Best Christmas Tree Farms Milwaukee 2025 Guide

Finding the perfect Christmas tree in Milwaukee has never been easier. Whether you want the full family experience of cutting your own tree or the convenience of pre-cut options, the Milwaukee metro area offers dozens of excellent choices from local farms to specialty lots.

The bottom line: Milwaukee-area families can choose from over 15 cut-your-own tree farms and numerous retail vendors, with Wisconsin-grown trees offering superior freshness compared to shipped alternatives. Most farms open the day after Thanksgiving and operate through mid-December, with peak selection available in early December.

Cut your own Christmas tree farms

The Milwaukee area boasts exceptional tree farms where families can create lasting memories while supporting local agriculture. These farms typically open the Friday after Thanksgiving and offer the freshest trees available.

Franklin: Buffalo Bill's Christmas Trees

9612 W Oakwood Rd, Franklin, WI 53132 | (414) 427-5155
Website: buffalobillsfarm.com

This 60-acre farm offers the complete holiday experience just 20 minutes south of Milwaukee. Buffalo Bill's provides eight tree varieties including Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, and Colorado Blue Spruce, with both cut-your-own and pre-cut options available.

Special activities include free hot chocolate, cookies, campfires, Santa visits, face painting, and pine cone crafts. Weather permitting, families can enjoy sledding on the property's rolling hills. The farm provides hand saws, free tree shaking and baling, and welcomes leashed pets.

Hours: Friday-Sunday 9:30am-5pm, Tuesday-Thursday 3pm-5pm

Cedarburg: Stumpf's Tree Farm

340 Horns Corners Rd, Cedarburg, WI 53012 | (262) 375-6351
Website: ucuttrees.com

Located 25 miles north of Milwaukee, Stumpf's operates with simple flat-rate pricing: $85 for any tree, any size up to 8 feet. This family farm specializes in spruces and pines, offering six varieties including Colorado Blue Spruce and Black Hills Spruce.

The farm provides saws, tarps, free tree shaking, and baling services. Note that they accept cash or check only and don't grow fir trees.

Hours: Friday-Sunday 9am-4:30pm (day after Thanksgiving through December 15)

Waukesha: Cozy Nook Farm

S11W30780 Summit Avenue, Waukesha, WI 53188 | (262) 968-2573
Website: cozynookfarms.com

Cozy Nook specializes in premium fir varieties with pre-cut trees ranging from 4-foot tabletops to 16-foot giants. Their Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, and Canaan Fir trees are known for excellent needle retention and superior fragrance.

Advanced reservations are recommended for trees over 10 feet, and trees typically sell out by mid-December due to high demand for their quality selection.

Hours: Daily 9am-7:30pm (Friday after Thanksgiving onwards)

Burlington: Valley View Tree Farm

W798 Valley View Rd, Burlington, WI 53105 | (262) 534-7234
Website: valleyviewtreefarmwi.com

This 40-mile drive from Milwaukee rewards families with over 5,000 trees and per-foot pricing ($8-12 depending on species). Valley View offers eight tree varieties with Fraser Fir and Balsam Fir commanding premium prices at $12 per foot.

Family amenities include complimentary hot chocolate, a gift shop, chicken feeding for kids, potential sledding, and indoor restrooms. The farm accepts credit cards and welcomes leashed pets.

Hours: Daily 10am-4pm (Saturday before Thanksgiving through mid-December)

Mequon: Trees for Less Nursery

11550 N Wasaukee Rd, Mequon, WI 53097 | (262) 242-7522
Website: treesforless.com

This 100-acre family operation offers both cut-your-own Balsam Fir and pre-cut Fraser Fir options. Weekend visitors enjoy pictures with Santa, hayrides, hot cocoa, snacks, and bonfires—all included with tree purchase.

The nursery provides free tree netting, loading assistance, and photography session opportunities in a scenic farm setting.

Distance: 20 miles north of Milwaukee

Pre-cut Christmas tree vendors

For families seeking convenience without sacrificing freshness, Milwaukee's retail vendors offer excellent pre-cut options from local farms and quality regional suppliers.

Specialty tree lots

Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Lot operates as a unique pop-up experience at Milwaukee Public Market (corner of St. Paul and Broadway). This whimsical vendor offers wild-harvested Balsam Firs from Northern Wisconsin, including both "Charlie Brown-style" character trees and fuller options.

