For those on the hunt for some locally grown Christmas trees this year, there are 11 tree farms in or just outside of the Kawarthas, offering both cut-your-own or pre-cut trees in a variety of species — and a new family Christmas tree farm is in the works in Douro-Dummer for the coming years.
Just outside the Kawarthas, farms include Powell’s Trees in Bowmanville, Prestonvale Tree Farms in Courtice, and Hope’s Christmas Tree Farm in Enniskillen. In the Kawarthas, you can visit Oscar’s Tree Farm in Campbellcroft, Barrett’s Christmas Tree Farm in Cobourg, Little Lake Christmas Tree Farm in Colborne, Oake Family Tree Farm in Cavan-Monaghan, The Carroll’s Christmas Tree Farm (formerly J&D Christmas Trees) in Colborne, Dawson Tree Farm in Millbrook, Potash Creek Farms in Omemee, and A Wee Tree Farm in Fenelon Falls.
This year, Oake Family Tree Farm is only selling pre-cut trees. At Dawson Tree Farm, $2 from every item purchased will be donated to the family of a former staff member whose three-year-old grandson is battling an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Christmas tree farms in and near the Kawarthas
For tree farm addresses, hours, available tree species, prices, and websites, check out the following map.
View a larger version of this map.
A new family Christmas tree farm is coming to Douro-Dummer
In the coming years, there will be another family farm in operation in the Kawarthas, located on Stoney Lake in Douro-Dummer Township.
It’s not an easy endeavour to begin a family Christmas tree farm, seeing as how it could take up to 10 years or more before a tree is ready to be cut down. With the patience and disciplined required, it’s a good thing serial entrepreneur Lindsey Irwin is the mastermind behind Irwin Xmas Tree Farm.
Lindsey is already the founder of the Old Jar Candle Co., a business coach, marketing professor, mother of two, and, just this summer, took over operation of the Lakefield Pantry. Now she’s hoping that as, early as next year, she’ll be welcoming people to her family tree farm which will have so much more than Christmas trees to enjoy.
“Winter can be so beautiful if there are things to do, but it’s just a barren wasteland if you don’t do anything with it,” she says. “But if we have a big bonfire pit and a place where people can warm up and get hot chocolate and become a destination for the Kawarthas, that’d be a fun thing to do.”
Lindsey and her husband Andrew purchased a property, inclusive of forested land and the golf course, from the Irwin Inn on Stoney Lake. The former well-loved resort was started by Andrew’s grandparents in 1947 and eventually run by his parents.
“The golf course where we’re planting the trees is where we got married,” Lindsey says. ” We have so much history on this little piece of land — loads of people got married there. So instead of just letting it grow into weeds, we’re going to groom it into this beautiful Christmas tree farm, and it’ll still be a place that families can enjoy.”
Two years ago, she and her kids grabbed some spades — many of which were broken in the process — and planted 200 Norwegian pines, and have done so every spring since. In 2026, the Irwins will be planting Blue Spruce and will be continuing to introduce other species of trees over the coming years.
Along with conducting her own research, Lindsey has taken inspiration from, and been supported by, Hope’s Christmas Tree Farm in Enniskillen. Owner Rebecca Hope has “coached” Lindsey in planting the trees to ensure they survive.
“That’s an amazing business,” Lindsey says, referring to Hope Christmas Tree Farm. “They just have this great experience for their community and they started it just by growing these trees. It was that simple. They just filled a field with trees and now they have a cut-your-own program people come every season and it’s such a great story.”
While Irwin Xmas Tree Farm won’t have their own cut-your-own program for another eight years, Lindsey hopes next year she’ll be ready to welcome people to the farm to pick up pre-cut fresh trees provided by other local farmers.
After they clean up the damage caused by this year’s ice storm, the Irwin family also plans to develop groomed trails throughout the forested areas of the property and invite local photographers to host sessions on site.
“I love the idea that they could set up these holiday family portrait photo sessions,” Lindset says. “I want to be one of those places where they can come, so we’ll have a very photogenic and picturesque place for them to book clients and spend the day enjoying it.”
