What You Need to Know About Cutting Your Own Christmas Tree in the Treasure Valley

by Lysi Bishop Real Estate

A little red truck haulin a Christmas tree

Christmas time is here and we are filled with excitement to spend time with family and friends and honor long-standing traditions. One of those traditions is heading into the forests to cut your own Christmas tree. There is nothing like the smell of fresh pine, balsam, and wood filling your home with rustic holiday magic.

For those who have never had a real live tree for Christmas, it can be overwhelming figuring out where to get one, how to care for it, and when/where to dispose of it. So we've compiled this easy guide for you to partake in this local past-time like a pro!

Where to Go

This is the fun "Pick Your Own Adventure" part! The Treasure Valley is bordered to the north by the Boise National Forest, providing 2,203,703 acres of protected land for outdoor recreational use, including tree cutting. If you're not the super outdoorsy type, there are several fresh tree lots in the area to pick from that offer a fun family-friendly experience.

Cut Your Own:

Christmas tree cutting is allowed in designated areas of the Boise National Forest with a permit. These permits are $10/tree and can be purchased online here or pick up at any of these local vendors.

Know before you go:

Download the designated map here and bring a printed copy with you. Cell service is very limited and non-existent throughout many parts of the National Forest, so it is not recommended to rely on GPS.
Weather can be rough in the winter months and turn unexpectedly. Check weather reports before you go for any winter storm warnings.

What to bring:

Prepare by dressing in layers and pack an emergency kit for your car. This kit should include warm blankets, water bottles, road flare, non-perishable snacks, flashlight, first-aid kid, shovel, road sand or cat litter (to help with traction in the event you're snuck in snow), and tow straps. See a full list of items here.
An AWD or 4x4 vehicle is recommended to access snow-covered roads. The majority of forest where trees can be cut will be located off of forest service roads. These roads are typically gravel or dirt, and not plowed. Having a reliable vehicle with good snow tires or chains and higher clearance is recommended to maneuver through curvy and hilly mountain roads.
Straps/rope to secure the tree to your car's rooftop. Place old blankets or towels underneath to protect the vehicle from scratches. Have the permit clearly visible and attached to the tree, or you might just get pulled over. Police patrol Hwy 21 and 55 for illegal tree cutting.
An axe/hatchet, handsaw, or chainsaw. Most trees will have a diameter less than 10".
Utility gloves to handle the tree
Just for fun: pack a lunch and a thermos full of hot chocolate

Christmas Tree Lots Around Boise

Pre-Cut Lots:

U-Cut Lots:

The Pine Patch Chestnuts and Tree Farm
Victory Christmas Tree Farm

What to Look for in a Tree

According to the Farmer's Almanac, the top-selling Christmas trees, as reported by growers across the United States, are the Scotch pine, Douglas fir, white pine, and balsam fir, in that order.
Nice green needles, with little browning. Run your hand over a branch pulling towards you; the needles should feel pliable and soft and stay put.
Look for trees in shady areas. High sun and wind exposure areas cause a lot of damage to trees.
Lot trees typically go through a rough (and sometimes interstate) transit and are exposed to wind and weather. To pick the best tree, look out for these:
- Select a reputable and local lot. Most department stores source their trees from larger farms out of state and won't have the freshest picks.
- Pick up the tree and drop it on its trunk. If a lot of needles fall off, the tree is not healthy.

How to Care for a Live Tree

Have the tree lot make a fresh cut before departing the tree lot to remove built-up resin. Trim another 1" prior to setting it up at home.
Place the bottom portion of the trunk in a bucket of water right when you get home.
Store in a cool, sheltered area (like a garage) until you're ready to set up.
Once you're ready to set up, secure the tree in a sturdy stand that can hold at least a gallon of water.
Check the water level daily. The bottom 2" of the trunk should be submerged in water at all times.
Don't add any minerals or plant food to the water.
Keep the tree away from direct heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, and air registers. The heat and excess air will dry the tree out faster.
Once a tree begins to dry out, the needles will start to fall out in large quantities. To avoid the mess, take your tree down before it dries out.

When and Where to Dispose of a Live Tree

Take down the tree before it starts to dry out. Most live trees can stay fresh for about 5 weeks after being cut.
The City of Boise, The City of Meridian, and the City of Eagle offer tree removal service as part of their normal compost/trash service the first week of January.
- Cut tree down in segments no longer than 4'.
- Place segments in your compost bin. For additional segments (not to exceed 60 lbs), place them on the curb next to your bins on your designated collection day.
- Note that flocked trees and wreaths will not be accepted.
The Ada County Landfill will accept Christmas trees at no charge for the first 2 weeks of January.
The City of Nampa has a drop-off location.
Hire a landscape company to recycle the tree for you.
Dry out the tree and cut down to use for firewood.

We hope you find this guide to fresh-cut Christmas trees in Boise helpful. Enjoy the holiday season!