Milwaukee-area Christmas tree farms selling out of trees

MUSKEGO, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Families who want real Christmas trees for their homes this holiday season need to act fast. Some Christmas tree farms in the Milwaukee area have already sold out completely for the season.

The owners of Muskego Choose & Cut Christmas Trees say their selection is getting slimmer and slimmer. Customers can cut down their own trees or select the perfect pre-cut trees.

For more than 30 years, the Muskego tree farm has been a family business. Brother-sister duo Pat Bartz and Liesel Oechsner brought in their own kids to help with the demand.

"Extremely busy. The first weekend was probably the busiest three day weekend we've ever had," Bartz said.

"Everybody's excited to be out, to be getting a tree, just doing something that feels normal," Oechsner said.

With so many people staying home for the holidays, the farm is running out of trees fast.

"Typically a tree will take 7, 8, 9 years to grow, and if you go back those years, there weren't quite as many growers and a few less trees were planted years ago," Bartz said.

He said they will have enough supply to get through this weekend and possibly next weekend as well.

Chris Green and his daughter, Scarlett, chose to come to the Muskego farm because they wanted to cut down their own.

"It is messier than the fake ones, but I think it's just the tradition that sells you," Green said.

CBS 58 asked him what makes it the perfect tree for them.

"I think it's really the person. Last year, we picked out an ugly one. It sold us just on its looks. Kind of has to speak to you," Green said.

"It has cool with different colors, like dark and light green," Scarlett said.

Customers all agreed that there's just something about having a real tree.

"We were here last year looking for a tree and we got the Fraser fir, which we'd never had before, and we loved it. We loved the smell and the way you could stick your hands in the tree and not get pricked," said Karen Schaefer from Waukesha.