The closest choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms to our homes are clustered along Mahoning Drive and Strohl's Valley Road outside Lehighton, south of Lake Harmony and Albrightsville, plus Heckman Orchards in Effort. Most open Thanksgiving weekend.
Spending Thanksgiving or an early December weekend in the Poconos? Cutting a tree on the way home is a good last stop. Bring rope or straps; several farms bale and tie the tree to your car for free.
Farms near the western Poconos
- Yenser's Tree Farm, 1910 Mahoning Drive East, Lehighton (570-386-2073): you cut, or they'll cut it for you. Fraser, Douglas and Concolor firs and blue spruce. Its 2026 schedule is November 21-22, then daily November 27 to December 6, opening at 9 AM on weekends and 3 PM on weekdays. 2026 prices start at $45 for trees under 6 feet. Free shaking, baling, drilling and tying to your car; wreaths, a gift shop and cocoa. Leashed dogs are welcome. Cash, cards and checks accepted.
- Crystal Spring Tree Farm, 2424 Mahoning Drive, Lehighton (570-818-4198): a wagon ride takes you to the field to cut Douglas, Fraser, Turkish or Nordmann firs up to 9 feet; Concolor fir and blue spruce are pre-cut only in 2026. Opens Black Friday, November 27, 9 AM to 5 PM daily, through December 23. It supplied the 2010 White House Blue Room tree.
- Old Homestead Tree Farm, 1165 Strohl's Valley Road, Lehighton: cut-your-own and pre-cut trees from tabletop to 14 feet, over 25 varieties. Free saws, baling, a mechanical shaker and tree carts, plus handmade wreaths and farm animals. Its site lists weekday afternoon and weekend hours but no 2026 opening date yet.
- Heckman Orchards, 3009 Route 115, Effort (570-629-1191): sells Christmas trees, wreaths and grave blankets around the holidays, with tree picking every weekend in December until they close. Hand saws available.
Sources: Yenser's Tree Farm · Yenser's FAQ · Crystal Spring Tree Farm · Old Homestead Tree Farm · Heckman Orchards
Pre-cut trees in Wayne County
- Adam's Family Wreaths, 703 Old Willow Avenue, Honesdale (570-251-0050), sells fresh-cut Pennsylvania Fraser fir, Douglas fir and blue spruce, 3 to 14 feet, restocked weekly. After Thanksgiving it's open every day but Tuesday.
Sources: Adam's Family Wreaths: trees
Keeping your tree fresh
- Penn State Extension says to cut a disk about a quarter inch thick straight across the base, unless the tree was cut within the last 12 hours.
- Use a stand that holds a quart of water per inch of trunk diameter (at least a gallon for most trees), and check every day that the water stays above the base of the trunk.
- Clean water is all a tree needs: no sugar, bleach or preservatives. Keep it away from fireplaces, heaters, vents and direct sun.
Sources: Penn State Extension: caring for your cut Christmas tree
