The tree was great. Now it’s dropping needles into the heater vent. In San Diego, getting rid of a real tree is free, easy and done by mid-January. Here’s how, whether you live in the city or elsewhere in the county.

San Diego’s most iconic Christmas trees for 2026: the Hotel del’s 1904 history, Little Italy’s glass-art tree, Liberty Station’s 88-foot pine and OB’s crooked beach tree. Plus tree lighting dates.