Operating dates: November 30, December 7, December 14 (2024) from 10am-2pm with limited quantities.

Griswold Family Christmas Tree Company sets up at 6751 W. National Ave., West Allis (at Ope! Brewing) offering locally grown, freshly cut trees and handmade wreaths. Weekend holiday markets feature local vendors, hot drinks, and Griswold-themed merchandise in a dog-friendly environment.

Garden centers and nurseries

Minor's Garden Center (7777 N. 76th St., Milwaukee) has served as Wisconsin's most complete nursery for decades, offering extensive Christmas tree selections alongside their year-round plant expertise.

Bayside Garden Center (400 E. Brown Deer Rd.) provides delivery service throughout the Milwaukee area and maintains greenhouse operations year-round for additional seasonal plants and decorations.

Custom Grown Greenhouse (4500 block of South 6th Street) serves Milwaukee's South Side Gateway community with locally-focused tree and wreath selections from their community-centered operation.

Big box and chain options

Major retailers provide convenient locations and competitive pricing throughout the metro area. Home Depot and Lowe's offer fresh-cut trees with services like free shipping on qualified orders and price matching guarantees.

Target, Walmart, Costco, and Menards stock trees during peak season with Costco requiring membership but offering competitive bulk pricing. Menards serves multiple Milwaukee-area locations with extended seasonal availability.

Tree selection and care guide

Wisconsin-grown Christmas trees offer significant freshness advantages over shipped alternatives, which may have been cut in fall and transported across the country.

Choosing the freshest tree

Test for freshness by running your hand along branch ends toward yourself—needles should remain firmly attached and flexible. Fresh trunks feel sticky from sap, and bouncing the tree trunk should release minimal needles.

Fir varieties offer superior performance for indoor display. Fraser Fir provides excellent needle retention with sturdy branches perfect for heavy ornaments. Balsam Fir delivers the most aromatic experience with soft, family-safe needles. Canaan Fir combines Fraser's durability with Balsam's fragrance.

Pine options like White Pine and Scotch Pine offer good needle retention, though Scotch Pine maintains needles even when dry. Avoid spruce varieties for extended indoor display due to poor needle retention and sharp needles.

Proper tree care

Water management proves critical for tree longevity. Make a fresh 1-2 inch perpendicular cut within two hours of setup, and use stands holding minimum one gallon of water. Check daily and maintain water levels above the trunk base—trees can absorb up to one gallon daily initially.

Safety requirements include positioning trees minimum three feet from heat sources, using only UL-listed lights, and checking electrical connections regularly. Well-watered trees resist ignition, but dried trees present significant fire hazards.

With proper care, fir trees last 3-4 weeks indoors, making them ideal for families who set up early in December.

Seasonal timing and availability

Milwaukee-area Christmas tree farms typically open the Friday after Thanksgiving (November 29, 2024) and operate through December 22-24. Best selection occurs during the first two weeks of December, with some popular farms selling out by mid-December.

Wisconsin's cold climate benefits tree freshness during transport and storage, while local growing means trees cut days rather than weeks before purchase. Most Wisconsin farms cut pre-cut inventory around November 15th, ensuring superior freshness compared to shipped alternatives.

Geographic coverage by area

Milwaukee County features Buffalo Bill's (Franklin) and various seasonal lots in West Allis and South Milwaukee. Ozaukee County offers Trees for Less (Mequon) and Stumpf's (Cedarburg) within 30 minutes of downtown.

Waukesha County provides multiple options including Cozy Nook Farm and Muskego Choose & Cut, while Washington County adds Meadowbrook Farm and Christmas on Indian Lore in the West Bend area.

Racine County contributes Borzynski's Farm & Floral Market and Milaeger's renowned garden center, extending choices for southern metro residents.

Milwaukee families enjoy exceptional Christmas tree options supporting local Wisconsin agriculture while ensuring superior freshness. Whether seeking the full farm experience of cutting your own tree or the convenience of pre-cut selections, the metro area provides choices for every preference and budget.

Start planning early as the best farms and lots sell premium trees quickly, especially Fraser Fir and other premium varieties. With proper selection and care, Wisconsin-grown Christmas trees deliver 3-4 weeks of holiday beauty while supporting local farm families who've been perfecting their craft for generations.