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There's A Lot Going For You

CANDACE C. MUNDY/TAMPA TRIBUNE

Cameron Hauss, Michael Fernandez (in back in red cap) and Sherman Taylor carry an 11 ft Christmas tree off the tree lot next to Gaither HS for customer Jeff Clough, a resident of Lutz

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By HAROLD VALENTINE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 5, 2007

Updated: 12/03/2007 06:22 pm

Additional photos

CARROLLWOOD - Freshly cut trees and holly-jolly service are the bargaining chips Christmas tree vendors tout in the hopes of luring customers from major retail stores.

Though most vendors admit their trees are a few bucks more than those at big chains, they hope quality of the product speaks for itself.

"People know I sell out," said Dan Parker, a Lutz resident who keeps his trees on the southwest corner of Bearss Avenue and Lake Magdalene Boulevard, sharing space with Bearss Groves. Parker has been at the location for eight years.

Parker said he owns a farm in South Carolina where he raises his trees.

He has established a strong clientele and specializes in large Fraser, Noble and Douglas firs - up to 16 feet tall. Trees that tall run from $300 to $500. Parker said businesses, country clubs and the like usually buy the big trees.

He said sometimes customers buy several big trees, have them set up and pay for Parker's helpers to decorate a location.

The lot has a special number for delivery service: (813) 376-3977. The cost is $25, with tips suggested. Other lots also have delivery services for a similar fee.

The smaller Fraser and Douglas trees at the lot start at $14 and $20 and increase about $10 to $15 with each additional foot. Parker said Noble firs are 30 percent pricier because they are susceptible to a rare fungus that may prohibit growth.

For trees 6 to 9 feet tall - the range most people buy - prices range from $60 to $90.

Parker said he uses a bud activation spray typically used on azaleas, but he said the spray keeps Christmas tree needles intact longer. Shade is another key to keeping his trees fresh. They often are cut down only days before they are available at the lot.

Parker's trees are set in water to keep them from drying.

John McPadden, the attendant at Mike's Christmas Trees at the northwest lot at the Westfield Citrus Park mall, also keeps Christmas trees well-watered.

There, not only do trees on display sit in water buckets, but also those awaiting display have their bases in water. McPadden said trees at his lot can weigh 30 to 40 pounds more than at other places because the trees are so hydrated.

Tree dealers at lots throughout northwest Hillsborough said buyers should keep water in a stand. McPadden said when a tree goes without water the sap begins to crystallize, causing trees to dry and lose needles.

Mike's Christmas Trees has many varieties, including Grand, Douglas and Fraser firs, as well as Blue, Black Hill and Loose spruces, and Scotch and White pines. McPadden said the Black Hill spruce may be the best tree because it's what "everybody envisions on holiday cards," with a blue-green color and full branches and needles.

"The best-selling are the 8- to 10-foot Frasers," McPadden said. "They're selling like hotcakes."

He said the prices range from $90 to $120.

Tommy Sims, a Westchase resident, said he passed by seven lots before stopping where McPadden works.

"This seemed to have the best trees," he said.

Sims, a father of three, received a 10 percent discount on his 7- to 8-foot Douglas fir because he served in the military. McPadden said customers with government jobs receive the discounts.

John Ciani, an attendant at L&M Christmas Trees at Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church, 2902 W. Fletcher Ave., said he has heard stories of dramatic price increases in trees because of increased gas prices. But he said the increase passed to customers is minimal.

"We went up maybe a dollar or two a tree. Maybe," Ciani said. "I've heard of stories that trees have gone up 20 percent. That's just not true. When you got a guy hauling 500 trees a load, that extra 100 dollars that goes into the tank, spread over 500 trees, really isn't that much."

He said L&M has operated from the church for seven years, giving the church a flat fee benefiting its youth program. The business also has a lot at Chamberlain High School and two others in the county.

The best-selling trees there are 6- to 7-foot Douglas and Fraser firs. In that size, Douglas trees are $45 and Frasers are $55 to $60. He said Douglas trees are cheaper because their needles are longer and more likely to fall. A foot taller costs about $15 more.

Patrick Rey, owner of Green Thumb Nursery, 6913 Sheldon Road, keeps trees simple at his lot. He offers only one kind, Fraser firs.

"I think they're the best tree," Rey said. "They hold their needles long and have the best aroma."

Green Thumb is a family business running for more than 50 years and has been on Sheldon since 1974. He said familiarity usually keeps his clientele coming back, as well as his tree's cost. Prices start at $39 for a 6-footer, and go up to $105.

"In the Christmas tree market," Rey said, "you really need to stay competitive and give someone a fair price for a quality tree."

Al Steyer, owner of the trees sold at Incarnation Catholic Church for the past 17 years, emphasized "water, water, water" is the key to keeping a healthy tree. He said trees that consistently have water will easily last the holiday season.

"We tell everybody you've got 10 to 12 weeks," Steyer said. "If you're at another lot and you see needles coming off already, walk away."

He said warm water may be a good idea for his tree's first drink after purchase because the warmth could help break down any sap crystallization within the tree, but cool water works after that.

Steyer said his prices start at $30 for 4- to 5-foot trees and go up to $200 for 14-footers. His best-sellers, 7- to 8-foot Frasers, sell for $59 to $79.

He estimates 85 percent of his sales come from repeat customers.

"Service and how people are treated is very important to me," Steyer said. "We don't play any games."

At the southeast corner of Sunset Lane and North Highway 41 in Lutz, Janet Scalise helps her son Frank Scalise run F&J Christmas Trees. The Fraser, Douglas, Noble and Grand firs and Blue spruces cost $8 to $12 per foot.

"What I enjoy the most is when children help pick out trees," said Scalise, who has helped F&J for 10 years. "We set up scenery for family pictures here."

F&J also has lots at the Van Dyke Road and Dale Mabry Highway intersection and Bearss Avenue and Livingston Avenue intersection.

All lot attendants said the weekends are by far the busiest time. "On the weekends we're a zoo," Steyer said, "day and night."

Parker said he needs more than 30 helpers to move trees on weekends, and parking can be tight. Parker, 67, has been in the business for 54 years and may be among the most passionate about what he does.

"This is what I'm in life for," he said. "There are other things better in life, but I do love this business."

AREA TREE LOTS

L&M Christmas Trees: Lake Magdalene United Methodist Church, 2902 W. Fletcher Ave., and Chamberlain High School, northwest corner of Busch Boulevard and North Boulevard

Dan Parker's Christmas Trees: southwest corner of Bearss Avenue and Lake Magdelene Boulevard

Mike's Christmas Trees: northwest lot at Westfield Citrus Park Mall

Green Thumb Nursery: 6913 Sheldon Road

Al's Christmas Trees: Incarnation Catholic Church, 5124 Gateway Drive

F&J Christmas Trees: Sunset Lane and North Highway 41, Van Dyke Road and Dale Mabry Highway, Bearss Avenue and Livingston Avenue

Tip Top Trees: Baylife Assembly of God Church, 6923 Sheldon Road

Other Locations

Gaither High School, 16200 Dale Mabry Highway

Ben Hill Middle School, 5200 Ehrlich Road

Waters Avenue and Manhattan Avenue intersection

Hillsborough Avenue and Hanley Road intersection

Ehrlich Road and Dale Mabry Highway intersection

Reporter Harold Valentine can be reached at (813) 865-1526 or hvalentine@tampatrib.com.

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