Broken Healer

Video: This is the weekend to buy a Christmas tree

Despite a holiday season filled with budget cutbacks, Michael Gaeta of Quincy is springing for a fresh Christmas tree for the first time.

“It will last a lot longer, and it’ll be fun for the little one here to pick it out,” he said, motioning to his young daughter checking out the greens at Webster Cranberry in Norwell.

This weekend is expected to be the busiest of the holiday season for tree buying. And the good news for consumers is that most local retailers say they are keeping prices the same as last year despite the rising cost of fertilizer and other supplies and of trees from wholesalers.

“I think it’s not smart business to be trying to charge a whole lot more and dampen what little positive spirit people have left,” said John Kopacz, head of Webster Cranberry.

Kopacz said his company has kept prices steady for its customers despite the higher cost to growers for everything from fertilizer to containers.

The farm’s 2,500 trees sell for $8 to $11 a foot, depending on tree type and quality.

At Bog Hollow Farm in Kingston, which also sells live trees, customers pick out the one they want and the farm cuts it for them. It is only open this weekend. Owner Lydia Mathias said she expects to see the same business as past years.

Ellen degeneres

“We’re keeping our prices pretty steady and maybe a little less than last year,” Mathias said. “Three or four generations of people have been coming here to get their trees. It’s like a tradition for them.”

At Wyman’s Nursery in Hanson, owner Phillip Wyman is offering some trees for $17. When not on sale, 5-to 6-footers go for $29 and up.

Stephanie Choate may be reached at schoate@ledger.com.

CUT YOUR OWN TREE

Bog Hollow Farm  80 Wapping Road, Kingston  781-585-8414 www.boghollowfarm.com Cost: Individually priced, average tree is $50. Open: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday Dates: Dec. 6 and 7, annual tree farm weekend Types of trees: Balsams, Fraser firs. Sizes: All sizes, a limited number of 10-12 foot trees. Amenities: Free coffee. Hot chocolate, hot dogs and other food will be for sale. Restrooms: Yes Parking: Yes

Jaycox-Duxbury Christmas Tree Farm Rear 214 West St. 508-238-0422 Cost: $65, less than 8 feet; $80, more than 8 feet. Open: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday. Cut and Haul: Farm is fully equipped to cut, haul and tie down to cars. No netting. Types of trees: White spruce, Colorado blue spruce, Fraser fir, concolor fir. Sizes: 4-14 feet, most 6-9 feet Amenities: No Restrooms: No Parking: Yes, grass fieldTree-Berry Farm 135 Corner Stetson Road, Scituate 781-545-7750 www.tree-berry-farm.com Cost: $10 per foot. Cash or checks only. Open: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until they run out of trees. Cut and Haul: Help with cutting, hauling, tree shaking and tying to cars. Delivery available for a fee. No netting. Sizes: All sizes, up to 7 feet. Restrooms: No Parking: Yes, gravel lot

Pakeen Farm 109 Elm St., Canton 781-828-0111 www.pakeenfarm.com Cost: All cut-your-own, $75. Pre-cut trees from other farms, $40-$80. Open: 3 to 7 p.m., Tuesday-Friday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekends, until Dec. 23 Cut and Haul: Help with cutting, netting and tying to car. Types of trees: White spruce, blue spruce, Norway spruce, balsam fir and Concolor fir. Sizes: All sizes, up to 9 feet Amenities: Free hot chocolate. Also sell some decorations and wreaths. Restrooms: No Parking: Yes, gravel lot Webster Cranberry 283 Winter St., Norwell 781-659-1599 Cost: $8 to $11 per foot. Open: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.  until Dec. 24. Cut and Haul: You select, they cut. Will net and tie to car. Types of trees:  Fraser fir, Canaan fir. A few balsam, blue spruce, and white spruce. Sizes: All sizes up to 25 feet. Restrooms: Yes. Parking: Yes, gravel lot.

RECYCLE YOUR TREE

Here’s how:

Turn the tree into mulch for your garden.

Clip off branches and use as a protectiv

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