the local economy. Some hold a simple red bow, while others are bedecked with pinecones, berries, and other natural adornments. Many farms even offer whimsically-themed wreaths featuring New Hampshire critters like moose and bear.

If you like to go beyond simply decking the halls, some New Hampshire Christmas tree farms also sell garlands in various lengths, for twining around lampposts, railings, and windows. Visit our map to find a link to your favorite New Hampshire Christmas tree farm and see what it has to offer, either on site or through mail order.

Happy decorating!

Spreading Holiday Cheer - Trees for Troops

The holiday season is really all about giving. It was in that spirit of Christmas that Trees For Troops was started in 2005, to give a little bit of the holidays – in the form of farm fresh Christmas trees – to America’s military service men and women and their families.

Since 2005, thanks to the generous support of people like you and donations from more than 700 Christmas tree farms around the country, Trees for Troops has delivered more than 67,000 Christmas trees to military personnel and their families. Trees have been delivered to members of every branch of the military, on more than 50 military bases, in more than a dozen countries. 
The trees are one way to say thank you to these folks who have dedicated themselves to serving the country, and to the military families who are often missing a loved one serving away from home at Christmas.


New Hampshire Christmas tree farmers are happy to be a part of Trees for Troops. To learn more about Trees for Troops or make a donation, please visit www.christmasspiritfoundation.org

Christmas Made Easy - Ordering your christmas tree and wreaths online

If you can’t make it to a New Hampshire Christmas tree farm this season, don’t fret – many tree farms offer mail order Christmas tree and holiday wreath sales. Check out the NH Christmas Tree Farm Directory to find a New Hampshire Christmas tree farm that will happily send a tree or wreath right to your doorstep, whether you live in New Hampshire or across the country.

Trees are cut fresh and packed in wax-lined cartons to keep them fresh and fragrant. 

Your home will be filled with the beautiful, warm scent of Christmas when your tree arrives! Wreaths are made right at the farms from fresh fir clippings and decorated to your liking.

Trees and wreaths are generally shipped via FedEx and can be ordered now for holiday delivery.

Support Local Tree Farms, Buy a NH Christmas Tree!

Trimming the Tree – A Christmas Tradition

Whether your family places a star, an angel, or some other ornament atop your Christmas tree each year is part of your own holiday decorating tradition. Although the ritual of using evergreens to represent eternal life in winter is older than Christianity, the custom of decorating evergreen trees as a symbol of the Christmas season started 500 years ago and became commonplace in the United States in the mid-19^th Century.

The first record of a decorated tree is in 1510 in Latvia, where a tree was bedecked with roses, symbolic of the Virgin Mary. By the 1700s, evergreen branches were often adorned with apples, nuts, and colored strips of paper in Germany and Austria. Tree trimmers in France added lighted candles to Christmas trees.

In the 1800s, Christmas trees first appeared in the U.S., introduced by German settlers. By mid-century, trees cut from forests were being sold commercially. Fruit, nuts, toys, and glass ornaments were early popular tree decorations.

In 1848, Queen Victoria – whose mother was German – did much to popularize the decorated Christmas tree when a depiction of her gathered with her family around a tree hung with tinsel, beads, and candles appeared in the Illustrated London News (shown at right).

The first White House Christmas Tree, now a Presidential holiday tradition, was decorated in 1856 when New Hampshire’s Franklin Pierce was President.

Artificial trees first appeared in the late 1800s, and in the early 20^th century, some conservations encouraged people to use artificial trees as the natural supply of evergreen trees dwindled. President Theodore Roosevelt, a staunch environmentalist, refused to have a Christmas tree in his White House – until his sons, aided by famous conservationist Gifford Pinchot, convinced the President that when properly harvested, the cutting of Christmas trees was actually beneficial to forests.

The first Christmas tree farm was planted in 1901 in New Jersey, and during the 1930s President Franklin Roosevelt grew Christmas trees at his Hyde Park, New York, estate.

Tree trimming has evolved considerably in five centuries. With electricity, of course, came the easily lighted tree. Decorations now range from traditional tinsel, toys, and glass orbs to whimsical snowmen and Santas and ornaments depicting anything from tourist sites to cartoon characters.

Whether you string popcorn and cranberries for your tree or hang it with sparkling silver tinsel, use brightly colored lights or plain white, chances are your family has a special Christmas tree decorating tradition that brings the holiday spirit home.