'Tis the $ea$on for Christmas Trees

Even before Thanksgiving, stands full of beautiful Christmas trees started springing up on streets, beckoning even the Scroogiest of Grinches to bring a Douglas fir home.

But there is always sticker shock, and the Daily News reports there are some $400 trees for sale this season. The News found a 12-foot $400 Canadian balsam at the Chambers and Greenwich lot, where the manager, Scott Gartland, explained that his prices were steady, given the cost to bring trees from Canada and the strength of the Canadian dollar.

Naturally, the more beautiful the tree, the more pricey it is. When we bought our Christmas tree last year (from the Chambers and Greenwich lot, as it were), we ended up shelling out $90 for a handsome 6 foot tree. It was a lot more than what we wanted to pay (maybe it was a Tribeca-priced tree), but amortized over the four weeks we kept it, it was worth it. And we have to agree with Kevin Cruse who told the Daily News, "If you can fit a 12-foot tree in your apartment, you can afford it."

And last year, you helped us with our Christmas Tree map.

Help us update it by leaving comments or by going to the map itself. If you have information about what tree sellers are charging, that would be great to add as well.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on December 4, 2006 12:04 PM

Comments [rss]

nisey79

I checked out trees in my East Midtown neighborhood--some vendors wanted $30 for a tree that was less than 3' high. I ended up going to a place near my folks' this past weekend and got a 5' tree for $6 (not a typo). The vendor told me that folks buy the smaller trees for outdoor use, so they're way cheaper than the standard 7' fir (still a bargain at about $35).

Casey

$400!? It's worth it to rent a car for a day, drive three hours upstate, and cut your own. Figure $100 for a tree, $100 for the car and gas, and you've saved a bunch of money, gotten a much fresher tree, and had a nice day out in the country.

Stacey

I saw trees on my block (30th Ave/ 32nd st in Astoria) 6ft for $20. I don't know the quality and I'm Jewish so the names mean little to me but I still thought that was a really good price.

Samantha T

In Kensington at the gardening supply store on Caton Avenue around 7th or 8th Streets. You can get the supplies there, as well.

Kevin Walsh

Taking a look at the map, where...oh where...can you buy a Christmas tree outside of Manhattan, downtown Brooklyn, Park Slope and Williamsburg?

Maspethites, Arrocharians, Silver Beachers and Little Neckers want to know!

www.forgotten-ny.com

famdoc

After npr's feature on Vince Guaraldi, the jazz musician and composer best known for providing the music for Charlie Brown's Christmas, I watched that wonderful piece of history. It has been at least 30 years since I first saw it and believe me, this Jewish boy had tears in his eyes by the end. Wonder how much that little tree would cost.

Was in Lowe's in Gowanus yesterday to buy a few household items and saw perfectly nice trees for $30-45.

Kevin Walsh

When I was growing up we had a silver aluminum tree with a color wheel. Amazing light show, no shedding, little fire risk. I wish I still had 'em.

www.forgotten-ny.com

b

i got mine from the park late last night, cut it myself

nick

we scored a decent 6 foot douglas fir at the lowes in gowanus for 30 bucks!

dude

I agree with the sentiment that you should buy a smaller tree and give the rest to charity. Anotehr option for a really nice tree is to order one from LL Bean (http://www.llbean.com/webapp/w...

I know someone who does this every year and always gets a great tree delivered straight to their home for a good price.

You could always rent a car and go to one of those places where you cut them yourself too; I'm not sure where you can do that around here, though.

Random thought: How much would the Rockefeller tree go for on a street corner?

Yvo

I can fit a 12 ft tree in my apartment.... I can't afford one, though, not at $400... haha. And I think pine needles are toxic? I could be wrong, but my dog is way more important to me... although... now I have a 3ft tree which looks kind of stupid. Oops.