Jan Ziegler can spot the veterans by their measuring tapes. “The first year, people pick a tree that’s too tall,” said Ziegler, who owns Ziegler Christmas Tree Farm in Elgin. “They look smaller in the field. So the next year, they measure.”
In addition to bringing a measuring tape, Ziegler has a few other suggestions for folks venturing out to farms to cut down their own Christmas trees.
Bring a saw, because not every farm provides them, Ziegler said, and even those that do may not have sharp ones. “You need to have one anyway when you get the tree home,” she said. “And please do not bring a chain saw; that’s too dangerous.” Bring rope or twine to secure the tree to your car, although many farms do provide them. Use a blanket, sheet or tarp to protect your car.
When you get the tree home, get out the saw, she says, and “make a fresh cut so it will absorb water.”
Dress for conditions, which usually warrant warm coats, work gloves and boots. “It’s colder out here in the open than it is at your house,” said Ziegler. “And it may be muddy.” Gloves will also protect your hands while you cut and handle the tree.
Don’t go alone. “It’s much easier to saw down a tree if someone else is holding on to it while you saw,” said Ziegler.
After you get your tree home, minimize its exposure to dry air by closing the heat register next to the tree and keeping it away from sunny windows.
Keep your tree well-watered, said Ziegler. Additives and home remedies do not keep the tree fresh longer, she said. “I’ve heard people say you should add aspirin, 7-Up or scotch, but I don’t see the trees using those in the field. Better to save your money for Christmas gifts.”
Don’t forget a camera. It’s not every day you cut down a Christmas tree.
Call before you go to confirm availability, clarify directions and what is included in the price. (Most tree farms include shaking, twining/netting and/or bailing of trees; employees often are available to help you tie your tree to your vehicle or load it.)
Expect to pay with a check or cash. Many farms do not accept credit cards.
Following are the Christmas tree farms within a few hours’ drive of Chicago.
ILLINOIS
Ben’s Tree Farm
7719 Ryan Road, Harvard; 630-279-0216; benstreefarm.com
Hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Nov. 25 and Sat.-Sun. Nov. 26-Dec. 18.
Trees: 6- to 15-foot Fraser, balsam, concolor, Nordman and Canaan firs; 6- to 13-foot Scotch, white and red pines; Norway, Colorado blue, Engelman and white spruces, organically grown and pesticide-free
Cost: Pines up to 8 feet are $39 or $6 per foot for 8-foot-plus; firs and spruces, $8.75 per foot
Also available: Fraser fir wreaths, garland, boughs, tabletop trees, cathedral ceiling fir trees up to 15 feet, pre-cut trees, spike stands, centerpieces
Ben’s Fraser Fir Farm
15700 Capron Road, Capron; 630-279-0216; benstreefarm.com
Hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Nov. 25 and Sat.-Sun. Nov. 26-Dec. 11
Trees: 6- to 10-foot Fraser firs, up to 16-foot balsam firs, organically grown and pesticide-free
Cost: $8.75 per foot
Also available: Handmade Fraser fir wreaths, boughs, garlands
Camelot Christmas Tree Farm
16380 S. Somonauk Road, DeKalb; 815-756-6599; camelottrees.com
Hours: 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. weekdays; 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Nov. 25 and Sat.-Sun. Nov. 26-Dec. 18 or until sold out
Trees: Balsam, concolor, Douglas, Canaan and Fraser firs; Scotch and white pines; blue and white spruces
Cost: $50
Cupola House Tree Farm
4030 N. 3000W Road, Bourbonnais; 815-932-6635; cupolahousetrees.com
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-dusk dark daily through Dec. 20
Trees: Norway and Colorado blue spruces; Fraser, balsam, concolor, Canaan and Douglas firs; Scotch and white pines
