Make it a real Michigan Christmas

Heidi Lindberg<wollaege@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension - December 04, 2025

Your local farm or retailer is ready to help you bring festive cheer to your home.

A display of porch pots made out of Christmas tree limbs and pine cones. — Photo 1. Beautiful porch pots ready for your front door. Photo by Heidi Lindberg, MSU Extension.

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and it is now December and time to decorate your home for the holiday season. Michigan tree farms and garden centers are humming with the holiday spirit to provide you with the holiday décor and shopping experience you are looking for.

Michigan is the third largest Christmas tree and poinsettia producer in the United States. The National Agriculture Statistics Service reports that Michigan produced 2.2 million poinsettia plants, totaling $8.7 million in sales. A 2020 marketing study found that the majority of consumers decorate both inside and outside their homes during the holidays. Forty-three percent purchased a tree, 41% purchased a wreath, 38% purchased garlands, 36% purchased centerpieces, and 28% purchased porch pots.

To decorate outside your home, some shoppers prefer the grab-and-go porch pot (Photo 1), while others prefer the DIY experience (Photos 2 and 3). Retailers have red twig-dogwood, holly, winterberry, birch stems and other floral products for sale to augment the pots.

Different kinds of greenery decorations on display at a garden retail center. — Photo 2. A range of greenery decorations. Photo by Heidi Lindberg, MSU Extension.

Different kinds of pinecone and stick decorations on display at a garden center. — Photo 3. A range of pinecone and stick decorations. Photo by Heidi Lindberg, MSU Extension.

While in the garden center, decorate your home with poinsettias (Photos 4 and 5), which now come in novel colors and patterns and make an excellent accent to your table or as a hostess gift.

Lots of different colored poinsettias in a greenhouse. — Photo 4. Poinsettias at a west Michigan retailer. Photo by Heidi Lindberg, MSU Extension.

An arrangement of potted poinsettias on a table. — Photo 5. Poinsettias at a west Michigan retailer. Photo by Heidi Lindberg, MSU Extension.

The Christmas tree is the focal point of most people’s holiday décor. Farms, tree lots and garden centers sell real trees that have been growing for between six and10 years (depending on the tree size). According to a survey by the Real Christmas Tree Board, 85% of respondents say the sight and smell of a real tree brings joy to their home for the holidays.

For those up for an adventure, choose-and-cut farms provide an experience to provide lasting memories. From horse-drawn wagon rides (Photo 6) to visits with Santa, choose-and-cut farms bring joy to families of all ages. For those that would prefer the easy route, pre-cut Christmas trees are easily chosen from many retailers.

A horse-drawn carriage at a Christmas tree farm. — Photo 6. Horse-drawn carriage ride to see Santa at a west Michigan Christmas tree farm. Photo by Heidi Lindberg, MSU Extension.

Whether you’re in the market for a table-top or small tree (Photo 7), or one to brush the ceiling, harvesting your tree will generate a story (Photo 8). While you’re at the tree farm, don’t forget the wreaths and swags (Photo 9), décor (Photo 10) and centerpieces (Photo 11) in the farm shop.

Support your local farm and retailer this holiday season and make it a real Michigan Christmas!

A young boy standing next to a small tabletop Christmas tree. — Photo 7. A tabletop or child-size Christmas tree at a Michigan tree farm. Photo by Heidi Lindberg, MSU Extension.

A man holding a saw, standing next to a cut down Christmas tree. — Photo 8. Bert Cregg, PhD, professor of horticulture and forestry at MSU, with his 2025 Christmas tree. Photo by Bert Cregg, MSU.

Wreaths and swags for sale at a garden center. — Photo 9. Wreaths and swags for sale at a tree farm. Photo by Bert Cregg, MSU.

Photo 10. Handcrafted reindeer décor. Photo by Bert Cregg, MSU.

Christmas centerpieces and décor on display at a garden center. — Photo 11. Centerpieces and décor for sale. Photo by Bert Cregg, MSU.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).