It may appear that Christmas tree farms are far and few in existence this holiday season, but I assure you, there will be no need to take an ax to your neighbor’s pine tree — there are many local Christmas tree farms. Real or fake, there are plenty of places to find Christmas trees in the Iowa City area — and this guide features many of those places!
Thanks to our friends at Hills Bank for making this Christmas tree guide possible.
“There’s no experience quite like cutting your own live Christmas tree out of your neighbor’s yard.” — Unknown
Do You Want A Real Tree or Fake Tree?
Every year, I grapple with the decision on whether to bedeck our home with a real or synthetic Christmas tree during the holiday season. Usage of either type in your home is guaranteed to amplify the spirit of the holidays.
The internal conflict for myself is more associated with time when it comes to real or synthetic. Will I have the time to nurture a freshly cut tree to ensure that it doesn’t lose all its needles in a week or two? Given that I do not have a “green thumb”, that outcome is exceedingly possible in my case. Second, do I really want to have the tedious task of vacuuming pine needles every other day? I gather, the latter may be a direct product of the aforementioned. 
Nevertheless, the illusion of a “live” tree with brightly colored pine needles that has the feel of soft bristles against your skin tends to draw me in closer to team “real.” Walking throughout a tree farm in hopes of finding the perfect tree tends to create a memorable experience. Moreover, the scent of fresh pine will have one reminiscing of walks through a forest brimming with pine, spruce, and fir trees. Imitation of such scent does not compare to that of nature’s creation, hence my reluctance for synthetic trees.
However, I love the ease that comes with having a synthetic tree. Having a pre-lit tree eliminates the need to untangle lights, which some of you know can take time and patience. Nowadays, it can be very difficult to discern a synthetic from a real Christmas tree—unless you are standing right in front of it. The perfectly symmetrical shape and the durability of the tree limbs make for impeccable placement of all ornament types. Perhaps, the most appealing to me is the lack of maintenance post set-up.
Whether you are team real or team synthetic, adorning your home with a Christmas tree is bound to provide some holiday cheer to all, who set eyes on it. The conjuring of joy and beautiful memories are always welcomed this time of year, and if that can be achieved with a simple addition of a Christmas tree—how wonderful is that?!
In the words of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Tree, “my thoughts are drawn back, by a fascination which I do not care to resist, to my own childhood. I begin to consider, what do we all remember best upon the branches of the Christmas Tree of our own young Christmas days, . . . ”
If you are interested in purchasing a real or synthetic tree, check out this list of tree farms and stores that may have Christmas trees in the Iowa City area. Know that some tree farms will be open only for one day or until all available trees are all gone—which may only take hours. My advice would be to call the vendor or store first and go early to ensure you get the tree of your choosing.
Where to Find Christmas Trees in the Iowa City Area
Colony Pumpkin Patch
Address: 2780 Front St. NE, North Liberty
Phone: 319-626-6091
Opening Weekend: Nov. 24 – 26 10am-5pm; December 1-10 Friday 1pm-5pm and Saturday/Sunday 10am-5pm
Handley’s Holiday Hillside
Address: 1731 White Oak Ave NE, Solon
Phone: 319-624-3646
Opening Weekend: check website
Cedar’s Edge Evergreen Market
Address: 2188 Ivanhoe Road, Ely
Phone: 319-361-7967
Opening Weekend: Friday Nov. 24 and Saturday Nov. 25 9am-6pm, Sunday Nov. 26 12:00-5:00 & the following Fridays and Saturdays 9am-6pm & Sunday through Thursday 1:00-6:00 until sold out
Hoffman Tree Farm
Address: 9409 C Avenue, Marion
Phone: 319-377-0977
Opening Weekend: starting Thanksgiving weekend: Mon. – Thurs. 3:30-7pm; Fri. – Sun. 8am-7pm
Wilson’s Orchard & Farm
Address: 4823 Dingleberry Rd NE, Iowa City
Phone: 319-643-4159
Opening Weekend: starting November 18-19 as part of their Holiday market!
Kroul Farms
Address: 245 IA-1, Mt. Vernon
Phone: 319-895-8944
Iowa City Landscaping
Address: 520 Highway 1 West, Iowa City
Phone: 319-337-8351
Optimist Club
Address: 526 S Riverside, Iowa City (old Dairy Queen parking lot)
*All proceeds go to local kids’ charities!
Opening Weekend: starting 9am Black Friday!
Lowe’s Home Improvement
Address: 2701 2nd St, Coralville
Phone: 319-545-8300
Earl May Garden Center
Address: 1901 Lower Muscatine Road, Iowa City
Phone: 319-354-5028
Forever Green Inc.
Address: 125 Forevergreen Rd, North Liberty
Phone: 319-626-6770
Menards
Address: 2605 Naples Ave SW, Iowa City
Phone: 319-358-9708
What is your Christmas tree tradition? Where do you typically find Christmas trees in the Iowa City area?
About Our Sponsor
The holiday season brings plenty of chances to support local businesses of all shapes and sizes! As a community bank, we encourage our customers and employees to shop locally — because we believe fostering a thriving local economy is everyone’s business. Learn about ways to support local businesses and how you can get involved at Hillsbank.com/shop-local.
Stay Tuned…More Great Holiday Content Coming Soon!!!
