LIVERMORE, CA – NOVEMBER 26: Customers look for their favorite Christmas tree at Moore Christmas Trees lot in Livermore, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 

Prepare to open your wallet a little wider this year if you want a Christmas tree.

From supply chain problems to the effects of climate change and hiring challenges, it’s gotten harder and more costly for Christmas tree sellers to find product — and that means more sticker shock for buyers, too.

Oh, and here’s another warning: Don’t wait too long to bring yours home.

“The economic instability caused by COVID-19 and the impacts of extreme weather have affected all parts of the global and U.S. supply chain, and Christmas trees are no exception,” the American Christmas Tree Association warned recently. “These challenges mean that there will be fewer live and artificial Christmas trees available this year, and those that are available will cost more than before.”

A June triple-digit heatwave in Oregon, where many West Coast sellers buy from, damaged some trees — especially popular Noble firs, which bud late and had fragile new foliage that turned brown and dry under the intense sun. According to researchers at Oregon State University, the ongoing drought also made things worse — with low soil moisture contributing to a “perfect storm.”

In Canada, the world’s leading tree exporter, a recent atmospheric river in British Columbia left some tree farms flooded and roads shuttered. And in California, wildfires wreaked havoc on some fan favorites.

According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture survey of Oregon tree growers, the cost of live trees has nearly doubled since 2015 and the number of acres devoted to trees was down 24%. That, the tree association said, has forced retail prices up as much as 20-30% from last year. On average, live trees are selling for a little under $80 and artificial trees for slightly more than $100, although prices can be significantly higher in the Bay Area.

Still, that wasn’t stopping many families from carrying out a longstanding tradition of heading out the day after Thanksgiving to find the perfect tree.

“We were going to get one anyway,” said Margie Sanchez of San Jose, who was picking out a 7-to-8 foot Douglas fir at ABC Tree Farms on Blossom Hill Road in South San Jose on Friday with her husband, their daughter and her boyfriend.

Jose Tuyub of ABC Tree Farms, left, shows the Sanchez family, from left, Tony, his wife, Margie, their daughter, Jessica and her boyfriend, Christopher Thornton, a possible Christmas tree to purchase at ABC Tree Farms on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) 

“The tree is central,” she said of their holiday traditions. “It’s all about family — especially with COVID.”

They opted to have their tree flocked with white powder to look like snow again — bringing the total bill to $196, a bit higher than last year.

“It’s a little more,” Sanchez said. “But if the four of us go out to a nice restaurant, we’d probably spend that and it’s over and done with after an hour or two.”

SAN JOSE, CA – November 26: Jessica Sanchez shows her family’s Christmas tree from last year. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) 

Business was bustling at Moore Christmas Trees in Livermore, too.

“We’re busy,” said owner Johnny Moore. “Really busy.”

But the season has come with its challenges, and he’s had to raise prices “just a little bit to cover some costs.”

“Trucking has been a nightmare,” Moore said, which has made getting trees from Oregon and Washington more difficult. And “fire burned up a lot of Silvertips,” which grow high in the Sierra Nevada.

Tim Williams of Livermore and his family have previously bought trees as tall as 13 feet from Moore’s place to fill their soaring vaulted ceilings. But they opted for an 11-foot Noble fir this year, which still came in around $400.

“It’s totally understandable,” Williams said of the hike. “We just scaled back a little” on the size.

LIVERMORE, CA – NOVEMBER 26: Tim Williams, center, of Livermore, followed by his daughters Morgan, 19, left, and Lindsay, 17, pulls their Christmas tree they chose to buy at Moore Christmas Trees lot in Livermore, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 

Anthony Stoloski, who owns and operates Ski Lane Tree Farm in Half Moon Bay with his wife, Amanda, is facing the same issues.

Trucking costs, he said, have almost doubled, and he’s heard from other sellers that they’re having trouble finding enough seasonal workers.

The Moss Beach resident has been lucky on the labor front — and able to rely on his tight-knit community for help. On Friday, Stoloski’s young sons, Jameson and Blake, 4 and 7, were helping their dad haul small trees around the lot, with plenty of extended family and friends on hand for heavier lifting.

Still, they’ve had to raise prices slightly, with trees ranging from about $40-$200 depending on their type and height.

“We always used to have a $20 tree,” Stoloski said, “but we don’t anymore.”

Marianne Mendez and Pam Grandpre weren’t deterred Friday morning as they scoped out their options.

“People have to make a decent living,” Mendez said.

And, Stoloski pointed out, seemingly everything has increased.

“It cost you more to drive here” this year, he said.

Some families are opting for artificial trees — which can offer not only convenience but significant cost savings since they can be used for a decade or more.

Mac Harman is the founder and CEO of Balsam Hill, a Redwood City-based company that sells artificial trees and decor all over the country. And while it’s too early to tell whether more people are flocking to artificial trees this year, which in the Bay Area can range from less than $100 to well over $1,000, because of sticker shock at the real thing, he thinks it’s a definite possibility.

“I’m sure that in a market where you can’t find the real tree you’re looking for, we’re likely to be a lucky recipient of that consumer’s business,” he said.

But he’s also had to raise prices about 20%. It’s costing Balsam Hill 300% more to bring items in from overseas, including millions of dollars in fines for picking up containers late because they can’t find enough truckers or truck chassis to get them on time.

Still, Harman said, costs aren’t likely to decline anytime soon. He’s already put in orders for Christmas ’22.

“It’s looking,” he said, “like this year is going to be less expensive for consumers than next year.”

LIVERMORE, CA – NOVEMBER 26: Freddie Batarao, of Livermore, loads his family’s Christmas tree atop his SUV after they bought it at Moore Christmas Trees lot in Livermore, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
LIVERMORE, CA – NOVEMBER 26: Moore Christmas Trees worker Mauro Tapia, left, pushes a cart with a Christmas tree for customer Kristen Wong, of Pleasanton, after she bought it at Moore Christmas Trees lot in Livermore, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
LIVERMORE, CA – NOVEMBER 26: A Moore Christmas Trees worker loads Christmas trees atop vehicles at Moore Christmas Trees lot in Livermore, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
LIVERMORE, CA – NOVEMBER 26: Piles of Christmas trees sit at Moore Christmas Trees lot in Livermore, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 

Staff photographers Ray Chavez and Dai Sugano contributed reporting.