November 19, 2025 • 6 mins
Jim Ryan talks with Mendte in the Morning about real Christmas trees making a comeback this holiday season.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
So when do you start looking for a Christmas tree?
Some people try to get it up for Thanksgiving. And
then the other question is are you an artificial tree person?
Do you have your tree right now in the attic
or down in the basement or do you like to
go out and get a real tree. Well, apparently real
trees are making a comeback, and for more on that,
(00:22):
let's go to Jim Ryan, ABC News correspondent in Dallas. Jim, So,
tell us about this. How do you know so far
that these trees are making a comeback?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Well, I mean, it's anecdotal at this point. And according
to the American Christmas Tree Association, which deals not with
natural trees but with artificial ones, eighty three percent of
the households planning to display a Christmas tree will choose
an artificial one. But you're looking at prices for those
trees that are going up about twenty percent on average.
(00:53):
A lot of it has to do with the tariffs
that have gone into effect. We know that eighty seven
percent to the Christmas decorations that we have in this
country have come from China, and of course the tariffs
that are in effect there are driving up the cost
of things coming from Asia. Artificial Christmas trees is about
a twenty percent increase. Just general Christmas decorations about thirty
(01:15):
percent higher this year than last.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Larry, what do you do artificial or real artificial?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
But as a kid, I remember very well, you know,
going out to the tree low down the street and
tying it to the car and bringing it on home
and decorating it. But I mean, I think for the
last decade or so, at least, according to this Christmas
Tree Association, people have been going toward artificial. First of all, Larry,
I think because they look really convincing these days.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Yep, yeah they do. But most people don't go and
get an The reason you get an artificial tree is
so you can have it year after year after year
after year after How old is yours?
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Oh gosh see six years now? By the way, when
it starts losing, when the lights that were on it
when we bought it, when they started going out, I
just string new lights around it. Right, it's kind of
a touch out and at some point all this give
up and buy a new one. But yeah, you can
keep it going for several years that.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Oh oh we lost them. That usually happens when they
plug in the tree, all the electricity goes out in
the house. Wasn't that in the Christmas.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
The vacation, Well yeah, that was the outside lights neighborhood.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Do you do we have.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
A real tree still.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
I've been fighting to do artificial, but nobody in my
family wants that.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
So, you know, artificials of pain in the neck. We
got artificial. Decided we weren't going to do this every
single year. We got artificial, and then you have to
unpack it, you have to put it back. Yeah, there
you go. We were just talking about artificial trees and
what a pain in the neck they can be. But
yours seems like you've been using it for years.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Well, yeah, they will last for a long time. Here's
a note, And of course, you know the price of
natural Christmas trees this year, it's been a pretty good
growing season in the places where they're growing. North Carolina
and Oregon are the top producers in this country, and
so the price will be about what it was last year.
Some growers are saying they'll be a little cheaper. You
know how you can get a tree either for free
(03:11):
or maybe first little as five dollars.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Go to your neighbor's house and chop it down.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Well, you can go to Recreation dot gov and apply
for a permit. Now, New York State doesn't have any
national forest where you can do this, but you can
go out to Green Mountain National Forest. You can go
over to White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. You
can actually cut down your own tree. You have to
be in a designated area. You have to have a permit,
but you can actually go cut one on a national forest.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
And they don't charge you.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
They do charge you, oh okay, charge you five bucks. Wow,
don't charge anything at all. So yeah, you may get
a little tiny charge, but that's about it.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
In the gas to New Hampshire.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
You know what I'm waiting for.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
I'm waiting for the crew for the house I can
have that has a Christmas room. I just shut it
down for the summer and then just open it back
up and everything's still there.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
God bless you for doing the artificial tree. And do
you have to put it back together every year?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Jim, Oh, yeah, but it's easier. It's easier every year.
You know, it's just three sections the base and then
you put the next one. It fits into it. The
electric is already connected and then the upper piece and.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Okay, yeah, it looks good. We're just lazy. Long the
problem is in our house, we're just lazy. We have
an artificial tree. It's down in the basement. We used
it one year. We don't want to put it back
together again. So we like to just call and have
a tree delivered and the guy puts it up for us.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
See. Now I didn't even know that was possible.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
I didn't know I could call somebody have the tree
delivered and they literally.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
Put it up in my house.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
See.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Now we go, you know, find the tree we want.
