Where Atlantans Can Find a Live or Pre-Cut Christmas Tree

Christmas tree farm

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas … but until you have a tree up in the house, the look is incomplete. Whether you want the convenience of a pre-cut tree or the experience of cutting your own, you have options on where to find a Christmas tree for your Atlanta home.

Cut-Your-Own Choices

Atlantans have several tree farms to choose from. But be sure to check online or call any of the farms before you embark on a long drive —  once they’ve sold out of trees, they close for the season!

Coker Tree Farm

In Marietta, a mere 30-minute drive from the city, Coker Tree Farm provides more than just a tree — they give you an experience to remember. After 38 years in the Atlanta metro area, many families consider cutting down their tree at Coker Tree Farm part of their annual holiday tradition. The farm provides a hand saw and a selection of Murray cypress, Leyland cypress, or Carolina sapphire trees. The farm also offers pre-cut Fraser firs if you prefer. Expect a maximum height of around 10 feet.

The farm opens its doors in late November, Monday to Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekends.

Kinsey Family Christmas Tree Farm

Slightly farther away in Gainesville, Ga., Kinsey Family Farm offers thousands of trees each year, in a variety of ways. You can choose and cut your own, buy a pre-cut tree, or buy a living tree in a container to plant in the ground after the holiday.

Kinsey Farm provides many types of trees, including Douglas, Frasier, or Balsam Firs. You’ll also find Scotch Pine; Blue, Colorado, or Norway Spruce; Blue Ice, Carolina Sapphire, or Murray Cypress. Don’t have much room? The farm sells miniature table toppers, wreaths, garlands, and tree stands.

Their tallest trees reach around 13 feet, and they keep an online inventory, so you’ll know what’s available. They know Gainesville is more than an hour’s drive northwest of Atlanta, and want to make it worth your while. The farm keeps a fire going and a steady stream of marshmallows and hot chocolate flowing.

Kinsey Family Farm opens the week before Thanksgiving, Monday to Friday 12 noon. to 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekends.

Yule Forest

Only a 40-minute drive from town, in Stockbridge, Yule Forest provides far more than a tree. They offer Burkii cedar, giant green arborvitae, Fraser fir, Virginia pines, Leyland cypress, Carolina sapphire, and blue spruce trees, some up to 11 feet tall. They furnish everything you need to select and cut your own, or you can take home a fresh, pre-cut tree. In addition to trees, you can expect wreaths, garlands, and hot apple cider served up fresh.

The season begins on Thanksgiving at Yule Forest, and the farm is open daily from 9 a.m. to dusk.

Advice for Choosing a Live Tree

Those who opt for a living tree should make sure to select a tree right for Atlanta, such as a Leyland cypress.

Eddie Ayers, a retired Gilmer County UGA extension agent, wrote about the topic in his “North Georgia Master Gardeners” column. He warns, “Selecting the proper planting site will go a long way in helping to prevent disease problems.” He suggests planting in well-drained and sunny locations. Avoid planting trees in wet soils or poorly drained areas, he says, and don’t allow mulch to touch the trunk of the tree.

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Selecting the proper planting site will go a long way in helping to prevent disease problems. Eddie Ayers, retired extension agent

Pre-Cut Trees

Big John’s Christmas Trees

If driving outside the city is out of the question, then you may want to find your way over to a Big John’s Christmas Trees. With nine Atlanta locations, chances are there’s one near you. For the past 70 years, Big John’s has been providing Christmas trees, wreaths, stands, and more to Atlanta. You fir tree choices include balsam, Canaan, Fraser, Douglas, noble, or Nordmann Firs. You can also select from blue spruce, Scotch pine or white pine trees. If you want an oversized tree, you need to call early in the season.

If you don’t have a “Christmas Vacation” station wagon, or you just don’t want to haul a tree yourself, Big John’s offers a delivery service. They also have a pick-up service for tree recycling.

Big-Box Stores

You can always find a pre-cut Christmas tree at your local big-box hardware store, such as Lowe’s or Home Depot. You may not see as many varieties, but you can still choose from various heights of trees. Of course, they will be stocked with tree stands and decorations, which is a bonus for those looking for convenience.

No matter where you find your tree, it will deck your halls and bring cheer to your Christmas.

Francesca Singer

Francesca Singer

Francesca Singer is a DIY enthusiast with a degree in landscaping. When not writing or wrangling a toddler, she can be found wielding power tools or working in the garden.