Community Corner

Where Can You Cut Your Own Christmas Tree?

The National Christmas Tree Association, based in Chesterfield, offers advice for families cutting their own trees from local farms.

For the freshest Christmas tree possible, cut your own at a local tree farm.

Where to Cut Your Tree

Heritage Valley Tree Farm

The 75-acre family farm only accepts cash and checks. Trees include Canaan Fir and White Pine. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday after Thanksgiving and weekends until Christmas.

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Contact: 1668 Four Mile Road, Washington MO / 636-239-7479

Directions: Take I-44 west to exit 251/Washington (MO-HWY 100 West). Proceed 10 miles on MO-100 to Washington. From Washington, turn south (left at First Bank) on HWY/Route A and travel three miles to Four Mile Road. Go west for three miles on Four Mile Road to farm entrance. Do not turn onto North Four Mile Road, which dead-ends.

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Brushy Fork Pines

Grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and kids run this family farm. Trees include Scotch and White pines and pre-cut Canaan Firs. Open 9 a.m. to sunset, Friday after Thanksgiving and each Saturday and Sunday until Christmas.

Contact: 228 S. Lindsay Road, Old Monroe, MO / 636-668-6084

Directions: Take I-70 west to Highway 79 in St. Peters, MO. Travel north about 13 miles to Hwy 47. Turn left onto Hwy 47. Travel about 3.8 miles to South Lindsay Road on the left. Watch for the signs. Turn left onto South Lindsay Road. The farm is .7 miles on the right.

Saline Valley Tree Farm

This small farm has trees up to 15 feet. Trees include Douglas Fir and Fraser Fir. Open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday after Thanksgiving and each Saturday and Sunday until Christmas.

Contact: 24870 Saline Valley Dr., St. Mary, MO / 314-427-4009

Directions: One hour south of St. Louis. Take I-55 south to Ozora, exit M-J-N at mile marker 143, go east on Hwy J for 1.5 miles, turn right on Saline Valley Drive at the sign and follow the road for 1.5 miles.

Tips for Picking and Cutting Your Tree

The National Christmas Tree Association in Chesterfield offers tips on how to find the perfect tree:

  • Measure the ceiling height in the room where the tree will be. Under the sky, trees look smaller than they really are, so don’t overbuy.
  • Also measure the width of the room where the tree will be displayed. Most trees on tree farms are trimmed to an 80 percent taper, meaning a 10-foot-tall tree is 8 feet wide.
  • At the farm, look out for fire ants, tree stumps, blackberry vines and uneven ground.
  • Come prepared for a day in the country. Wear comfortable shoes, old clothes and rain gear, if needed.
  • Don’t forget your camera!
  • Leave your pets at home, as most farms prohibit them.
  • The farm operator usually provides saws, but you can check ahead of time.
  • Ask for shaking or blowing services to shed the tree of needles that fall off as part of its normal life cycle.

And if you’ve never cut down a tree, here are some guidelines from Chesterfield’s National Christmas Tree Association:

  • Get two people, a “cutter-downer” and a “helper.”
  • The cutter-downer should lie on the ground to saw.
  • The helper should hold the bottom limbs up and tug the tree lightly in the opposite direction of the cutting to ensure that the saw does not bind.
  • When you’re almost done, cut the back of the tree slightly. Then finish the sawing on the original side.


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