San Martin · California
Battaglia Ranch Christmas Tree Farm
A choose-and-cut lot off US 101 in San Martin, about 15 minutes south of San Jose, with Monterey pine and cypress trees, pre-cut Oregon firs, custom flocking, a wreath and gift shop and a Christmas craft fair on opening weekend.
At a glance
Your tree visit.
- Tree choices
- Cut your own · Pre-cut trees
- Tree prices
- Not published
Tree prices are not published for choose-and-cut, pre-cut or flocked trees; confirm them at the farm. The farm lists Visa, Mastercard and cash.
Prices & conditions ↓ - Visit times
November 21 to December 23: 9am–5pm through Wednesday, November 25; closed Thanksgiving Day; 9am–7pm November 27 to December 20; 10am–5pm December 21 to 23. The choose-and-cut page says that lot closes daily at dusk.
Full schedule ↓
Find your tree
Choose your Christmas tree.
Battaglia Ranch sells Monterey pine, Leyland cypress and Monterey cypress on its choose-and-cut lot in San Martin. The farm describes Monterey pine as bright green with needles about four inches long, a California native that grows fast in the local climate. Leyland cypress is a sterile hybrid that produces no pollen, which the farm says families with allergy problems often choose; its soft foliage and limbs that are not very stiff mean heavier ornaments go deeper in or hang from the light wires. Monterey cypress is a little more cylindrical, aromatic and not prone to dropping needles.
The firs are pre-cut and come from the farm’s Oregon fields: Noble, Nordmann, Douglas and Fraser, with Grand fir also named on the about page. The farm does not publish tree sizes, a height limit, how a choose-and-cut tree is tagged or cut, or whether saws are provided, so ask when you arrive. No tree prices are posted for either lot.
The farm also flocks trees on site, in four styles and a limited range of colors, and sells wreaths, garland and gifts. Flocking is done only at the San Martin ranch, and the farm does not flock trees bought elsewhere.
Published varieties
- Monterey pine
- Leyland cypress
- Monterey cypress
- Noble fir
- Nordmann fir
- Douglas fir
- Fraser fir
- Grand fir
Which variety suits your decorations?
General tree guidance; the farm’s selection, sizes and services are described above.
- Fraser fir
- Upward branches and good needle retention; firmer branches can suit heavier ornaments.
- Douglas fir
- Soft needles and more flexible branches, suited to lighter ornaments.
Learn more: University of Wisconsin Extension ↗ · National Christmas Tree Association ↗
Compare the options
Trees & prices.
The farm’s payment graphic shows Visa, Mastercard and cash; it does not show other cards. The farm mentions no admission or parking charge.
| Selection & size | Price |
|---|---|
| Choose-and-cut Monterey pine, Leyland cypress and Monterey cypress | Not published Confirm at the farm; the farm posts no tree sizes or height limits for this lot. |
| Pre-cut Noble, Nordmann, Douglas, Fraser and Grand fir | Not published Fresh-cut in Oregon and brought to the ranch; no sizes or prices are posted. |
| Flocking and color-enhanced trees | Not published Flocking is done only at the San Martin ranch and takes at least 24 hours. |
| Tree shaking, netting, flame retarding and tree stands | Not published Listed as services on the about page with no charges stated. |
| Wreaths and garland | Not published Wreaths come in 36-inch, 30-inch and 20-inch rounds plus candy cane and cross shapes. |
| Professional photography session, facility fee | $125 Professional sessions only; up to 3 hours; non-refundable but reschedulable. Families are welcome to take personal photos while choosing a tree. |
The choose-and-cut lot
Choose-and-cut trees are Monterey pine, Leyland cypress and Monterey cypress, at the ranch near US 101. The farm’s choose-and-cut page says the lot closes daily at dusk, while the schedule shows 9am–7pm from November 27 to December 20, so arrive with daylight left. The farm does not say whether visitors cut the tree themselves or staff do.
Families are welcome to take their own photos while choosing a tree.
| Tree | What the farm says |
|---|---|
| Monterey pine | Bright green needles about four inches long; a California native that grows fast in the local climate |
| Leyland cypress | Sterile hybrid with no pollen, often chosen by families with allergy problems; soft foliage and limbs that are not very stiff, so heavier ornaments go deeper or hang from the light wires |
| Monterey cypress | A little more cylindrical shape; not prone to dropping needles; aromatic |
Pre-cut Oregon firs
The farm brings in Noble, Douglas, Grand, Fraser and Nordmann firs, fresh-cut at its Oregon tree farms and delivered to the ranch. The pre-cut page describes four of them and says all trees can be custom flocked. No sizes, arrival dates or prices are posted, so confirm what is on the lot on the day you come.
| Tree | What the farm says |
|---|---|
| Noble fir | Stiff branches that carry heavy ornaments; dark green needles |
| Nordmann fir | A full tree with glossy dark needles and silvery undersides; described as Europe’s choice |
| Douglas fir | Full conical shape with slender branches and a woodsy scent |
| Fraser fir | Strong branches and a wintry, frosted look |
| Grand fir | Named on the about page; the pre-cut page shows no description |
Flocked and color-enhanced trees, shaking and netting
Flocking is done only at the San Martin ranch, and the farm does not flock trees bought elsewhere. A tree you pick and have flocked takes at least 24 hours, and a selection of finished flocked trees is available to take home the same day. The farm says its flock is made of pulp fiber with a corn-starch adhesive and a boron flame retardant, and it sells white take-home bottles for do-it-yourself flocking. No flocking or color prices are posted.
