With Thanksgiving now in the rearview, Texans will soon begin the hunt for a truly “tree-mendous” Christmas tree, grand enough for household entryways and window displays.
However, various factors may drive up the price of some Christmas trees this year.
Stan Reed, executive secretary for the Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association (TCTGA), observed that the freeze earlier this year may have damaged the 150,000 seedlings sold by the TCTGA. Although any shortage resulting from the damage suffered by those seedlings will not be felt until 2026, tree farms may increase prices now to preemptively recoup costs.
Availability should be normal this year. However, imported Christmas trees, such as Fraser Firs, will be more expensive due to increased fuel and shipping costs.
To avoid paying extra, families can flock to “choose-and-cut” tree farms that offer a variety of options. Local choose-and-cut tree farms within the Dallas area include Sandone Christmas Trees, Moomey Christmas Trees, and many others. Prices should remain relatively stable from 2021. Next year, however, Reed suggested that the fertilizer shortage could cause a price increase.
The supply of Christmas trees has been tight since 2016, but Reed is confident that people will find what they are looking for if they shop early — ideally less than two weeks after Thanksgiving.
“No one goes without getting a tree,” Reed said. “You’ll have to look around if you shop late, but I tell everybody shop early to get your best choice of tree.”
Reed suggests the tight supply is due to increased demand for real Christmas trees from people trying to recapture a nostalgic image of Christmastime.
“They’re wanting something to get back into like the old 30s and 40s,” he said. “You go out, get a Christmas tree with the family, decorate it. It just doesn’t have that same feel if you do that with a fake tree, so a lot of people like doing it with the family, going out there and decorating right after Thanksgiving.”
