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Highlands Today

Christmas tree shoppers finding a buyer's market

Marc Valero, Highlands Today

From left: Alison Eckblad, 2 1/2-year-old granddaughter Taryn and Robert Eckblad, shop for a Christmas tree on Monday at the Sebring Home Depot.

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By MARC VALERO Highlands Today

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 1, 2009

SEBRING - A real Christmas tree - it was a new sight and smell for 4 1/2- month-old Taryn as she accompanied her grandparents Monday on their annual venture to find just the right tree to centerpiece their holiday decorating.

As Robert Eckblad pulled out a tree for a closer look in the Home Depot tent, his wife Alison sized it up.

"Don't like the shape," she said, holding Taryn on her hip.

Her verdict on another group of trees, "Those are narrow."

Finally, their choice was narrowed to two trees. An 8-foot Fraser fir went home with the Eckblads, who agreed that it would fit nicely in their living room, which has a 10-foot ceiling.

"Picking out a tree is just hard, hard, hard," Alison exclaimed.

Along with looking for the right tree, the Eckblads were looking for the right price.

Buyers like them may get their wishes granted.

Justin Driggers of Carolina Fraser Firs, across from Woody's in Sebring, said despite the slow economy, sales are good, but he's having to keep his prices low.

What do people shopping for a tree ask about most often?

"This year - prices," Driggers said. "We usually start at about $59 and now we are starting at $45 so people definitely have the advantage in buying trees this year."

With a second location across and north of Florida Hospital Lake Placid on U.S. 27, Carolina Fraser Firs carries only Fraser firs from 4 feet to 12 feet from Boone, N.C.

"It's the Cadillac of Christmas trees; everybody wants a Fraser fir," Driggers said.

At Severt's, just north of Sunshine Nursery, Sebring, you can choose a tree under the tent or go to severtstreefarm.com to order and view larger trees (11- to 13-foot).

The first shipment of Severt's trees was fresh cut in Virginia the night before Thanksgiving, said Sunshine Nursery Manager Kimberlie Oppold.

A hotel purchased a 14-foot Fraser fir for $650.

Lowe's sold 300 trees in one week and was expecting a shipment of more trees Monday. The other tree sales locations were also expecting new shipments during the week to maintain their inventory of fresh cut trees.

Lowe's carries Fraser, Douglas, noble and balsam fir trees.

Declining sales

Poll results show that consumers in the U.S. purchased 28.2 million farm-grown Christmas trees and 11.7 million artificial trees in 2008. Both are declines from 2007, according to the National Christmas Tree Association.

While fake tree sales were down 35 percent, 10 percent fewer real trees were sold.

The average amount spent on a farm-grown tree was $36.50 while consumers spent $60.63 on average for the fake kind, the association reported. This is a 14 percent combined decline from the previous year.

Tips to keep Christmas trees looking fresh

•Displaying trees in water in a traditional reservoir type stand is the most effective way to maintain their freshness and minimize needle loss problems, according to Christmas Tree Association.

•Make a fresh cut to remove about a 1/2-inch thick disk of wood from the base of the trunk before putting the tree in the stand.

•As a general rule, stands should provide one quart of water per inch of stem diameter.

•Use a stand that fits your tree. Avoid whittling the sides of the trunk down to fit a stand. The outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and should not be removed.

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