Color-enhanced trees carry a color spray that the farm says adds no mass or volume, in a very limited supply of royal blue, white, purple, pink, black and teal. The flocking page’s separate color list belongs to an earlier season, so ask which colors are on hand. The farm also lists flame retarding, tree shaking, tree netting and water tree stands among its services, without charges.
| Style | Note |
|---|---|
| Lightly flocked | Available in white |
| Medium flocked | Available in white |
| Heavy flocked | Available in white |
| Tipped | Available in white |
| Color-enhanced | A color spray, limited supply; colors listed above; confirm availability |
Wreaths, the gift shop and refreshments
The wreath and gift shop sells one-of-a-kind wreaths in 36-inch, 30-inch and 20-inch rounds and in candy cane and cross shapes, along with garland, greenery and decorations for the home or office. No prices are posted.
The gift shop is described as selling hot coffee, hot cocoa, a mulling spice, cold drinks and packaged snacks. The activities page, which carries last season’s dates, also mentions kettle corn and snow cones on site; confirm whether they return.
Train, reindeer and Santa
The farm’s activities page describes a narrated 10-minute train ride around the 20 acres, a reindeer ride, and Santa Claus on select weekends for photos with children among the trees. That page still carries last season’s ride dates and Santa schedule, and no dates for this season are posted, so do not plan around any of them until the farm confirms.
Last season’s posted fare was $5 per rider or $20 for a family of six, with children under 3 on a lap free, and tickets were sold at the gift shop. Treat that as a guide only.
Christmas Craft Fair
The farm lists a Christmas Craft Fair on Saturday and Sunday, November 21 and 22, the opening weekend. Visitor hours and the list of vendors are not posted.
Professional photography
Families may take personal photos while choosing a tree. Professional photographers complete a facility use contract: the facility fee is $125, non-refundable but reschedulable, for a session of up to 3 hours. Payment is due no later than two weeks before the session, changes need 5 days’ notice, and props are disclosed on the form. The completed form goes to the farm by email; for photography sessions contact Caroline Johnson, by call or text, at 408-607-4005. The contract is not dated for this season, so confirm the current fee when you contact the farm.
Getting there and what is not posted
From San Jose, drive south on US 101 toward Morgan Hill. The farm is on the right just before San Martin Avenue, marked by a giant Santa about 35 feet tall on the west side of the freeway. Exit at San Martin Avenue, turn right and then right again onto Murphy Avenue; the farm is about 300 yards on the right. From Salinas, drive north on US 101, exit at San Martin Avenue, turn left over the freeway and right onto Murphy Avenue.
The farm says it has been in the Christmas tree business for 58 years. It does not post policies on pets, restrooms, parking, accessibility, rain or group visits.
Pick your day
Dates & hours.
Tree season: November 21 to December 23, closed Thanksgiving Day
The farm’s schedule runs from Saturday, November 21 to Wednesday, December 23, which it calls the last open day of the season, and closes only on Thanksgiving Day. The choose-and-cut page says that lot closes daily at dusk, which comes earlier than 7pm in December, so plan to choose a tree in daylight even when the schedule shows a later close.
| Christmas season | Hours |
|---|---|
| Saturday, November 21 to Wednesday, November 25 | 9am–5pm |
| Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26 | Closed |
| Friday, November 27 to Sunday, December 20 | 9am–7pm; the choose-and-cut lot closes daily at dusk |
| Monday, December 21 to Wednesday, December 23 | 10am–5pm; December 23 is the last open day |
| Christmas Craft Fair, Saturday and Sunday, November 21 and 22 | Visitor hours are not posted |
| Train ride, reindeer ride and Santa visits | No dates are posted for this season; confirm with the farm |
The farm posts no rain or closure policy.
Before you go.
- The choose-and-cut lot closes at dusk, which is earlier than the 7pm close shown for December days.
- Train, reindeer and Santa dates for this season are not posted.
- Flocking takes at least 24 hours and is done only at the San Martin ranch.
- Payment: the farm shows Visa, Mastercard and cash.
- The farm’s email is battagliaranch@sbcglobal.net.
13580 Murphy Ave., San Martin, CA 95046
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Indian Rock Tree FarmAn Apple Hill choose-and-cut and fresh-cut farm open Thursday to Monday from about November 27, with saws and staff help provided, a gift shop, and entry tickets needed November 27 to 29.