About Christmas Tree Farms
The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree is one of the most popular holiday traditions. Lights and tinsel are strung around the tree and ornaments, candy canes and other items are hung on the branches. Although many people are switching to artificial trees for holiday decorating, it's hard to resist the beauty and fragrant pine smell of naturally grown evergreen trees. Christmas tree farms are designed to grow these trees to be cut and sold to tree lots, stores or right on the Christmas tree farm, which makes these trees more accessible to the public.
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History
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Christmas tree farms have only been in use since 1901 when the first Christmas tree farm was established in Trenton, N.J. Before that, most people went to the forests to cut down a tree for the holidays. Since then, many Christmas tree farms have popped up around the world. There was a boom of them after World War II and the number of farms continued to increase until the 1980s when the number of trees grown and harvested for Christmas far outnumbered the demand for them. Prices for individual trees plummeted. Artificial trees also became more popular, and now more and more people are opting for them instead of natural trees. However, there is still a demand for natural trees for Christmas and 98 percent of them are grown on farms.
Function
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Christmas tree farms grow different types of trees for the holiday season. Trees are sown from seed and take anywhere from eight to 12 years to reach a height of about 7 feet. The trees are then cut and transported to tree lots, stores or other places to be sold. Many tree farms also let shoppers cut down their own trees. These Christmas tree farms might also offer other features, such as sleigh rides, caroling, boutiques and hot cider to make Christmas tree shopping a fun experience for the whole family.
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Types
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Evergreens are traditionally used for Christmas decorating. These trees have a history of symbolic, as well as practical, uses. Many different types are grown on the Christmas tree farms and everyone has his own holiday favorite. Some people like the popular Scotch pine tree for its open appearance, long lasting needles and stiff branches. The Douglas-fir is another favorite, with its traditional conical shape and strong fragrance. The Noble fir has stiff branches, which are good for heavy ornaments, and a nice bluish-green coloring. The branches are used for holiday wreaths and garlands.
Benefits
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While many people enjoy heading up into the mountains to chop down a tree for Christmas, other people would like to have a fresh tree without having to cut it themselves. Christmas tree farms allow shoppers to search from a variety of trees in a small area. Having natural Christmas trees are also good for the environment. When the season is over, used Christmas trees can be made into mulch and new trees are planted in their stead. Artificial trees, even though they can be used for many years, often end up in the landfills at the end of their use.
Considerations
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With a little land, you could even start your own farm. Farm sizes range from less than an acre to more than 1,000 acres. It's important to choose evergreens that will thrive in your area and prepare a site that has well-drained soil. Take into consideration all the costs involved in starting a Christmas tree farm, including land purchase (if you don't already have land), tractors, equipment to plant and harvest your trees, fertilizers and pesticides, as well as any outbuildings or other equipment. You will also need to buy the tree seedlings, which you can purchase from special nurseries or online. Remember that it will take six to 12 years for the trees to mature, so it will take at least that long before you see any profit. There also could be crop failures that could delay profits. However, with proper budgeting, marketing, management and tree care, your tree farm could yield profits and satisfaction. You might decide to have only a small acre of land with evergreens, or you could design a full-scale tree farm, complete with cut-your-own trees, sleigh rides, activities and maybe even a Christmas boutique.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Daniel Moore