Everybody argues, I want this one, I want that one.
We finally settle on one one, the cheapest one. Oh exactly,
because you know what, once they're all decorated, you can't
tell the difference.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
I've learned that.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
And then when I get home, my husband puts it
up and I wait to decorate.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
So that's what we do.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
But can you do all the decorating?
Speaker 4 (05:08):
Usually by myself, because everybody that the spirit's gone and
they've all left to me.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Yeah, well, look, let me get back. I'm fascinated by
this chopping down your own tree. Is that become popular?
And do they are there certain trees you're allowed to
I'm certain there must be certain trees you're allowed to
chop down? Is that right? We lose him again?
Speaker 3 (05:32):
I think we did now I know.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
I think he's just sick of the conversation. He's a
news guy. You notice how I kept trying to steer
us back to the story.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
I know a lot of people who do go down
and chop chop their own trees down.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
I don't know if it's a national forest. I think
they're tree farms.
Speaker 4 (05:45):
But uh, if there's somebody's out there, has ever done it,
leave us a talk back?
Speaker 1 (05:51):
To charge you a lot?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
They do.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
I know what I'm saying that the National Forest is
five bucks.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
I'm shocked at this. I've never heard about it.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
You know, I'm cheap enough where I'll take a long
chopped out a tree. I'm saying that until I get
to the chopping park, and then I'll say that let's
just order one again. Is there a good restaurant nearby?
I would love to hear what your experience is with
Christmas trees and what you like to use. Please give
us a talk back. You go to the iHeartRadio app
(06:19):
look for seven to ten wor the talkback section and
then we will share all of the Christmas tree stories.
Want to make extra cash this holiday season, New York
City Sanitation Department will pay you to rat on illegal dumpsters.
And speaking of rats, have you seen many lately? Nope.
(06:41):
WRS Natalie Migliori gets the beat on the street next
So when do you start looking for a Christmas tree?
Some people try to get it up for Thanksgiving. And
then the other question is are you an artificial tree person?
Do you have your tree right now in the attic
or down in the basement or do you like to
go out and get a real tree. Well, apparently real
trees are making a comeback, and for more on that,
(00:22):
let's go to Jim Ryan, ABC News correspondent in Dallas. Jim, So,
tell us about this. How do you know so far
that these trees are making a comeback?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Well, I mean, it's anecdotal at this point. And according
to the American Christmas Tree Association, which deals not with
natural trees but with artificial ones, eighty three percent of
the households planning to display a Christmas tree will choose
an artificial one. But you're looking at prices for those
trees that are going up about twenty percent on average.
(00:53):
A lot of it has to do with the tariffs
that have gone into effect. We know that eighty seven
percent to the Christmas decorations that we have in this
country have come from China, and of course the tariffs
that are in effect there are driving up the cost
of things coming from Asia. Artificial Christmas trees is about
a twenty percent increase. Just general Christmas decorations about thirty
(01:15):
percent higher this year than last.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Larry, what do you do artificial or real artificial?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
But as a kid, I remember very well, you know,
going out to the tree low down the street and
tying it to the car and bringing it on home
and decorating it. But I mean, I think for the
last decade or so, at least, according to this Christmas
Tree Association, people have been going toward artificial. First of all, Larry,
I think because they look really convincing these days.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Yep, yeah they do. But most people don't go and
get an The reason you get an artificial tree is
so you can have it year after year after year
after year after How old is yours?
