Cut Your Own Christmas Tree and Pre-Cut Lots for a Magical Tradition this Holiday Season

This holiday season, why not start a new tradition of cutting down your own Christmas tree? There is truly nothing like the smell of fresh pine in the winter season. I love how my house smells so fresh all season long. Finding the perfect, REAL, Christmas tree is a special seasonal activity my family always looks forward to. We have all the details if you’re planning to add a trip to the tree farm to your holiday experience this year.

A few tips from personal experience:

• Confirm with family members that they do not have any known allergies or “Christmas Tree Syndrome” before an extended stay.
• Take lots of warm clothes and wear extra layers.
• Make it a game! Plan to go with other members of your family, neighbors, or friends. Make a race of who finds their tree first, saws theirs down the fastest, or gets it tied and loaded the quickest. Extend the fun once you’re home for a spirited tree decorating competition!

Map of Christmas Tree Farms

Cut Your Own Christmas Tree at These Tree Farms Near Chicago

For the adventure lovers, we have a plethora of farms where you can cut down your own trees. For those who would rather leave the saw work to the professionals, we have you covered, too. Plenty of tree farms and nurseries have fresh Christmas trees ready to go! Whichever way you chose to find your tree this year, we wish you and yours a happy holiday season.

A Few Helpful Tips For Cutting Down Your Christmas Tree

• Many places provide saws, but consider bringing your own. That way, you know you have a sharp blade (and a dull blade turns a fun event into a hassle).
• Most places have twine as well, but stash some ratchet straps in the trunk. They can be easier to work with.
• Bring a moving blanket to put between the roof of the car and the tree so the car doesn’t get scratched up.
• When you get the tree home, trim the trunk and remove lower branches to make room for presents underneath. Like any other plant that you bring inside, you need to keep it in water and fill up the container when needed.
• Be sure to check for any white flocking on the branches, egg sacs, or small holes in the trunk of the tree. These indicate signs of bugs.

The Illinois Christmas Tree Association has more tree farms listed on their website if you are willing to travel further, as well as a helpful guide for tree varieties so you can figure out if you want a long needle pine or shorter needle spruce or fir.

Local Christmas Tree Lots

Maybe hauling the family down to one of the many U-Cut farms is not an option or of interest to you, but you still love that fresh-cut Christmas tree smell. You still have choices! Many Christmas tree lots are full-service, which includes cut, bale, and tie. This allows your family to still have the flexibility of choosing that perfect tree for you home. Even easier, most of the listed lots have pre-cut, baled, and tied trees also available.

Check below for some of the local lots our team and our readers have spotted throughout Chicagoland in the past. Call ahead to ensure hours and availability.

• Fitzkindle Market: 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn, IL 60402
• Platt Hill Nursery: 222 W. Lake Street in Bloomingdale
• Burr Ridge United Church of Christ: 15W100 Plainfield Road in Burr Ridge
• Barn Owl: 1N583 S Gary Avenue in Carol Stream
• Fuller’s Carwash: 5550 S Brainard Avenue in Countryside
• Lurvey Garden Center: 2550 East Dempster Street in Des Plaines
• Wannemaker’s: 1940 Ogden Avenue in Downers Grove
• St. Mary of Gostyn: 445 Prairie Avenue in Downers Grove
• Alsip Nursery: 20601 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort
• B.R. Ryall YMCA: 49 Deicke Drive in Glen Ellyn
• Fuller’s Service Center: 102 W Chicago Avenue in Hinsdale
• Luurs Garden Shoppe: 5200 Butterfield Road in Hillside
• The Wise Men Lot: Gordon Park in La Grange ($80 per tree, benefits various local charities)
• River Bend Golf Club: 5900 South IL-53 in Lisle
• Hacker’s Glenbard Gardens: 640 N. Columbine (Route 53) in Lombard
• Jim Melka Landscaping: 11606 179th Street in Mokena
• Holy Trinity Catholic Parish: 111 South Cass Avenue in Westmont
• Wheaton Nurseries: 626 East Roosevelt Road in Wheaton
• Cosley Zoo: 1356 N Gary Avenue in Wheaton
• VFW Post 2164: 0N731 Papworth Street in Wheaton
• Trader Joe’s: Select locations
• Home Depot: various locations
• Menards: various locations
• Ace Hardware: various locations

Have a location to add? Please email us at annie@mykidlist.com or comment below! Then, find more holiday fun for your family.