She says there will be some synergy between her businesses by selling products from the Lakefield Pantry and her own candles in a farm store, and selling trees and wreaths at the Lakefield Pantry as well. If it seems like there will be a lot going on at Irwin Xmas Tree Farm, that’s only just the beginning.
“One of my dreams is to host a really great holiday market on the farm,” Lindsey says. “I’ve been in that world for five years with my candle business and I know it well, so it’d be so easy to fill a big gorgeous white tent with really great artisans and vendors.”
“In the first few years before we could really say we have trees you can cut, we can at least sell evergreen boughs and wreaths and have these markets as an option for people to do those community-based activities.”
Why buy a grown-in-Ontario Christmas tree?
Besides helping the local economy (more than 600 Christmas tree farms in Ontario generate around $12 million), farm-grown natural Christmas tree have other benefits.
Christmas trees are one of the most environmentally friendly crops. It takes up to 10 years to grow each tree and, during this time, the trees remove carbon dioxide and airborne pollutants from the atmosphere (up to 13 tons per acre!) and provide protective havens for a wide variety of birds and mammals. It’s also a sustainable crop — for every tree that’s harvested, at least three seedlings are planted in its place.
Buying a tree from a nearby local farm is also more environmentally friendly than buying one shipped in from another part of the country, such as Quebec or the East Coast.
Natural Christmas trees are also 100 per cent recyclable and biodegradable. Most municipalities — including those in the Kawarthas region — collect discarded natural Christmas trees and chip them for use as mulching materials.
Discarded natural trees can also be used as bird feeders, wood products can be made from their stems, or they can be used as wildlife cover in fish ponds and woodlots.
Common types of Christmas trees
If you do decide to harvest your own tree this year (or buy a pre-cut one), here’s a quick primer on the most common tree species available:
Balsam Fir – The Balsam Fir holds its dark-green needles well and is a good choice if the decorated tree will be left standing for a longer period of time. Balsam fir branches work well for lighter Christmas ornaments, and the tree has a strong fragrance.
Scots Pine (Scotch Pine) – The Scots Pine is a thick and hardy tree. It resists drying and holds its needles well over the holidays. However, the needles are tough and very pointy.
Fraser Fir – A Christmas tree that’s become very popular in recent years, the Fraser Fir is known for holding its attractive dark blue-green needles and its pleasant scent. Fraser Firs are generally more expensive than other trees as the species has a much longer growing cycle.
Norway Spruce – The traditional Christmas tree in Britain, the Norway spruce is attractive but has a tendency to drop its needles, particularly towards the end of the holidays — especially if the tree is not cut fresh and kept properly watered.
White Spruce – The dense foliage and symmetrical proportions of the White Spruce make it a very beautiful Christmas tree. The tree has a strong scent and its strong slender twigs hold ornaments well. However, the White Spruce is very thirsty and must be watered regularly to prevent it from losing its needles.
Caring for your tree
After you get your tree, follow these tips to keep it fresh and safe:
- If you aren’t setting up the tree immediately, store it outdoors. Keep it in a protected area, away from the wind and sun, to help the tree retain its moisture (an unheated garage is ideal, particularly to keep the tree free of snow). If you plan to store it outside for several days, make a straight cut across the butt end of the tree about one inch from the end, place the butt end in a container of water, and store the tree upright.
- When you bring the tree into the house for decorating, make another fresh cut across the trunk, about an inch from the original cut.
- Trees can drink up to four litres of water per day, so be sure to use a large stand that can hold that much water. Check the water level daily and supply fresh water as needed. Don’t allow the water level to drop below the bottom of the tree, as a seal will form on the bottom and the tree will stop absorbing water (you’ll have to make a new cut).
- Use only fresh water. Don’t add sugar, molasses, bleach, honey, floral preservatives, or other substances to the tree’s water. Experts agree these additives do nothing to maintain the freshness of the tree.
- Place your tree away from fireplaces, radiators, television sets, and other sources of heat. Turn off the tree lights when you leave and before you retire at night. Under no circumstances should you use lighted candles on a Christmas tree.
- A well-maintained tree should normally remain fresh at least three to four weeks before drying to an unacceptable level. Test the dryness of the tree by running your fingers across the needles. If they break easily or fall off in your hand, the tree is dry and should be discarded.