Cost: $4.25 per foot for pines; $6.50 per foot for firs and spruces
Also available: balled-and-burlapped live trees, potted trees, wreaths, garland, firewood, greens
Family Christmas Tree Farm
24774 W. Petite Lake Road, Lake Villa; 847-989-3092
Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Fri.-Sun. Nov. 25-Dec. 24
Trees: Scotch and white pines, white and black spruces
Cost: $40
Also available: pre-cut balsam firs $40-$90, wreaths, roping, gifts
Honeybee Acres Christmas Tree Farm
41W072 Bowes Road, Elgin; 847-464-9627; honeybeeacreschristmastreefarm.net
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Fri.-Sun. Nov. 25-Dec. 11
Trees: Scotch pines, spruces, firs
Cost: $38.95 for pines, $54.95 for spruces and firs
Also available: wreaths, garland, stands
Ide Christmas Trees
1500 83rd St., Downers Grove; 630-743-4032; idechristmastrees.com
Hours (weather permitting): 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun. and Friday; open Nov. 25-Dec. 18
Trees: Colorado, Norway and white spruces; white pines
Cost: $60
Nature’s Best Trees
13001 Illinois Highway 76, Poplar Grove; 815-765-2960; naturesbesttrees.com
Hours: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri.-Sun.; 2:30-6 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; additional times by appointment; open Nov. 19-Dec. 18 (open Thanksgiving)
Trees: White pines; Canaan, concolor, Douglas and Fraser firs; Black Hills, Norway and blue spruces; includes cathedral trees up to 16 feet
Cost: $8 per foot for pines, $10 per foot for spruces and firs
Also available: wreaths, garlands, swags, centerpieces, specialty shaped wreaths, wrought-iron planters and baskets with decorated greens
Oney’s Tree Farm
16608 U.S. Highway 14, Woodstock; 815-338-4108; oneystreefarm.com
Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily Nov. 25-Dec. 11
Trees: Scotch, red and white pines; blue, green, white, Serbian and Norway spruces; Douglas and Fraser firs, plus limited supply of concolor firs.
Cost: $32 for pines shorter than 5-foot, $52 for 5- to 9-foot pines, $128 for 10- to 15-foot pines, $32 for firs shorter than 5-foot, $62 for firs and spruces 5 to 9 feet.
Also available: pre-cut trees, trees with roots, garland, centerpieces, wreaths, specialty decorative plants
Pine-Apple Tree Farm
309 Three Oaks Road, Cary; 847-639-3248; pine-applefarm.com
Hours: 9 a.m. to dusk Friday; Sat.-Sun. Nov. 26 until sold out.
Trees: Douglas firs, Colorado blue and Black Hills spruces; Scotch pines
Cost: $55-$75
Also available: wreaths made upon request, pre-cut Fraser firs
Richardson Christmas Trees
9407 Richardson Road, Spring Grove; 815-675-9729; richardsonfarm.com
Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, Nov. 25-Dec. 24.
Trees: Scotch and white pines; Fraser, Canaan, concolor, Douglas firs; blue spruces.
Cost: $54 for pines, $59 for firs and spruces; includes shaking and baling.
Spring Bluff Nursery
41W130 Norris Road, Sugar Grove; 630-466-4278; springbluffnursery.com
Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 25 and Sat.-Sun Nov. 26-Dec. 11
Trees: Austrian, Scotch and white pines
Cost: $50
Also available: handmade wreaths with fresh greens, roping, boughs, swags
Tammen Treeberry Farm
37131 Essex Road, Wilmington; 800-892-5989; tammentreeberryfarm.net
Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily, Nov. 25-Dec. 18
Trees: Scotch and white pines; Fraser, Douglas and Canaan firs
Cost: $50
Williams Tree Farm
4661 Yale Bridge Road, Rockton; 815-624-7579; williamstreefarm.com
Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily (including Thanksgiving Day), Through Dec. 24
Trees: Scotch and white pines, Fraser and balsam firs, Norway and blue spruces.
