The great tree hunt

The holiday tradition of searching for a perfect Christmas tree to accent a flawlessly decorated home can be a laborious task.

Because many people like to begin their hunt the day after Thanksgiving, The Herald is providing its annual list of local tree farms in Snohomish County in plenty of time for planning.

Each farm offers a variety of trees, including favorites such as noble, grand and Douglas firs. Some offer extra tall trees while others offer more exotic types, such as Nordmann and Turkish firs, white and balsam firs and concolors.

Along with trees, many farms offer hot beverages, candy canes and hayrides to make the experience more pleasurable. Visitors can purchase wreaths, mistletoe or holly and other decorative Christmas gifts at some locations.

Mechanical shaking, assistance with cutting and bailing is typically provided by most. Some even offer saws for those who lack the proper tools.

For those seeking live Christmas trees, check with a local nursery or tree stand.

If festive is what you are after, grab the kids, dress warmly and take a tour of these tantalizing tannenbaum farms.

Call ahead to ensure you find what you’re looking for.

Make a day of it or take a couple of hours to stop and smell the evergreens.

There’s probably a Christmas tree farm near you

Reporter Tanya Sampson: 425-339-3479 or tsampson@heraldnet.com.

Tree care tips

The Puget Sound Christmas Tree Association recommends these tree care tips in preserving indoor Christmas trees.

For more information, visit www.pscta.org.

Shake the loose needles out of the tree before bringing indoors. A leaf blower works well if available.

Keep the tree in water at all times.

If the cut surface dries out and seals over (takes about six hours), cut 1/4 inch off the bottom of the tree before placing it in a bucket of water or a tree stand.

Use a stand that holds at least one gallon of water.

Check the stand regularly. Trees drink up to one gallon of water each day during the first week.

To test a tree’s freshness, snap a few needles. If they break crisply, the tree is still taking water. If they do not break, the tree has likely stopped taking water and is drying out.

Keep the trees away from heaters, hot lights, vents and fireplaces. Do not leave the lights on all night or when no one is home.

Tree fun facts

Washington boasts 25,000 acres of trees.

Two million trees are harvested in Washington each year.

Washington’s crop is valued at $51 million.

There are 300 growers in Washington.

23 to 28 million trees nationally are harvested each year.

Oregon leads in annual harvesting, crop value, acres of trees and number of growers.

55 percent of Christmas trees are Douglas firs, followed by 36 percent nobles, 5 percent grands, 1 percent pines and 2 percent other varieties.

For more Christmas tree facts, visit Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association at www.nwtrees.com.

Not on the list?

For those tree farms that weren’t included in this list, The Herald will publish another list on Nov. 27 in the Outdoors section.

To have your farm included, send the name, address, telephone number, hours and dates of operation, directions and tree types for your tree farm. Tree stands will not be included.

E-mail the information to Tanya Sampson at tsampson@heraldnet.com, fax to 425-339-3469, mail to P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206, or drop it off at the office, 1213 California St., Everett.

The deadline is noon Tuesday.

North county

Alan Acres Tree Farm: 27314 36th Ave. NW, Stanwood; 360-629-3877. Open daylight hours daily, Nov. 26 through Dec. 23. Take I-5 exit 212, turn west toward Stanwood, turn right on 36th Avenue NW and go 1/2 mile. Douglas, noble, grand, Norway spruce.

Bowen Tree Farm and Christmas Cottage: 19301 95th Ave. NE, Arlington; 360-435-9260. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 26 through Dec. 19. Take I-5 exit 208, east on Highway 530 to Highway 9, south on Highway 9 to 204th, east on 204th to four-way stop, follow signs. Fraser fir, grand, Nordmann fir, noble, Norway spruce.

Christmas Tree Lane: 22816 67th Ave. NE, Arlington; 360-435-3748. Open 9 a.m. to dusk daily, Nov. 26 through Dec. 24. From Arlington, follow Highway 9 north across the Haller Bridge, turn left at Schloman Road, follow signs. Noble, grand, Douglas, Turkish fir, Norway spruce.

Farmer Brown’s Tree Farm: 12017 109th Ave. NE, Arlington; 360-659-6686, www.brownxtree.com. Open 9 a.m. to dusk daily, Nov. 26 through Dec. 16. Take I-5 east 199 (Marysville), east on Highway 528/Fourth Avenue, Highway 9 north to 84th St. NE, east to 99th Ave. NE, north to 124th St. NE, follow signs. Noble, Douglas, grand, Fraser fir, spruce.

