CLARKS GROVE — Although Budd’s Christmas Tree Farm is closed for the season, procrastinators need not worry.

Christmas trees are still for sale; just call the farm’s owner, Paul Budd.

Budd opened for the season the day before Thanksgiving. He was closed on Thanksgiving Day but reopened on Black Friday and has kept busy until earlier this week when he closed for the season.

It’s a schedule he’s kept since his first season selling Christmas trees on his 40-acre farm north of Albert Lea near Clarks Grove, back in 1983.

“A lot of people like the tradition and they’ve been doing it for many years,” Budd said. “We’ve seen the generations change. The younger kids are growing up and coming back now.”

The tradition of choosing and cutting your own tree down is exactly what Budd had in mind when the tree farm was originally designed and the first trees planted in 1977.

Customers drive through different sections planted with different varieties, across the 18 acres of trees, eyeing many holiday favorites, including white pines, Norway pines, blue spruce, balsam fir and white fir.

Each tree for sale is tagged with its own number and price. Prices are set based on the size and quality of the tree.

And, of course, while the uniqueness of the experience is cutting down your own Christmas tree, Budd can assist or take the tree down for those not interested in that part of the event.

Budd said he’s seen a big push in people switching from artificial to real trees over the years.

“A trend in the Christmas tree industry is short-needled varieties. Around the country, a lot of people are raising those,” Budd said. “I think the most popular trees are the short-needled or Scotch pine.”

To stay up with the trends takes much planning, as Budd pointed out, it takes 8 to 10 years to grow a tree large enough to sell.

“I think we have a good tree farm,” said Budd. “We make it accessible to people, keep it mowed and take the time to change the way we do things.”

Budd hopes the tradition can continue, as he’s turning 65 years of age soon.

“I’m getting older and I don’t have anybody interested in taking over at this point, but I’m still planting and maintaining things,” he said.

Budd will also maintain the hope that somebody will come along with interest in keeping the farm going.

“A lot of people have expressed they really like the tree farm and don’t want to see it go away,” he said.