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Whether You’re Naughty or Nice, Christmas Tree Shortage Is Driving Up Prices

It’s that time of year—and if the pressure to buy Secret Santa gifts, attend weird office holiday parties, and survive travel at the busiest time of year weren’t enough, now there’s actually a Christmas tree shortage.

Our first hint of this seasonal decoration inflation came from a New York Post interview with Heather Neville, aka the “Tree Lady,” who sells her wares in seven sidewalk stands in New York City. The most expensive of her offerings, an exotic 13-foot white fir, costs an eye-popping $750 for the tree, $200 for the stand, $25 for delivery and setup, and, if you’re so inclined, a $20 tip to each of the three men needed to haul it to your home.

Is this what Christmas has come to? Granted, this pretentious tree is for sale in New York City, where some people will drop more than 50 grand on a Louis Vuitton crocodile skin City Steamer handbag without (presumably) blinking an eye. Still, it got us wondering: Could Christmas tree prices be shooting up nationwide, draining bank accounts and killing holiday spirits?

It turns out prices are going up. And a shortage that started this summer in Oregon is to blame.

The state is known as the U.S. capital of Christmas tree production, growing the majority of trees distributed nationwide. Yet according to recent statistics, the state’s production has dropped from 6.4 million trees in 2010 to 5.2 million in 2016. That’s 1.2 million fewer trees heading to homes across the country.

Blame the summer drought, which prompted Gov. Kate Brown to declare a state of emergency—and eventually bum out thousands of Americans just in time for the holidays.

In California (where many of Oregon’s Christmas trees end up), sellers say they’re forced to charge more as a result. Dan Bolender, owner of Olympic Christmas Trees in Rancho Cucamonga, told CBS News that the shortage is forcing him to charge 10% higher prices across the board.

“We’ve never seen a shortage. Never like this at all,” he said.

Meanwhile another lot, McShane’s in Salinas, told KSBW that Oregon’s drought means the trees that did survive are more expensive to water, which raises the prices passed along to his customers.

“We’ve tried to maintain [the prices], but if the watering prices go up, the prices of trees are definitely going to go up,” said nursery manager Anthony Gonzales.

Granted, 6-foot trees in these lots are going for only around $50 to $100—a markup of just $5 to $10 per tree. Still, it could be enough of a hike to get a few people grumbling … or maybe even resorting to high jinks to avoid paying for a tree altogether.

The Duluth News Tribune recently reported that Lakeside, MN, homeowner Martin Running was looking out his window at his yard when he noticed that the top 12 feet of one of his 30-foot pines was missing. For lack of any better explanation, he had to conclude that someone had snuck onto his property and sawed it down—perhaps because it would make the perfect Christmas tree.

“All I can really say is, I hope they really needed it,” Running said.

If you prefer to legally cut the costs of your Christmas tree, there are several ways to go about it. Opt for a smaller, Charlie Brown–style tree; it may lack height and symmetry, but it’s sure to have plenty of character. You could also purchase a less expensive species like Scotch pine as an alternative to the more popular Douglas or noble firs.

And if cutting down your Christmas tree is part of your holiday traditions, one thing is for sure: Be sure to ask the price before you chop and yell “Timber!”

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