Fish Creek Tree Farm: 18420 Third Ave. NE, Arlington; 360-652-9030. Open 10 a.m. to dusk daily, Nov. 26 through Dec. 19. Take I-5 exit 206, go west two miles on Lakewood Road, right 3/4 mile on Third Ave./Sill Road. Noble, Douglas, grand, Fraser fir, pine.

Holiday Forest: 3520 Stanwood-Bryant Road, Arlington; 360-629-9097. Open 9 a.m. to dusk Fridays through Sundays, Nov. 26 through Dec. 19. Take I-5 to exit 212, east on Stanwood-Bryant Road for 31/2 miles. Nobles, Douglas, Fraser and Nordmann firs.

Kiss Kringle’s Christmas Tree: 13528 Jordan Road, Arlington; 360-659-6036. Open 10 a.m. to dusk daily, Nov. 26 until sold out. Take I-5 exit 208, east on Highway 530 towards Darrington, right onto Arlington Heights Road, travel one mile and turn right onto Jordan road, follow signs. Fraser, noble, grand.

Misty Meadow Nursery and Walker Forest Nursery: 16809 and 16905 Jordan Road, Arlington; 360-435-9870. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays through Sundays, Nov. 26 through Dec. 24. Take I-5 exit 208, east on Highway 530 through Arlington, turn right at Arlington Heights Road, east 1 1/2 miles, right on Jordan Road, continue seven miles to farm.

Morton Tree Farm: 2324 172nd St. NE, Lakewood. Open dawn to dusk daily Nov. 26 through Dec. 23. Take I-5 exit 206 and head west 1/2 mile, farm is on left side of 172nd Street. Douglas, Shasta.

Mountain Bluegrass U-Cut Christmas Tree Farm (McMurtrey Farms): 14623 Highway 530, Arlington; 206-351-8623, 425-487-3447. Open 9 a.m. to dusk Fridays through Sundays, Nov. 26 through Dec. 19. Take I-5 to exit 208, go east on Highway 530 six miles past Arlington, farm on left. Noble, Douglas, grand, Fraser fir, Norway spruce.

Outback Christmas Trees: 10030 Highway 530, Arlington; 360-403-7474. Open 9 a.m. to dusk daily, Nov. 26 until sold out. From Arlington, east four miles on Highway 530, farm on right. Call for varieties.

Paterson’s Lazy Acres Tree Farm: 1315 188th St. NE, Smokey Point; 360-652-7661. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, Nov. 26 through Dec. 21. Take I-5 exit 206, go west one mile, turn right on 19th, do not cross railroad tracks, turn left on 188th St. NE, farm is 1/4 mile on right. Noble, Douglas, grand, Fraser, Norway spruce.

Pilchuck Secret Valley Christmas Tree Farm: 9533 Mose Road, Arlington; 360-435-9799. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, Nov. 26 through Dec. 19. Take I-5 to exit 208 to Arlington, turn left one mile on Highway 9 to Lake Armstrong Road, turn right two miles on Mose Road. Noble, Douglas, grand, Fraser, Turkish, Japanese, Korean fir, Norway spruce, pine, balsam and Russian.

Point Valdimar Farm: 4921 Silvana Terrace Road, Stanwood; 360-652-2291, 425-501-6295. Open 9 a.m. to dusk Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 26 through Dec. 19. Take I-5 exit 208, west through Silvana, turn left at Larson Road and follow signs for 21/2 miles. Noble, grand, Norway spruce.

South Fork Tree Farm: 8312 Arlington Heights Road, Arlington; 360-435-4884. Open 9 a.m. to dusk Wednesdays through Sundays, Nov. 26 until sold out. At the intersection of Highway 530 and Arlington Heights Road. Douglad, lowland white fir, noble, grand, Nordmann fir, balsam and white spruce.

Stillyridge Tree Farm: 20811 99th Ave. NE, Arlington; 360-435-5646. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 4 through 19. Take I-5 exit 208, east to Highway 9, turn south onto Highway 9, take second left and follow signs for two miles. Noble, grand, Fraser and Douglas.

Tannenbaum Tree Farm: 23207 115th Ave. NE, Arlington; 360-435-5646, www.tannenbaumtrees.com. Open daylight hours Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 27 to Dec. 18. Take I-5 exit 208, east on Highway 530 toward Darrington, 1/4 mile beyond Arlington turn right onto Arlington Heights Road, go 2.3 miles, turn left on 115th Ave., farm is on right. Grand, noble, Fraser fir.

