Ward’s Nursery & Garden Center

Keep the living tree cool and watered

Water when the tree arrives and keep the soil moist, without making it waterlogged. Before bringing it inside, store it in a consistently cool, sheltered place away from drying wind and direct sun, and check the root ball often. Indoors, avoid radiators, vents and fireplaces and aim for a cool room around 60–65°F.

Keep indoor display brief, no more than ten days. Move the tree back to a cool protected place for about a week before planting; severe weather may require longer sheltered storage. Plant at or slightly above the surrounding soil level, remove wrapping, loosen container roots and redirect circling roots as needed. Continue watering during thaws and mulch after the ground freezes. The nursery explicitly excludes these delayed-planted living Christmas trees from its ordinary plant warranty.

The holiday decorating center

The greenhouses shift into holiday decor through autumn, with fresh-cut greens and dried arranging materials from mid-November. Wreath-making supplies, ribbons, cones, lights, candles, ornaments, flowering plants, crafts and gifts are offered alongside themed display trees. Decorated display trees do not establish a particular fresh-cut stock offering.

The announced animal-feeding program runs November 1–December 28, with goats, sheep, chickens and a llama listed. Feed costs 50 cents per scoop; the event page offers one free scoop if you print its specified photograph and bring it in. The holiday page gives 8am–5pm access, subject to the nursery’s holiday closures and winter-hour changes. The event calendar’s midnight-to-11:59pm range describes dates rather than overnight visitor hours; confirm the day’s animals and access before travelling.

Hours on Main Street

General hours are daily 8am–5pm, with Christmas Eve 8am–3pm and Thanksgiving and Christmas Day closed. December 27–March 8 uses 9am–5pm hours; New Year’s Eve closes at 3pm and New Year’s Day is closed.

Use 600 Main Street on US 7, south of the Route 23 junction. The visitor voice number is 413-528-0166; the older published fax line is a separate service. Ask about current living-tree stock, transport and any access needs before travelling.

Arrange pickup or delivery

If the nursery confirms a living Christmas tree is eligible for its general order service, email the requested items and a reachable telephone number. Availability is confirmed before payment and pickup timing; orders may take two days to two weeks to fill. Messages normally receive a reply within 48 hours, with a specialist callback sometimes within 24 hours.

Delivery fees are quoted by distance and destination. The general schedule is Thursday–Monday, with some Great Barrington deliveries on Tuesday or Wednesday, and the next available slot depends on order volume and drivers, usually within a week. Arrange the actual tree’s eligibility, fee and date directly rather than assuming immediate or included delivery.

Choose the tree for its future planting site

Before buying a rooted tree, consider its mature height and width as well as its indoor display size. Ward’s notes that smaller trees can be better matched to their root balls and may have a better chance of surviving the move. A compact spruce or another suitable small evergreen may fit a small yard better than a pine that will grow very tall. Confirm the species and eventual space with the nursery.

Prepare the whole planting area appropriately rather than enriching only the planting hole. Cover the prepared hole against freezing and place any wind-support stakes before the ground freezes, removing them in spring. Check the stored root ball often, sometimes twice daily, to keep it moist without waterlogging. These are the nursery’s living-tree care instructions and do not expand its warranty.

Holiday craft workshops

The announced workshops take place in the growing greenhouse, with staff guidance and limited space. Pre-register through the holiday-workshop form, selecting the class, group quantity and craft choice and providing contact details. Sessions last about one to two hours; the seating is folding plastic chairs, and a cushion or scarf may make the chair more comfortable.

For the December workshop, each person makes one craft and must choose a kissing ball or boxwood tree in advance. Small red bows are included; other ornaments from the craft department cost extra. The November centerpiece includes natural, dried and fresh plant materials with a single candle. Bring the listed tools and pay at the session as shown below.

• Holiday workshop registration and current availability ↗
• Centerpiece workshop details ↗
• Kissing-ball and boxwood workshop details ↗