Christmas Tree Farms In The Essex-Middle River Area: Your 2020 Guide

Essex-Middle River, MD — As the ongoing coronavirus pandemic threatens some of America's most well-loved holiday traditions in 2020, it might still be possible to find the perfect Christmas tree for your family — and do it safely.

At least 25 million real Christmas trees are purchased each year across America, and currently, 350 million are growing in all 50 U.S. states. And despite these unprecedented times, the tree market is still up and running this holiday season. Christmas tree lots and choose-and-cut farms nationwide are taking precautions amid the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure shoppers can select their ideal tree with minimal risk to their family's health and safety.

In fact, the National Christmas Tree Association has circulated a special guide containing recommendations and best practices for Christmas tree providers to follow, including frequently sanitizing items and areas such as hand saws, tree cart handles, countertops, door handles and restrooms.

Tree lot operators and choose-and-cut farms "must protect the health and safety of their employees, provide customers with the confidence they need so they can enjoy selecting a tree without risk and demonstrate to state and local officials they are conducting business responsibly," the association wrote in its guide.

Maximum head counts and social-distancing rules are also being encouraged at the farms.

If a real Christmas tree is on your wish list in 2020, here is a selection of some of our favorite Christmas tree farms near Essex-Middle River.

• Scottish Rite of Free Masonry
• Fritz Farm & Nursery
• Payne Christmas Trees
• Valley View Farms
• Davidson Tree Farm
• Chesapeake Bay Foundation Clagett Farm
• A Snowball's Chance Tree Farm
• Gunpowder Tree Farm

Want to get the most out of your real Christmas tree? It can take some patience, practice and good advice. Here are a few things to remember, from the National Christmas Tree Association:

• What to know about fake Christmas trees
• Knowing the different types of real Christmas trees
• Tips on selecting a real tree
• Caring for your tree
• Christmas tree safety
• How to recycle your tree