As Christmas tree growers and sellers around Hall County begin to close up shop for the season, many reflect on what were some of their best sales in years.

Andy Kinsey said The Kinsey Family Farm in Gainesville “had a really great season” selling approximately 10 varieties of Christmas trees that buyers can cut themselves or purchase precut.

“Our sales this year were better than they have ever been,” he said. “We’ve had a steady increase in our sales over the years, and it’s been an outstanding season. Lots of families, lots of smiles and lots of pictures.”

Kinsey credits the “experience” of buying a tree from his farm for the increasing popularity.

Along with tree picking, visitors can feed animals at the barn, roast marshmallows at a bonfire and ride a wagon on farm grounds.

“We have a very community and family feel. A lot of people have made coming to the farm a tradition, and we always have couples getting engaged here every year,” Kinsey said.

The farm also offers a unique alternative to the traditional Christmas spruce or fir with the ball-and-burlap tree, which is dug up with a spade to keep the root ball on the tree, wrapped in burlap and can be replanted after the Christmas season. Kinsey said he sold around 100 ball-and-burlap trees this year.

Cooper’s Tree Farm in Braselton also saw a steady stream of trees sold since it began its selling season on Thanksgiving Day.

“This season went really well,” said owner Kathy Cooper. “It was about the same as it was the past couple of seasons, mainly because about two or three years ago we saw a jump after several tree farms went out of business, but it’s been really good since then.”

Although the farm will be closing soon for Christmas, Cooper said her cellphone number is posted at the farm for any last-minute, tree-related emergencies.

The Home Depot off Dawsonville Highway said there was a 20 to 30 percent increase in this year’s sales of live trees.

The demand for artificial trees was also on the rise, with approximately 95 percent of its stock sold.

Also, the store said a wider variety of trees were bought this year, including many higher-priced trees.