| Trees & sizes | Trees & sizesCut your own; Pre-cut trees- Species: Balsam fir, Fraser fir, Balsam–Fraser hybrid (Fralsam).
- Balsam Ridge grows its trees in 11 fields across 50 acres that were once hardwood forest, with trees up to 9 feet.
- You then walk the open fields to choose your tree.
- Selection changes as trees sell, and the popular varieties and sizes go early.
- The $82 price covers any choose-and-cut tree through 8 feet; taller trees in designated fields are priced separately.
| Trees & sizesCut your own; Pre-cut trees- Species: Balsam fir.
- Beech Ridge Farm sells one kind of tree, balsam fir, and one price covers any size.
- You can choose and cut your own tree in the field, or pick a pre-cut tree in the barn.
- The farm sets no height limit or minimum.
| Trees & sizesCut your own; Pre-cut trees- Species: Fir, Blue spruce.
- Boiling Spring Tree Farm grows a variety of fir trees across its fields, and offers a selection of blue spruce on request: ask at the red building.
- It sells both choose-and-cut and pre-cut trees.
- The Maine Christmas Tree Association’s undated listing describes balsam–Fraser fir crosses and Colorado blue spruce up to 11 feet, while the farm does not publish sizes or say how many pre-cut trees it has.
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| Published price example | Published price exampleChoose-and-cut tree through 8 feet: $82- Each, plus Maine sales tax; the same for balsam fir, Fraser fir and the hybrid.
- The farm accepts cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover and Apple Pay. Its pages do not say whether wrapping, shaking and drilling are charged for choose-and-cut trees; they are complimentary for pre-cut trees.
- Other published price details: One price for balsam fir, Fraser fir or the balsam–Fraser hybrid, plus Maine sales tax. Trees in designated fields over 8 feet may be larger and are priced separately; the farm has not published that price, so ask at the farm.
| Published price exampleBalsam fir, any size, choose-and-cut in the field or pre-cut in the barn: $85.31- Plus tax; the farm lists a single price for any size.
- The farm accepts cash, credit, debit, Apple Pay and other methods, as it lists them. The farm’s home page says current tree sizes and prices are listed on its products page.
- Other published price details: One price for any size, choose-and-cut in the field or pre-cut in the barn, plus tax. The farm sets no height limit or minimum on its pages.
| Published price exampleChoose-and-cut and pre-cut trees, and wreaths: Not published- The farm’s website lists no tree or wreath price; confirm at the farm.
- The farm says cash is king and also accepts check, credit cards and mobile pay.
- Other published price details: Netting, handsaws and twine carry no additional cost. Hot cocoa, candy canes and wagon rides are free.
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| Cutting help | Cutting helpCut your own- When you arrive you are greeted and handed a saw and a tree cart. Walk the open fields, choose a tree, and cut it yourself; chainsaws of any kind are not allowed, but cordless reciprocating saws are welcome. Bring a truck or SUV, because you secure your own tree for the ride home. The farm asks one person from the party to pay at the gift shop for pre-cut trees and does not say where choose-and-cut trees are paid for, so ask when you arrive.
- Drilling, shaking and tree wrapping are complimentary for pre-cut trees. Tree netting is available, and the farm suggests bringing a hand saw and rope or twine. The farm’s tree page also gives care advice: pick a fresh tree, store it in water out of sun and wind until you set it up, make a fresh cut about half an inch from the bottom just before putting it in the stand, keep the stand full of water, and keep the tree away from heat sources. Pay at the gift shop; the farm asks that one person from your party pay.
- Chainsaws are not allowed; saws and carts are provided, and wrapping, shaking and drilling are listed for weekends.
| Cutting helpCut your own- Beech Ridge Farm: visit rules: Saws · Bring a hand saw or a battery reciprocating saw.
- Beech Ridge Farm: visit rules: Chainsaws · Chainsaws of any type are not allowed.
- Beech Ridge Farm: visit rules: For cutting and hauling · Bring cardboard, a knee cushion and a tarp to help cut and haul your tree.
- The farm’s home page sets out what you can and cannot do. You can pay by cash, credit, debit, Apple Pay and other methods, as the farm lists them, and you can bring a licensed guide dog. Pets are not allowed, chainsaws of any type are not allowed, and you may not drive onto the fields.
- Bring your own saw; chainsaws are not allowed.
| Cutting helpCut your own- Boiling Spring Tree Farm: trees and tree services: Saws · Plenty of handsaws; bring your own if you like, but no gas or electric chainsaws; battery reciprocating saws are permitted
- The red building is the center of the visit. You check in there first, collect your tag, saw and the season’s instructions, and return after cutting to warm up and pay. The farm serves hot cocoa and candy canes there, and says that both are free. Wagon rides also start and end at the red building.
- Choose-and-cut and pre-cut trees; netting, handsaws and twine carry no additional cost; no chainsaws.
