Caroline Carlson | Daily Press Tree farms offer a variety of evergreens, typically including fir, spruce and pine trees.

BARK RIVER — The different species of Christmas trees have different characteristics, such as whether or not they produce a fragrance, how stiff their needles are, and how much sap they produce. Going to a Christmas tree farm is a great way to select a tree that is not only attractive, but meets your needs, while creating an experience for the whole family.

Teal’s Tree Farms Greens & Products in Bark River sells many species of Christmas trees, including varieties of fir, pine, and spruce. The business operates in both the wholesale realm and in retail, with 120 acres at the main lot and 80 more acres up the road.

Before Thanksgiving the farm does a strong business selling boughs to landscapers in the larger cities, as well as to wholesale floral resellers who go on to sell them to “mom and pop” florists, says tree farm owner Joe Teal. The farm also wholesales trees to resellers who travel to Chicago, and after Thanksgiving, Teal’s Tree Farms switches from serving wholesalers to retail, and opens the farm to visitors who want to buy a pre-cut tree, or drive or ride out into the tree farm to find a special tree to cut down.

The most universal challenge facing Christmas tree farms right now is a national shortage of Christmas trees, which creates a shortage of seedlings.

“Everywhere you call, they’re out…there’s just a huge shortage. I’ve had more calls from other growers trying to get trees,” Teal said, who plants 5,000-6,000 seedlings every spring — as much as he can get his hands on.

Some Christmas tree growers and associations theorize the shortage may have a generational aspect to it. Teal agrees with this assessment, noting he believes many millennials who grew up with artificial trees have the desire to create a live-tree tradition with their children.

The proliferation of millennials bringing their families to tree farms has influenced many growers, Teal included, to craft a buyer experience with this demographic in mind, including such amenities as gift shops on their grounds.

“A place like mine, you get a whole different experience here. We have the rides that take you out that you cut your own. It’s a family outing,” said Teal, who noted Teal’s Tree Farm is pet-friendly.

Teal said this year they’ve had more people drive out in their own cars due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While they are breaking up the rides into groups to maintain social distancing, it’s common for families who arrived together to ride out with the farm crew. Shoppers who aren’t interested in riding into the farm to have a tree cut can purchase a pre-cut tree in the main parking area.

Teal said that in years past they didn’t open until the first of December, but these days people want their trees before Thanksgiving.

“When you put a tree up before Thanksgiving, to ask that thing to make it to Christmas, that’s…that’s pretty tough,” he said.

Teal doesn’t recommend getting a spruce until closer to Christmas, and if you are going to wait a few days before putting your tree up after you bring it home, don’t put the tree in water right away.

“Leave it alone in a cool dry place then give it a fresh cut and it should draw.” he said, adding about an inch should be cut from the trunk before it is put in water.

Teal stressed the importance of checking the water in your tree stand daily. Trees whose stands are allowed to dry out run the risk of their trunk sealing up, causing the whole tree to dry out and become a fire hazard. Having the tree in a big picture window exposed to sunlight will also contribute to making it dry out faster.