Cost: $16 for pines up to 4 feet, $31 for under 9 feet, $45 for 9-feet-plus; spruces and firs are $8 per foot
Also available: wreaths, roping
Ziegler Christmas Tree Farm
42W109 McDonald Road, Elgin; 847-464-5776; zieglerchristmastreefarm.com
Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and Sat.-Sun. Nov. 26-Dec. 11
Trees: balsam, concolor and Douglas firs; Scotch, Austrian and white pines; Colorado blue and white spruces
Cost: $20-$65
Also available: wreaths, garland, crafts, ornaments; Nov. 25, 26 and Dec. 3, Chicagoland Dog Rescue will host photos of children and/or dogs with Santa
INDIANA
Guse Christmas Trees
14685 S. 600 West, Wanatah; 219-733-9346; gusechristmastrees.com
Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily through Dec. 22 (includes Thanksgiving Day)
Trees: Scotch and white pines; Fraser, Douglas and Canaan firs
Cost: $5-$8 per foot
Johnson Christmas Trees
4912 N. 200 East, La Porte; 219-778-9346 or email
Hours: daylight hours Sat.-Sun. and by appointment Mon.-Fri., Nov. 25-Dec. 24
Trees: Fraser, Douglas and concolor firs; white pines; Black Hill spruces
Cost: $7 per foot
Also available: wreaths
Kingma Christmas Tree Farm
8901 W. 1000 North, Demotte; 219-987-2847; kingmachristmastrees.com
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. Nov. 25-Dec. 24
Trees: Scotch and white pines, Fraser and Douglas firs
Cost: $3.50 per foot for pines, $6 per foot for firs
Also available: wreaths, garlands
Luers Christmas Tree Farm
6303 W. 91st Ave., Crown Point; 219-688-2832; luerstreefarm.webs.com
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends and Nov. 25; noon-5 p.m. weekdays Nov. 21-Dec. 23 (closed Thanksgiving)
Trees: pines, spruces and firs
Cost: $5 per foot for pines, $6 per foot for spruces and firs
Also available: garlands, wreaths, pre-cut balsam, Douglas and Fraser firs
MICHIGAN
Pinecrest Christmas Tree Farm
4403 Spring Creek Road, Galien; 269-545-8125 or email
Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily Nov. 25-Dec. 23
Trees: Balsam, Douglas, Fraser and concolor fir; Norway and blue spruce, Scotch pine
Cost: Call for prices
Also available: wreaths, garland, personalized ornaments
Tall Timbers Tree Farm
56245 70th St., Hartford; 269-463-5750; talltimberstreefarm.com
Hours: noon-6 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sat.-Sun., through Dec. 18 (closed Thanksgiving)
Trees: white, blue and Serbian spruces; Fraser, Douglas, concolor, Canaan and balsam firs; white and Scotch pines
Cost: $18.75 and up
Also available: wreaths, garland, swags
WISCONSIN
Country Side Trees
W7015 N. Walworth Road, Walworth; 262-275-5105
Hours: 10 a.m.-dusk weekdays, 9 a.m.-dusk Sat.-Sun., through Dec. 24 (closed Thanksgiving)
Trees: Scotch and white pines, Colorado, blue and Norway spruces, Fraser firs
Cost: $30 to $70
Also available: wreaths, boughs, garlands, tree stands, disposal bags
Evergreen Acres Christmas Tree Farm
N9171 Nelson Road, East Troy; 262-495-4502
Hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily, Nov. 25-Dec. 24
Trees: Fraser firs, Norway pines, blue and Norway spruces
Cost: Call for prices
Also available: wreaths, garland, flocked trees in assorted colors, boughs
Family Trees of East Troy
W2438 Highway 20, East Troy; 262-642-5187
Hours: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Fri.-Sun.; other days by appointment, Nov. 25-Dec. 24
Trees: Balsam and Fraser firs, Scotch and white pines, spruces
Cost: Call for prices
Sugar Creek Tree Farm
N6447 Church Road, Burlington; 262-767-1177; sugarcreektreefarm.com
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, Nov. 25-Dec. 24
Trees: blue spruces; Norway, Scotch and white pines; limited number of balsam firs
Cost: $45 for spruces and firs, $30 for pines
Also available: free greens
Tannenbaum Acres
4839 State Highway 11 West, Janesville; 608-752-9897; tannenbaumacres.com
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends, Thanksgiving Day and Nov. 25; noon-5 p.m. weekdays, Nov. 24-Dec. 24
Trees: Fraser and concolor firs, Scotch and white pines, white and blue spruces
Cost: Pines, $4 per foot; spruces, $6 per foot; firs, $8 per foot
Also available: pre-cut trees, wreaths, garland, boughs, tree stands, white birch logs
Valley View Tree Farm
W798 Valley View Road, Burlington; 262-210-7235
Hours: 9 a.m.-dusk Fri.-Sun., Nov. 25 -Dec. 24
Trees: Balsam, Fraser, Canaan and concolor firs; Scotch pines; Norway and blue spruces
Cost: $20 for pines, $40 for spruces, $55 for firs
Also available: wreaths, garlands, centerpieces, tree stands, disposal bags, ornaments, gifts
