13 Places to Find Fresh Christmas Trees in Mercer County

For many families across Mercer County, New Jersey, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a fresh Christmas tree, decorated and illuminated for the holiday.

At Jack's Nursery & Landscaping in Hopewell Township, Edward “Jack” Jackowski and his wife, Anita, have spent nearly 30 years growing evergreens and connecting with generations of returning families year after year.

Jackowski grows Black Hills spruce, Canaan fir, and Norway spruce on the property. The experience of going into the fields, searching for a tree, and cutting it down is something that can't be replicated in any other way, he said.

“Kids remember running around out here,” he said in a statement shared with Community News. “Anybody can go to Home Depot and get a tree. But when kids come out here, they have a ball picking one. They'll remember that.”

Individuals like Jackowski continue the Christmas tree-growing tradition started in New Jersey around the turn of the 20th century. According to a Community News report, the first commercial Christmas tree farm in the United States began in Hamilton Township, where William V. McGalliard started planting Norway spruces in 1901. Hoping to profit from his farmland, McGalliard began a holiday tradition that continues all across the country.

At this time of year, the debate always arises. Which is best, real or artificial? Real trees, clearly, remain an environmentally friendly choice. “You may have an artificial tree for 20 years, but when you throw it out, it sits in a landfill forever because you can't recycle it,” said Allison Cole, executive secretary of the New Jersey Christmas Tree Growers' Association.

Cole added, “You're not just buying a tree. You're making a tradition.”

Below are some places you can find fresh Christmas trees for your holiday celebrations: