Nature's Best Christmas Tree Farm
Email: naturesbesttrees@gmail.com
Phone: 815-505-3377
Cut Your Own Christmas Trees
Thanksgiving Weekend Friday, Saturday, Sunday – 8 AM to 4:30 PM
Saturday, Sunday December 7 and 8 – 8 AM to 4:30 PM
All leashed, friendly dogs are welcome. Please be sure to keep your furry friend under control at all times and clean up after them
Christmas Trees
All trees are $12 per foot. -- Cash Only Please We measure your Christmas tree from the base to the first set of branches down from the top (the upper whorl) not to the tip of the leader. The reason? To give you height allowance to trim the leader for your star or angel and to trim in case your tree is too tall and we do indeed have trees up to 16' tall (depending on variety)! All Christmas trees receive a complimentary fresh cut, bailing/net-wrapping and loading on to your car.
Honey
Nature’s Best Apiaries offers the finest raw, unpasteurized wildflower honey gathered from its hives situated in Boone county. On-site at the farm, we have a self-serve honey barn offering honey in sizes from one pound to seven pounds in either glass or plastic containers, and honeycomb (available starting in July / August). Please call ahead for larger quantities.
About Us —
Saturday, Sunday December 7 and 8 – 8 AM to 4:30 PM
Cash Only Please, All Trees $12 per Foot
Call 815-505-3377 naturesbesttrees@gmail.com
Welcome to Nature’s Best Christmas Tree Farm, located on 15 rolling acres in Boone County, northern Illinois. We’re just far enough from the city to offer a true country experience, yet close enough to Chicago and its suburbs for easy access. Our farm is tucked away at the end of a peaceful half-mile road, making it the perfect spot to begin your holiday season.
Choosing your family’s Christmas tree at Nature’s Best is a cherished tradition for many. With over 30 years of experience, we take pride in offering the finest trees, grown with the care and expertise that only seasoned tree farmers can provide. Each tree is nurtured with diligence, ensuring they meet the highest standards of quality and beauty.
When you visit Nature’s Best, you’re not just picking a tree—you’re creating memories in a festive, fresh country atmosphere. We proudly sell only trees we’d display in our own home, ensuring every customer leaves with something truly special.
Merry Christmas from the Kiene family and all of us at Nature’s Best Christmas Tree Farm!
Our Process
If you have never been to Nature’s Best Christmas Trees cut-your-own Christmas tree farm, here is the process to which you can look forward. Our trees are priced at $12 per foot. We measure our Christmas trees from the base after you cut your tree to the top of the upper whorl (the first set of branches down from top), not to the tip of the leader. You decide which size best fits your needs (see “Types of Trees” under “Products” tab). We give you a measuring pole if you’d like and you set out at your own leisure to choose the perfect tree. Nature’s Best Christmas Trees has bow saws available for you to cut your own tree or if you like, one of our helpful staff members will cut your tree. Either you or our staff member will haul it to the baler, which compacts the tree limbs with netting. Nature’s Best Christmas Trees cut-your-own Christmas tree farm offers this service at no charge to avoid tree damage and make it easier to transport and set up in the tree stand at home. Lastly, our helpful staff will load or tie it to your vehicle (if inclined, you may tip the young man!). You may wish to bring an old blanket, soft rug or a sheet of plastic to place underneath the tree over the roof of your car to protect the paint and finish.
TYPES OF TREES
At Nature's Best Trees (and bees!) we offer a select variety of the finest evergreens. We invite you to learn more about these popular varieties or to investigate the history of the Christmas Tree. Information is care of the Illinois Christmas Tree Association and the National Christmas Tree Association. All fir, spruce and white pine trees are $12 per foot.
Fraser Fir
The Fraser Fir has classic looks, featuring short, soft, dark-green needles with silver undersides revealed by upturning branches. Its lush dense foliage, strong branches capable of carrying heavy ornaments, fragrance, shape make it one of the most popular trees on our Farm. Another important consideration which makes it one of the best Christmas trees is its ability to retain its soft needles for a long time after harvest. This variety suffers from spelling errors as it is one of the most commonly misspelled: Frazer Fir, Frasier Fir, Fraser Fur, etc.
Canaan Fir
The Canaan (pronounced "Ka-naan", with emphasis on the last syllable) combines the beauty of the Fraser, and the sweet and spicy fragrance of the Balsam. The needles are short, soft, and rounded with a dark green topside and a silver accent underneath. The Canaan is a slightly tapered, but full tree. The branches are thick and sturdy, but still leave enough room to hang ornaments and lights closer to the center of the tree. Just like the Fraser Fir, the Canaan Fir will easily last from Thanksgiving through New Years.
Concolor Fir
The Concolor Fir (or White Fir) is somewhat similar in general appearance to the Colorado Blue Spruce, meaning it is a very attractive tree with a medium greenish blue color, although the needle structure is different. They are fast growing, can grow as high as 150 feet and live over 300 years. As a Christmas tree, Concolor fir has good greenish blue foliage color, soft needles, a pleasing natural shape and and excellent needle retention. The strong citrus and somewhat soapy scent is unique to this tree.
Limited Quantities of the Following Trees
Douglas Fir
The Douglas Fir established itself as the primary Christmas Tree in the US early in the 20th century, and are still widely used as Christmas trees. Today they are almost universally harvested from tree farms, and not from the wild. They grow rapidly, and can reach heights of over 200 feet during a lifespan which can surpass 1,000 years. Douglas Fir feature soft gray-green to blue-green needles, which carry a very pleasant citrus/lemon-orange aroma when cut or crushed.
Black Hills Spruce
The Black Hills Spruce is a slow-growing, compact tree, but that slow growth results in dense growth. Its short, bright bluish green needles and a dense, conical shape make it an ideal Christmas tree. Although named after the South Dakota region in which it is naturally found, Black Hills Spruce actually thrive in a much wider range of cooler, moist regions, including some southern states if planted at a higher elevation.
Norway Spruce
The Norway Spruce is a fast growing, dark-green spruce with short needles. Its pleasant appearance makes it ideal as an ornamental, and it's growth rate is well-suited to applications such as windbreaks and privacy screens. Norways are the dominant evergreen in Europe, and although it is not native to the US, it is very commonly planted throughout the Northeast, Midwest and as far south as Tennessee. They can reach a jaw-dropping height of 200 feet, but most max out at an impressive 100 feet.
Eastern White Pine
Eastern White Pines are the kings of the Eastern forests and the tallest evergreen tree in North America. White Pine reach heights of up to 200 feet tall with a spread of up to 40 feet during a life span of easily 200 years. A fluffy looking Christmas tree with its long, soft blue-green 2 to 5 inch needles and excellent needle retention make it a popular tree. The tree has soft pliable branches and is friendly to young fingers however extremely heavy ornaments may pull the branches out of shape. It is also known as Northern White Pine or just White Pine.
CHOOSING & CARING FOR TREES
Want the best advice on taking care of your fresh tree from Nature's Best Christmas Trees? Here are some great tips when selecting and caring for a real Christmas tree:
Proper Footwear for Tree Shopping
Dress accordingly when shopping for a tree. Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes or boots for walking the beautiful acreage that Boone County has to offer.
Choosing the Right Tree
Select a tree that best fits your needs. Consider your ceiling height as well as the weight of your ornaments when determining the size and type of tree you choose. Remember that in the field, the sky is the ceiling, making trees appear smaller than they actually are.
How to Test a Tree for Freshness
Do a freshness test. Gently grasp a branch between your thumb and forefinger and pull it toward you. Very few needles should come off. An excessive amount of green needles shouldn’t fall to the ground. Some loss of interior brown, yellow or tan needles is normal as the previous year's growth is shedding.
Keeping Your Tree Hydrated Properly
Water, water, water ….. Always keep the tree stand filled with plain tap water. If the base dries out, resin will block water absorption, and the tree will need a new cut. No additives are necessary. Check water levels daily, especially in the first weeks.
Storing Your Tree Before Decorating
If you’re not going to decorate your tree right away, place it in a container of water and store the tree in a cool, shaded area, sheltered from the wind, such as in a garage.
Cutting to Aid Watering
Cut about ½ to 1 inch off the base before putting in tree stand. If you do not make a fresh cut, the tree base dries out, resin will form over the cut end plugging up its vascular system, the tree will not be able to absorb water and will dry out prematurely.
Protecting Your Tree from Heat
Keep your tree away from heat and draft sources like fireplaces, radiators and television sets. Be sure your light cords and connections are in good working order. Unplug lights before you go to bed or leave the house.
Recycling or Reusing Your Tree
Real Christmas trees are biodegradable, which means they can be easily reused or recycled for mulch and other purposes. Contact your county recycling office for information on their tree recycling program.
Honey Prices
Plastic Containers
Glass Containers
Nature's Best Christmas Trees is a family owned and operated tree and honey farm. We pride ourselves on producing only the best, fresh, natural products.
25°F / 10°F
28°F / 23°F
