Are Christmas trees pricier this year in Texas? What to know to pay less

On Nov. 28, Stan Reed and Dan Peery of the Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association will be delivering to the governor’s mansion three 7-foot Virginia Pine trees and a 10-foot Fraser Fir.

As for other Texans, Christmas tree shopping season begins the Friday after Thanksgiving. While availability should be normal this season, the increased cost of fuel means higher prices for trees transported from out-of-state. Other factors like fertilizer costs and severe weather could impact future seasons.

Knowing which type of Christmas tree is best suited for Texas is good to know before going out to buy one.

Severe weather’s impact on seedlings

Reed, the TCTGA’s executive secretary, said in January they sold 125,000 seedlings set to grow in about four years. But tree seedlings that were planted earlier this year were damaged by the drought and extreme cold.

“Seedlings are susceptible to different changes in weather, the early freezes that we had back in January and February,” he said. “And then you turn around and you hit them with a drought, a lot of the seedlings did not make it.”

The potential for severe weather in Texas had many farmers hedging their bets and buying extra seedlings that they kept stored in a secure spot to replant when needed. Overall, the TCTGA sold 150,000 seedlings this year through their seedling program. While the trees grown to be sold this year were not as affected by the weather, Texans may see a shortage when those seedlings mature in 2026.

“This year’s trees have been growing for quite a while now. It usually takes four years for a tree about 6-foot high, so they’re less susceptible to the weather as the younger seedlings,” he said. “Everyone’s told me that they’re ready to rock and roll and start selling next Friday.”

What Texas customers can expect

Trees shipped from other states because they do not grow in Texas — like Fraser Firs — are brought in from North Carolina, Michigan, Washington, Oregon and Wisconsin. Because of the increased cost of fuel, pre-cut trees transported from other states will likely cost more this year.

A less expensive alternative would be choose-and-cut trees, prices for which should be similar to last year. The increased cost of fertilizer for younger trees may make them more expensive next year, however.

Here is a list of farms in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that sell choose-and-cut trees.

Shop early to find your perfect tree

While the Christmas tree supply has been tight since 2016, Reed said, Texans should be able to find whatever tree they’re looking for if they shop early. Buy your tree in the first couple of weeks following Thanksgiving, Reed recommends. Most farms sell out by the second week after Thanksgiving, and pre-cut trees are the first to go.

“No one goes without getting a tree. You’ll have to look around if you shop late, but I tell everybody shop early to get your best choice of tree,” Reed said. “Due to the popularity, you may have to go to one or two places to find that tree that you’re looking for, but you should if you shop early. If you wait until the last week right before Christmas, you’re usually left with just the Charlie Brown trees.”

Why is supply so tight? Reed attributes it to more Texans buying real Christmas trees, wanting the experience of picking the perfect tree with family.

“They’re wanting something to get back into like the old 30s and 40s,” he says. “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.”