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Live Christmas trees: Where to get them & how to care for them

Live Christmas trees: Where to get them & how to care for them

Have you set up your Christmas tree yet? You can go to a big box store and get your tree, but there are local Vancouver options too. Be aware that COVID-19 protocols are in place so lineups are likely. PS: Did you know there’s a Drive-Thru lot in North Vancouver?

We’ve also got Christmas tree care tips from a local mom and master gardener to keep your tree looking fresh and healthy.

Cut tree lots

Carrying home the Christmas tree - where to get Christmas trees in Vancouver
Image credit: Harriet Fancott

There are tree lots all over the city, some of our favourites are the Vancouver South Lions Club lot at John Oliver Secondary School, the North Country Christmas Trees lot at East Hastings Street and Windermere Street, the TREK Christmas Tree lot at the Prince of Wales Secondary School in Kitsilano and, of course Aunt Leah’s Trees.

The Vancouver South Lions Club Christmas Tree lot has been running in the same spot for 40 years, and volunteers say they’ve seen four generations of families come through buying their trees. The North Country Christmas Trees lot is another venerable seasonable institution, who also offer wreaths, decorations, and more. At the TREK lot, you can expect lots of enthusiastic help from kids in the outdoor education program helping out, as the tree lot is one of their best fundraisers. Along similar lines, Aunt Leah’s Trees raises funds to help prevent children in foster care from becoming homeless, and young mothers from losing custody of their children (PS: They deliver!)

Cut tree lots

  • Vancouver South Lions Tree Lot at John Oliver Secondary, E 41st Ave, Vancouver
  • X-mas Tree lot, Arbutus & Broadway, Vancouver (cash only!)
  • TREK Christmas Tree Lot at Prince of Wales Secondary, 2250 Eddington Dr, Vancouver
  • UNCONFIRMED: North Country Christmas Trees lot at East Hastings Street and Windermere Street, Vancouver
  • CLOSED DUE TO COVID-19 Lord Byng Christmas Tree Lot, 3939 West 6th Avenue, Vancouver

Aunt Leah’s Tree Lots

Aunt Leah’s Tree Lot
  • River District Neighbourhood 3555 Sawmill Crescent, New Westminster
  • St. Stephen’s United Church at 54th and Granville St, Vancouver
  • Eagle Ridge United Church at 2813 Glen Dr, Coquitlam
  • All Saints Anglican Church at Royal Oak and Rumble, Burnaby
  • CLOSED FOR 2020 DUE TO COVID-19: Lonsdale Quay — East Plaza at 123 Carrie Cates Ct., North Vancouver

Drive-thru lot

Responding to safety concerns, the Lynn Valley Lions Club in North Vancouver has come up with the ingenious idea of a Drive Thru Tree Lot! You can choose a tree online – variety, size, price – or drive through and view the trees and pick one from their car at the site at East 2nd & Ridgeway Avenue. PS: They also offer free delivery when you order online!

>> Christmas Tree Drive-Thru Market

Tree farm experience

You can go out into the valley to saw down your own tree too. There’s a great option in Richmond, a quick drive from the city: H & M Christmas Tree Farm. A lovely day out, you can head over to the farm, pick your tree and saw it down (saws provided!), and then cozy up in front of their big bonfire for a hot dog roast and hot apple cider. They also have pre-cut trees available if you’re not keen on the sawing part.

>> Top Ten Christmas Tree Farms

Potted live trees

If you’re looking for something a little different, try a living Christmas tree. Many local nurseries are selling them, including Gardenworks (Lougheed location), David Hunter Garden Centre, and Southlands Nursery. After Christmas, you can plant it outside in your yard, or keep it growing in a container for next year, depending on the variety.

  • Gardenworks, 6250 Lougheed Hwy, Burnaby
  • David Hunter Garden Centre, 2560 West Broadway, Vancouver
  • Southlands Nursery, 6550 Balaclava St, Vancouver

Rent a live tree

H & M Christmas Tree Farm - where to get Christmas trees in Vancouver
Image credit: H & M Christmas Tree Farm

If you’re not really able to plant your tree anywhere after Christmas, but you’re still keen on a living tree, Tristar Nurseries will deliver a live potted tree to you, and then pick it up after Christmas. However, they are quite pricey now that it’s December ($75 for two weeks including delivery). You can also join their Adopt-a-Tree program, which means you get the same tree year after year, and the nursery cares for it between festive seasons.

See Also
Kid wearing a green hat and shamrock glasses for St. Patrick's day

>> Tristar Nurseries 

How to care for your tree

Michelle Goss Baxter, a local mom and master gardener, shared her advice for getting the most out of your Christmas tree: “For both cut and live potted trees, avoid putting them near a heater or a fireplace – besides being a fire hazard, the tree will dry out quickly and drop needles.”

For cut trees, she suggests sawing about an inch off the bottom of the tree when you get it home, placing it in a sturdy stand, and watering it every 1-2 days. “For live potted trees, try to place it in your coolest room if you can,” she says, “and keep it outside as long as possible before bring it in to decorate, last year I brought mine in about four days before Christmas.” Michelle makes a good point about decorations on live trees: “Avoid using tinsel, flock, or sprays. These are hard to remove and can damage the tree.” With a live tree, keep the soil in the pot damp, but not soaking wet, check on it every couple of days. Live trees should go back outside within 12 days, though “if it starts looking unhappy before that, take it back outside.”

The Tristar Nurseries site suggests putting ice cubes in the pot, as they take awhile to melt making sure your tree isn’t over watered, and has the added benefit of keeping the roots cool.

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