Fresh-cut Christmas trees in short supply this season

Where are the fresh-cut Christmas trees?

That’s what some Alle-­Kiski Valley businesses are asking as fresh-cut trees are in short supply — or completely sold out.

A large vacant lot has been empty for weeks at Kiski Garden Center in Allegheny Township. In previous years, it still would be offering a variety of Christmas trees from Indiana County.

“Normally, I’d have about 75 trees left at this time,” owner Dave Vargo said. “This year, all the trees were sold by Dec. 7.”

Vargo said he was able to obtain only about half of the 400 trees he typically stocks each holiday season.

“This is unprecedented,” Vargo said. “People are showing up looking for trees and asking, ‘Are you getting any more?’ and the answer is no.”

Doug Hundley, spokesman for The National Christmas Tree Association, said the past two years of pandemic conditions has resulted in greater demand for live trees.

“It’s interesting because more homes are in need of trees, with more people not traveling or gathering as much. That’s the pandemic effect,” Hundley said.

Tawnya Panizzi | Tribune-Review

The lot at Bachman’s Greenhouse and Nursery in Harrison was empty on Friday. Typically, the business has an abundance of live Christmas trees, wreaths and other greenery at this time of year.

Hundley said trees on the market now were planted 10 to 12 years ago.

An overabundance of Christmas trees around 2008 led tree growers to scale back their planting efforts.

“During 2008 and the recession, tree sales were down, supply was abundant and the prices of trees had been stagnant for years. So tree growers were pessimistic about growing,” Hundley said. “That’s why, 10 years later, we don’t have an oversupply of trees.”

Pennsylvania ranks fourth in the nation for total trees harvested. Oregon ranks first, followed by North Carolina and Michigan.

Habe’s Nursery in Gilpin has been selling Christmas trees for more than 50 years. But not this year.

“We don’t have any to sell. It takes seven or more years to grow a tree,” co-owner John Sterosky said. “About five years ago, we lost seedlings because of weather, and (there was) a blight in 2020. It’s hard to get the seedlings because they’re limited.”

Earlier this year, Sterosky attended a wholesale Christmas tree auction near Harrisburg, hoping to buy trees for the family-owned farm, which opened in 1941. He said the prices were “outrageous.”

Sterosky said auction prices on trees, including a 7-foot Fraser fir, were auctioned for more than $100.

“We spent two days out there, and they had 51,000 trees — and we came back empty-handed. A lot of the trees had brown in them. We were in shock,” Sterosky said. “I could not see my customers spending $150 for a tree. Normally, a customer would pay about $60 to $70 for one of our trees.”

In Allegheny Township, Stanford Home Center manager Rich Klingensmith said the annual tree lot operated by Hyde Park Boy Scout Troop 501 sold out of trees early.

Three trees remained as of Thursday.

“They started selling the day after Thanksgiving, and they sold out last week. They usually sell up to Christmas Day,” Klingensmith said.

He said customers are calling to ask where they can find fresh trees.

Stanford’s artificial tree inventory is stocked. Prices range from $70 to $300.

Along Freeport Road in Harrison, Bachman Greenhouse and Nursery’s lot is devoid of Christmas trees.

Bachman’s is traditionally filled with greenery in all shapes and sizes.

Fraser firs start popping up even before the business sells the last of its pumpkins and corn stalks at Halloween.

But not this year. Wooden tree stands that dot the gravel lot are barren. The lot along Freeport Road, typically brimming with live trees, wreaths and swags, was empty Friday.

Owners were not available to comment.