Itâs a likely side effect of people stuck at home and looking for joy during the holidays, but Christmas trees are quickly disappearing from local lots. Vendors in Columbia document a rush on trees and say they are having a hard time meeting demand. The Downtown Optimist Club sold 1,250 trees in just 13 days at its tree lot off Business Loop 70, said spokesperson Ed Musterman. âWe usually sell out, but not this early,â he said. The last trees left the lot last Wednesday. A drive around town determined that it was still possible to find a few trees at a few spots, including Loweâs and The Home Depot.