The Tree Farm: 3000 268th NW, Stanwood; 360-629-7621. Open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, Nov. 26 through Dec. 25. Take I-5 exit 212, go west to Stanwood, right on 28th Ave. NW, left on 268th NW. Fraser, noble, Shasta, Douglas.

Central county

Busy “B” Tree Farm: 6117 83rd Ave. NE, Everett; 360-659-9227, needlecast@aol.com. Open 9 a.m. to dusk daily, Nov. 26 until sold out. From I-5 take exit 199 (Marysville), east on Fourth St., right at 83rd Ave. NE, follow signs. From Highway 9, turn left at Highway 528 life, turn left at 83rd Ave. NE, follow signs. Noble, Douglas, grand fir.

Sunnyside Acres Christmas Tree Farm: 4212 83rd Ave. NE, Everett; 425-334-2382, ddierck@aol.com. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays through Mondays, Nov. 26 until sold out. From I-5, take exit 199 (Marysville), east on Fourth St./Highway 528, right on 67th Ave. NE, follow signs. From Highway 9, head west on Soper Hill Road, right at 83rd Ave. NE, follow signs. Noble, Douglas, Fraser fir, Turkish, Korean, Shasta fir.

East county

Blow Me Down Farm: 33215 Highway 2, Sultan; 360-793-9472. Open 9 a.m. to dusk, Nov. 26 through Dec. 24. Follow Highway 2 past Sultan to Barmon Lumber, farm on the left. Proceeds benefit Sultan Food Bank. Call for tree types.

Holiday Hill Farm: 31805 124th St. SE, Sultan; 360-793-9791, joenfreda@aol.com. Open 9 a.m. to dusk Tuesdays through Sundays, Nov. 26 until sold out. Go east on Highway 2 past Sultan, turn left on Sultan Basin Road, travel 1 1/2 miles to 124th St. SE, turn left and proceed 1/3 mile, follow signs. Noble, Douglas, grand, concolor.

Leckvold’s Alpine Acres: 3729 Menzel Lake Road, Granite Falls; 425-334-2402. Open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays through Sundays, Nov. 26 through Dec. 5. From Granite Falls, turn right at first stoplight, go three blocks and turn left at Community Center onto Menzel Lake Road, go five miles, follow signs. Noble, Douglas, grand, Austrian pine.

Lervik’s Tree Farm: Corner of Highway 92 and 84th Street NE (Getchell Road), Granite Falls; 360-691-5238. Open 9 a.m. to dusk daily, Nov. 26 until sold out. Take Highway 9 to Highway 92, go east six miles towards Granite Falls to 84th Street NE. Call for varieties.

Reade Christmas Tree Ranch: 7724 171st Ave. SE, Snohomish; 360-862-8778. Open 10 a.m. to dusk Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to dusk Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 26 until sold out. From Highway 2, head east on SE 100th Street, turns into 171st Ave. SE, follow signs. Noble, Douglas, grand, Fraser fir, spruce.

Ricci Villa Farm: 10917 Elliott Road, Snohomish; 360-668-3043. Open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, Nov. 26 until sold out. From Highway 522, head north on Fales Road for 2 miles, take a left on Elliott Road, farm is on the left. Noble, Douglas, Fraser fir.

St. Nick’s Trees: 25411 74th Place SE, Monroe; 360-794-5647. Open noon to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 26 until sold out. Take Highway 2 to Monroe, turn north at Taco Time on Wood’s Creek Road, follow signs. Noble, Douglas, grand, Fraser fir.

Tree Patch: 5029 Robe-Menzel Road, Granite Falls; 360-691-5927. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays through Sundays, Nov. 26 through Dec. 12 (or until sold out). From Granite Falls, turn south on Granite Avenue, travel three miles on Robe-Menzel Road to farm. Noble, Douglas, grand, Fraser fir, Turkish fir and wreaths.

Westby Tree Farm: 4508 156th St. SE, Bothell; 425-337-2863. Open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, Dec. 1 until sold out. Turn east off Bothell-Everett Highway at Mill Creek Plaza, turn right on 35th Avenue SE, then left on 156th street and go 3/4 mile to farm. Douglas, grand and noble fir.

Wintergreen Tree Farm: 13606 S. Machias Road, Snohomish; 425-334-8899. Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, Nov. 26 through Dec. 22. In Snohomish, from Second Street and Maple Avenue, go north on Maple Avenue (becomes Snohomish-Machias Road), turn right after five miles at Centennial Trail onto South Machias Road, farm is 1/2 mile north on the right. Douglas, Fraser, noble fir, Scotch pine, Norway spruce, Balsam, Redwood Sequoia and grands.