Cut your own Christmas tree from Michigan’s national forests; permits available for $5

Create a unique memory or start a tradition: march into the woods with your family and cut down your own Christmas tree.

Michigan’s three national forests will soon all be open for Christmas tree cutting.

“Entering a local national forest to find that special tree is an experience that creates cherished family memories and stories,” said Randy Moore, chief of the USDA Forest Service. “It is through these experiences that people make important connections to the forest that can lead to a life of adventure and instill a commitment to stewardship.”

Trees can be harvested from the Hiawatha National Forest, Huron-Manistee National Forests and Ottawa National Forest. Permits to cut your own holiday conifer cost $5 each plus a $2.50 processing fee. Cutting is limited to three or five trees, depending on the forest.

Details of designated felling areas, dates and types of trees that may be felled can be found here for Hiawatha, here for Huron-Manistee And here for Ottawa.

Each year, more than 500 people purchase Christmas tree cutting permits specifically for the Huron-Manistee, said Deputy Forest Supervisor Sierra Dawkins.

“For families creating new traditions, a trip to the national forests to cut down their own Christmas tree can be an exciting experience as they discover the fun of walking through the woods in search of the perfect holiday centerpiece,” said them.

Cutting down a Christmas tree also helps the forest by thinning out dense stands of small-diameter trees, Dawkins said. Those that remain are then allowed to grow larger.

Those who decide to venture out should dress in warm, waterproof clothing and boots; clothing should be bright orange for safety during hunting seasons.

USFS officials also recommend using maps of areas where Christmas tree cutting is permitted, plus the interactive map from the MI Hunt app and the USFS Motor Vehicle Use Map. Map out your trip before you leave home.

Reserve a few hours for this. Inform someone outside your group of your plans, including where you are going and when you will return.

If you wait to find your tree until after a few hard frosts and persistent cold days, the evergreens may go into dormancy, which means they will last longer, according to the Forest Service.

Pack the following items:

• A hand saw or similar instrument to cut your tree.
• Pruning shears to cut low-hanging branches near the stump of the tree.
• Rope or cables to secure the tree to your vehicle.
• Food and water.
• A shovel and other winter equipment.
• A fully charged phone and charger.

The Forest Service also has advice on how to care for your tree once it’s home:

• Make a clean, straight cut across the trunk. (The initial cut can introduce air into the plant tissues, disrupting the tree’s ability to absorb water. Cutting the trunk again allows the tree to properly hydrate.)
• Place the tree in a cold environment (above freezing but below 45 degrees) in a bucket of water for at least 24 hours. The tree can absorb up to a liter of water in the first 24 hours.
• Consider turning down the thermostat and placing the tree in a shady spot so it can properly hydrate.
• At least 2 inches of the trunk should be submerged in fresh water at all times.

If you care for it properly, a freshly cut Christmas tree will last four to five weeks from the time it is cut, according to the Forest Service. If the needles begin to fall more frequently at night, that is a sign that it is time to remove them. Dry trees indoors pose a fire hazard.

Once the holidays are over, consider these uses for the tree:

• Save the branches for mulching garden beds
• Make kindling for backyard bonfires
• Use the wood for crafts and DIY projects
• Move it outside to create a bird sanctuary or wildlife habitat
• Compost it in the garden