Where to buy a Christmas tree in Sonoma

How and where to get the very best Christmas tree.|

Moon Mountain Farm Has Closed

Sonoma Valley's only cut and carry tree farm has now closed permanently. Moon Mountain Christmas Tree Farm, at 1550 Moon Mountain Road, was operated for more than 35 years by the Ferrando family on more than 100 acres that their family has owned since 1918.

While there seem to be fewer and fewer choices each year, at least when it comes to old-fashioned Christmas tree farms, Sonoma Valley offers several choices for Christmas tree shoppers.

Cut-and-carry farms

Sonoma's family-owned Moon Mountain remains closed – still recovering from the 2017 October's fires – and it will not be open this year. If you have your heart set on cutting your own or choosing a tree in the ground, read on.

The nearest cut-and-carry farm to Sonoma is north of Oakmont, at 6191 Highway 12. North Eagle Christmas Tree Forest is open daily from 10 a.m. until dark (they have no lights). Customers can harvest a Christmas tree from one of eight varieties and leave a living tree by cutting above the bottom set of branches. Choices include: Douglas fir, Scotch pine, incense cedar, coastal redwood, giant sequoia, white fir, Monterrey pine, silver fir and Nordmann fir. 538-2554

The next closest option to Sonoma is Pronzini Ranch U-Cut Farm on the way to Petaluma. Pronzini finishes up its Halloween pumpkin patch and promptly opens to offer u-cut Christmas trees. The farm opens seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 3795 Adobe Road, starting the day after Thanksgiving. pronzinitrees.com. 778-3871.

Larsen's Christmas Tree Farm in Petaluma offers four varieties of trees to cut down as well as pre-cut Douglas and Noble firs. The farm is located on Marshall Avenue near Magnolia, and open the day after Thanksgiving. petalumachristmas.com. 762-6317. Open Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Little Hills Christmas Tree Farm in Petaluma is a choose-and-cut farm in Western Petaluma that also has farm animals to visit, and Santa frequently makes an appearance. littlehillschristmastree.com or call 763-4678. Open the day after Thanksgiving, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 961 Chapman Lane.

Tree stands

While many locals still look for the Christmas tree lot that used to be on Eighth Street East and Napa Road, or more recently on West Spain, Eric Nyberg now runs his popular Christmas tree stand at 21095 Broadway. He opens the day after Thanksgiving, and is now open every day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. until the trees are gone. He sells silver tip, Noble fir, Nordman fir and he hopes to get a few grand firs as well. He offers flocking, delivery and tie up on your car. He also sells wreaths, swags and garlands. A portion of the proceeds from his Christmas tree sales each year goes to the Boys & Girls Clubs and Hanna Boys Center. Nyberg is celebrating more than two decades selling Christmas trees in Sonoma Valley.

The Stanley Lane Christmas Trees on Highway 121 before the intersection with Highway 29 in Napa, is now closed permanently.

Nurseries

Sonoma Mission Gardens at 851 Craig Ave. (off Arnold Drive) sells live trees in pots but no large pre-cut trees. 938-5775.

Supermarkets & hardware stores

Sonoma supermarkets Whole Foods and Lucky will again be selling pre-cut Christmas trees.

Whole Foods at 201 W. Napa St. will also have a selection of full-size trees on sale. Lucky Supermarket at Maxwell Village Shopping Center also expects a wide selection of full-size trees in its parking lot. Safeway at 477 W. Napa St. sells small 3- to 4-foot trees outside.

The Sonoma Friedman's location will have a selection of Noble firs, as will Home Depot and Lowe's in Napa and Petaluma.

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Which kind of tree is best?

According to Pronzini Tree Farm...

Silvertip Fir is the most sought after Christmas tree because of their natural silver tips and mountain fragrance. They are shaped with sturdy, layered branches for many ornaments. The needles have a green/blueish-tint with silver tips. Noble Fir has a beautiful spruce like appearance with evenly spaced strong branches, perfect for heavy ornaments. The needles are usually 1-inch in length and fold upward on the branch exposing both the bluish tint and silvery white underside.

Douglas Fir is frequently referred to as the 'old-fashioned tree.' The needles are a feathery dark green, soft to the touch and have a sweet fresh fragrance. The tree is dense with a conical shape.

Grand Fir needles are spaced into two distinct rows. The needles are 1 to 1-½ inches long with glossy dark green top and white on the underside. The symmetry, dark glossy color, and strong citrus fragrance make the Grand Fir popular.

Norman Fir is the most popular tree in Europe because of its outstanding symmetrical form and relatively open branch structure with distinct whorls. The needles are short, dark green that lay flat on the branch with a deep green silvery underside that is soft to the touch. It is considered a tree with long-lasting qualities with minimal needle drop.

Fraser Fir is becoming popular because of its narrow pyramid shape, strong slightly upturned branches which gives this tree a compact appearance. It has a wonderful citrus odor and is said to have the best needle retention of all the trees.

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Disposing of your tree after the holidays

Perhaps the most dreaded part of the holiday season is taking down and disposing of the tree after Christmas. In what has become a post-holiday tradition, local Girl Scouts will traverse the Valley to pick up trees from all residents and businesses on three Saturdays following Christmas day.

Valley residents can leave their tree at the curb by 9 a.m. on Dec. 28, Jan. 4 or Jan. 11 and the scouts will take it to be recycled. The tree must be free of decorations and flocking, with the stand removed. Donations (suggested amount is $10) should be left under the doormat. Checks should be made out to Girl Scouts. It is not necessary to call to arrange pickup, but rural residents should leave a message at 205-1233 with information about finding their tree. sonomagirlscouts.com/xmas.

Valley residents who have curbside yard waste service can cut up their tree and leave it in their collection barrel on their usual pickup date, at no extra charge. The tree must fit completely inside the container with the lid closed, however.

Residents outside of Sonoma city limits can leave their tree for curbside pickup by Redwood Empire Disposal. See unicycler.com for information. In addition, a maximum of two trees per person can be dropped off for free at the Sonoma Valley dump transfer station on Stage Gulch Road from Dec. 26 through Jan. 18.

Did we miss any local places to buy a tree? Email Lorna at lorna.sheridan@sonomanews.com

Moon Mountain Farm Has Closed

Sonoma Valley's only cut and carry tree farm has now closed permanently. Moon Mountain Christmas Tree Farm, at 1550 Moon Mountain Road, was operated for more than 35 years by the Ferrando family on more than 100 acres that their family has owned since 1918.

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