The folks at Smith’s Trees have been growing trees in their picturesque Shorthills location since 1962.

Like many other enterprises, Smith’s started growing Christmas trees by accident. Jim Smith, the founder, has been planting trees since he was about 10 years old. The initial tree planting was done as reforestation of a hillside that was too steep to farm. The popular tree for reforestation at the time was Scotch pine. These trees were very fast growing and did not have high soil requirements. Just after planting these trees, it became obvious (based on earlier plantings by others throughout the province) that Scotch pine was not a suitable tree for reforestation. The trees would never make saw-log timber.

In order to salvage something from his work and to clear the way for native trees with a potential future value, Jim decided to try and produce Christmas trees from the seedlings.

After many years of backbreaking trimming, weeding, and spraying on the steep hillsides, the original planting was successfully harvested as “Cut-Them-Yourself” Christmas trees. The most significant part of this phase was that Jim found that the growing of Christmas trees was “in his blood”.

The planting was continued, but this time it was on the level land to make things easier on Jim. The varieties were expanded to give the customers better quality and selection.

Over the years the varieties, procedures, and management techniques have steadily improved. Today, Smith’s Trees produces several varieties of high quality trees to add one of the traditional highlights to the Christmas season. In this era of rapid change and synthetic experiences, it is very important to keep some tradition in the season—something “real” that you can do yourself.

Tree harvesting at Smith’s has been a tradition in many families for 30 years, and the owners hope to remain a tradition for even more families in the years ahead. Smith’s Trees open on the last Saturday in November, and remain open until the year’s trees are sold out – which is often well before Christmas!

Click to play or download Smiths' Trees TripClip (mp3 format)

This destination is also part of the TripClip tour 'Touring the Twelve.'

Hours of operation

Open every year beginning on the last Saturday in November.

From that date until Christmas, they are open from 9 a.m. until dark on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays - while supplies last.

Directions

From Fonthill / Pelham
North on Pelham St. / Hollow Road 5 km

Left on Orchard Hill Rd.

From St. Catharines / Thorold
406 South (towards Welland)
Exit on Beaverdams Road (#67)
Right onto Beaverdams Road West
Left onto Merritville Highway (#50)
Right at Speedway (Holland Road)
Left at St. Johns Outdoor Studies Centre (Hollow Road)
Right at bottom of hill (Orchard Hill Road)
 
From Niagara Falls
West on Highway 20 to downtown Fonthill
Right at traffic lights (Pelham St.)
5 km to Orchard Hill Rd.