Where To Find Christmas Tree Farms Around Northern Virginia

VIRGINIA — When Thanksgiving is come and gone, your family may be thinking about getting a Christmas tree to start the holiday season. Some people buy fake trees or visit a local tree lot, but for many the tradition of going and picking out a tree can't be beaten.

There are tree farms in or within driving distance of Northern Virginia, and many are open following Thanksgiving. Use this guide to find a tree farm near you and check out the interactive map below. As you click on each green tree, you'll see the farm's website and contact information.

Before buying a live tree you need to check how fresh the tree is, and be prepared to keep it water so it doesn't dry out and pose a fire hazard.

Want some advice on picking out the right tree? Click here for on what to look for in a Christmas tree.

How To Care For Your Live Christmas Tree

Picking the Tree

• Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched.

Placing the Tree

• Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 2 inches from the base of the trunk.
• Make sure the tree is at least 3 feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.
• Make sure the tree does not block an exit.
• Be sure to add water to the tree stand daily.

Lighting The Tree

• Use lights that have the label of a recognized testing laboratory. Some lights are only to be used indoors, while others are only to be used outdoors. So choose the right lights for the location.
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords, loose bulb connections. Read manufacturer's instructions for the maximum number of light strands to connect.
• Never use candles to decorate the tree.
• Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed. This applies to both artificial and live Christmas trees.

Watering The Tree

• Ask questions about the trees. Ask the retailer when he/she gets the trees: are they delivered once at the beginning of the season, or several shipments during the season? Often, a tree obtained soon after its arrival on the retail lot will be very fresh because it was recently cut.
• Do a branch/needle test for freshness. Run a branch through your enclosed hand - the needles should not come off easily. Bend the outer branches - they should be pliable. If they are brittle and snap easily, the tree is too dry.
• Look for other indicators of dryness or deterioration. Indicators might include: excessive needle loss, discolored foliage, musty odor, needle pliability, and wrinkled bark. If none of the trees on the lot look fresh, go to another lot.

• Displaying trees in water in a traditional reservoir type stand is the most efficient way of maintaining freshness and minimizing needle loss problems.
• To display the trees indoors, use a stand with an adequate water holding capacity for the tree. As a general rule, stands should provide 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. Devices are available that help maintain a constant water level in the stand.
• Use a stand that fits your tree. Avoid whittling the sides of the trunk down to fit a stand. The outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and should not be removed.
• Make a fresh cut to remove about a half-inch thick disk of wood from the base of the trunk before putting the tree in the stand. Make the cut perpendicular to the stem axis. Drilling a hole in the base of the trunk does not improve water uptake. Once home, place the tree in water as soon as possible. Most species can go 6 to 8 hours after cutting the trunk and still take up water.

After Christmas
Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur, they are usually very serious. Get rid of your tree after Christmas or when it is dry. Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in the home or garage, or placed outside against the home. Check with your local community to find a recycling program.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission conducted a live Christmas tree burn to demonstrate how quickly Christmas tree fires ignite when needles become brittle do to under-watering.

Trees can become fully engulfed in a matter of seconds, then ignite everything in the path of the flames. In comparison, an electrical fire sparked for the demonstration on a well-watered tree didn't spread at all.