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Oh gosh see six years now? By the way, when
it starts losing, when the lights that were on it
when we bought it, when they started going out, I
just string new lights around it. Right, it's kind of
a touch out and at some point all this give
up and buy a new one. But yeah, you can
keep it going for several years that.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Oh oh we lost them. That usually happens when they
plug in the tree, all the electricity goes out in
the house. Wasn't that in the Christmas.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
The vacation, Well yeah, that was the outside lights neighborhood.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Do you do we have.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
A real tree still.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
I've been fighting to do artificial, but nobody in my
family wants that.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
So, you know, artificials of pain in the neck. We
got artificial. Decided we weren't going to do this every
single year. We got artificial, and then you have to
unpack it, you have to put it back. Yeah, there
you go. We were just talking about artificial trees and
what a pain in the neck they can be. But
yours seems like you've been using it for years.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Well, yeah, they will last for a long time. Here's
a note, And of course, you know the price of
natural Christmas trees this year, it's been a pretty good
growing season in the places where they're growing. North Carolina
and Oregon are the top producers in this country, and
so the price will be about what it was last year.
Some growers are saying they'll be a little cheaper. You
know how you can get a tree either for free
(03:11):
or maybe first little as five dollars.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Go to your neighbor's house and chop it down.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Well, you can go to Recreation dot gov and apply
for a permit. Now, New York State doesn't have any
national forest where you can do this, but you can
go out to Green Mountain National Forest. You can go
over to White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. You
can actually cut down your own tree. You have to
be in a designated area. You have to have a permit,
but you can actually go cut one on a national forest.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
And they don't charge you.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
They do charge you, oh okay, charge you five bucks. Wow,
don't charge anything at all. So yeah, you may get
a little tiny charge, but that's about it.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
In the gas to New Hampshire.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
You know what I'm waiting for.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
I'm waiting for the crew for the house I can
have that has a Christmas room. I just shut it
down for the summer and then just open it back
up and everything's still there.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
God bless you for doing the artificial tree. And do
you have to put it back together every year?
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Jim, Oh, yeah, but it's easier. It's easier every year.
You know, it's just three sections the base and then
you put the next one. It fits into it. The
electric is already connected and then the upper piece and.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Okay, yeah, it looks good. We're just lazy. Long the
problem is in our house, we're just lazy. We have
an artificial tree. It's down in the basement. We used
it one year. We don't want to put it back
together again. So we like to just call and have
a tree delivered and the guy puts it up for us.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
See. Now I didn't even know that was possible.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
I didn't know I could call somebody have the tree
delivered and they literally.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
Put it up in my house.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
See.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Now we go, you know, find the tree we want.
Everybody argues, I want this one, I want that one.
We finally settle on one one, the cheapest one. Oh exactly,
because you know what, once they're all decorated, you can't
tell the difference.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
I've learned that.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
And then when I get home, my husband puts it
up and I wait to decorate.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
So that's what we do.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
But can you do all the decorating?
Speaker 4 (05:08):
Usually by myself, because everybody that the spirit's gone and
they've all left to me.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Yeah, well, look, let me get back. I'm fascinated by
this chopping down your own tree. Is that become popular?
And do they are there certain trees you're allowed to
I'm certain there must be certain trees you're allowed to
chop down? Is that right? We lose him again?
Speaker 3 (05:32):
I think we did now I know.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
I think he's just sick of the conversation. He's a
news guy. You notice how I kept trying to steer
us back to the story.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
I know a lot of people who do go down
and chop chop their own trees down.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
I don't know if it's a national forest. I think
they're tree farms.
Speaker 4 (05:45):
But uh, if there's somebody's out there, has ever done it,
leave us a talk back?
Speaker 1 (05:51):
To charge you a lot?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
They do.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
I know what I'm saying that the National Forest is
five bucks.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
I'm shocked at this. I've never heard about it.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
You know, I'm cheap enough where I'll take a long
chopped out a tree. I'm saying that until I get
to the chopping park, and then I'll say that let's
just order one again. Is there a good restaurant nearby?
I would love to hear what your experience is with
Christmas trees and what you like to use. Please give
us a talk back. You go to the iHeartRadio app
(06:19):
look for seven to ten wor the talkback section and
then we will share all of the Christmas tree stories.
Want to make extra cash this holiday season, New York
City Sanitation Department will pay you to rat on illegal dumpsters.
And speaking of rats, have you seen many lately? Nope.
(06:41):
WRS Natalie Migliori gets the beat on the street next
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