Frequently Asked Questions

It’s really easy. You just walk around in the fresh mountain air until you see the perfect one for your living room and cut it down. If you need help finding it, cutting it, carrying it, putting it in or on top of your car, we can do all of that for you. Your job is to have fun.

We discourage that because tagging a tree makes it more attractive to other shoppers, some of whom will move the tag and take your tree. There is no way we can guard a tree in the field but if you cut it and bring it to the barn we can keep it safe and fresh for you until you return.

We grow mostly Monterey Pine, Douglas Fir, Sierra Redwoods, and two Cypress varieties. The pines are the long needle ones that smell really good. The short needle Douglas Fir are the traditional trees that have been popular in the West for generations. Redwoods are slightly blueish in color and grow so perfectly shaped.

Those are the California Red Fir, known as the “Silvertip”. Like the White Fir, Noble Fir, Fraser Fir and the many other “True Firs”, they don’t thrive in this climate but we sometimes have a few from Northern California.

Some prices are discounted $5 on weekdays! We also pay the sales tax for anyone paying cash. We happily accept competitors’ discount coupons up to $5 or 10%. Finally, if you are willing to drive further into the mountains and compromise on the quality we will be happy to direct you to farms with lower prices.

A typical seven-foot tree is usually 6 to 10 years old. Some species grow faster and the time depends greatly on how well the trees are cared for.

Four really good reasons:

1. Wood chips keep the weeds down and eliminate the need for herbicide
2. That thick organic “blanket” holds moisture in the soil during late summer
3. The decaying wood chips replenish the soil with nutrients
4. It makes a great place to kneel down when you cut your tree.

Weeds cause two major problems, (1) they steal the moisture and nutrients that healthy trees need, and (2) that is where the bugs live. If you don’t want ticks, bugs, and spiders in your tree, better find a farm with no weeds.

We ask everyone to cut on the color spot, leaving least 5 or 6 branches on the stump. That is enough to keep the stump alive so that it can grow a new tree in a few years. Some of these stumps have produced as many as 7 trees and are still prospering.

Our insurance will not permit chainsaws but we have plenty of saws for you to use. We also have lots of helpers to cut your tree and carry it down the hill for you.

No, just check the website for business hours & ignore Yelp, Google, and other websites that often publish incorrect hours. 

Just send an email to Kelley at kelley.patchen@gmail.com (quicker & easier than phone) explaining what you lost and where you think it might be, and we will send someone out to look for it.

Yes!  we can deliver to most locations in the bay area.  Pricing varies depending on where we will deliver and the size of the tree(s) you want delivered.  You can find further information on the tree page: Click Here

Santa frequently makes a stop at Patchen Farms on the weekends. It's always a good idea to check our calendar for his schedule.

Yes, well behaved and leashed dogs are welcome at Patchen Farms.

Yes, we work with photographers to provide an ideal environment to provide photo sessions for their clients.  Please visit the Professional Photography page for more information: Click Here

We encourage cash, but we also accept credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, and old fashioned checks.

The Pumpkin Patch doesn't have a traditional Admission Fee. Instead, upon entry, each car purchases a $20 Pumpkin Pass which is good for $20 toward your pumpkin purchase!