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| Shaking, baling & loading | Shaking, baling & loadingWhen you arrive you are greeted and handed a saw and a tree cart. Walk the open fields, choose a tree, and cut it yourself; chainsaws of any kind are not allowed, but cordless reciprocating saws are welcome. Bring a truck or SUV, because you secure your own tree for the ride home. The farm asks one person from the party to pay at the gift shop for pre-cut trees and does not say where choose-and-cut trees are paid for, so ask when you arrive.- On weekends the farm has tree wrapping, shaking and drilling available. It does not say whether those services run on weekdays for choose-and-cut trees, or whether they carry a charge. Certain fields may be closed during the season to protect younger trees, so the fields open to you can change from week to week. The farm’s pages do not describe the terrain, parking or restrooms.
- Drilling, shaking and tree wrapping are complimentary for pre-cut trees. Tree netting is available, and the farm suggests bringing a hand saw and rope or twine. The farm’s tree page also gives care advice: pick a fresh tree, store it in water out of sun and wind until you set it up, make a fresh cut about half an inch from the bottom just before putting it in the stand, keep the stand full of water, and keep the tree away from heat sources. Pay at the gift shop; the farm asks that one person from your party pay.
- Chainsaws are not allowed; saws and carts are provided, and wrapping, shaking and drilling are listed for weekends.
| Shaking, baling & loadingBeech Ridge Farm: visit rules: For cutting and hauling · Bring cardboard, a knee cushion and a tarp to help cut and haul your tree. | Shaking, baling & loadingNetting your tree: No additional cost · Almost all trees can be netted; occasionally a very large tree will not fit through the netter.- Handsaws and twine: No additional cost · Plenty of saws are available; the farm provides twine to tie the tree to your car.
- Boiling Spring Tree Farm: trees and tree services: Netting · No additional cost; very large trees may not fit the netter
- Boiling Spring Tree Farm: trees and tree services: Twine · Free; the farm cannot tie the tree to your car
- Choose-and-cut and pre-cut trees; netting, handsaws and twine carry no additional cost; no chainsaws.
- The farm says cash is king and also accepts check, credit cards and mobile pay.
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| Visit arrangements | Visit arrangementsOpens November 21; closing date not published; closed Thanksgiving Day- Christmas season: Opening day, Saturday, November 21 · Choose-and-cut and pre-cut trees; weekend hours 9am–4pm
- Christmas season: Weekdays · 10am–4pm; last entry to the fields 3:30pm
- Christmas season: Weekends · 9am–4pm; last entry to the fields 3:30pm; tree wrapping, shaking and drilling available; fire pit, hot cocoa, spiced hot cider and a donut or scone
- Christmas season: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26 · Closed
- Christmas season: Santa arrives, Saturday, November 28 · 10am–12pm
- Christmas season: Gift shop and sugarhouse, Saturdays · 10am–3pm, as the farm’s Christmas hours list them; the farm does not say whether the shop opens other days in tree season
- The farm has not published a closing date. Its About page directs visitors to its Facebook page for hours of operation.
- The farm opens for the Christmas season on Saturday, November 21 and is closed on Thanksgiving Day. It expects trees to sell out quickly, and certain fields may be closed during the season to protect younger trees. The farm’s About page sends visitors to its Facebook page for hours, so check there before a long drive.
| Visit arrangementsOne weekend only, November 27–29- Christmas season: Friday, November 27 · Opening day; open at 9am, fields close at 4pm, barn closes at 4:30pm
- Christmas season: Saturday, November 28 · Open at 9am, fields close at 4pm, barn closes at 4:30pm
- Christmas season: Sunday, November 29 · Open at 9am, fields close at 4pm, barn closes at 4:30pm
- The farm says it will be open only this one weekend. It has not published a weather-closure rule.
- The farm was closed last season and is open for just one weekend this year: Friday, November 27, Saturday, November 28 and Sunday, November 29, the weekend after Thanksgiving. The fields close at 4pm and the barn at 4:30pm, so choose and cut early. The farm has not published a weather or sell-out rule.
| Visit arrangementsOpens Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving; the last day is not published- Christmas season: Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving · Season opens, 9am–4pm
- Christmas season: Days after opening · Not published
- Christmas season: Wagon rides · Regularly throughout the day, weather permitting; they start and end at the red building
- Christmas season: Santa Claus · Usually appears; days and times are posted on the farm’s social media
- Christmas season: Last day of the season · Not published
- Tree supply is limited, so trees may run out before the end of the season.
- The farm starts its season every year the day after Thanksgiving at 9am and closes at 4pm, and its Facebook page gives Friday, November 27 as the start. It has a limited supply of trees each year so that it can keep inventory for future years, and it asks visitors to check its website and social media for the days it is open. The farm has not published a last day.
- The farm offers packages for professional photographers to book their own sessions on the fields. Bookings are first come, first served, and a liability waiver, emailed to the farm, is required. The booking page is a form and shows no package price. If you are a family looking for a photographer, the farm asks you to contact the photographer directly.
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| Full farm guide | Full farm guide for Balsam Ridge Christmas Tree Farm → | Full farm guide for Beech Ridge Farm → | Full farm guide for Boiling Spring Tree Farm → |
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