Growing Christmas Trees: A Weather-Dependent Affair
What You Need To Know
- Christmas trees do well in moderate weather
- Trees are more susceptible to drought early on
- Harmful fungi grow in very wet conditions
- Tree farmers may have to adjust their practices as climate changes
Farmers grow Christmas trees in all 50 states. Unlike most crops, they’re not planted and harvested all in one season. It takes years for a tree to become ready, which can help fend off the problems of damaging weather.
Growing Trees
Christmas trees are often spruces, pines, or firs. Not surprisingly, farmers grow them in places where the climate allows them to have their best chance at becoming mature.
The details vary from place to place, but trees generally do best with moderate temperatures, plentiful (but not excessive) rainfall, and no extreme cold or heat.
Damaging Weather
Like most crops, Christmas trees don’t like drought. Farmers who grow seedlings typically have to do quite a bit of irrigation, according to Doug Hundley from the National Christmas Tree Association.
Irrigation isn’t as necessary once they’re about 12 inches tall and transplanted into fields, he adds, although they’re still vulnerable for the first year or two and will need some help during dry spells.
In this photo taken Nov. 8, 2011, David Barfield checks one of his saplings at his Christmas tree farm in New Caney, Texas. Only a handful of the 500 saplings planted survived the drought.
Because these trees are a crop that can take ten years or longer to become ready for harvest, losses from drought usually don’t take as much of a toll as they would for single-season crops like corn or soybeans. Instead of losing 20% of an entire crop, farmers could confine their losses to just 20% of the younger trees, while the established trees survive.
Excessive rainfall can harm any tree, though. “We always think that drought is the great enemy. But in all agriculture, rain and flooding and oversaturation of the soil does just as much damage as droughts do,” says Hundley.
Wet conditions are good for fungi–which are bad for trees. They can kill the roots of a tree or cause needle cast, which is a disease that makes the older inner needles turn brown and fall off.
Needle cast on a spruce tree.
These trees can face damage from out-of-season frosts and freezes. Those can damage or kill new growth, sometimes putting those trees back a year, even when farmers can prune the problem spots.
Extreme heat can ruin new growth, too. Hundley says the Pacific Northwest lost 5% to 10% of marketable trees after its heat wave in June 2021.
Climate Change
Farming practices are adapting as conditions change over the years. To deal with the increase in precipitation in the eastern U.S., Hundley says some farmers are planting trees farther apart or pruning them differently to allow better airflow.
He also gives a specific example. “We grow a fir that’s native to only about a dozen mountain tops in the southern Appalachians. They grow naturally at about 6,000 feet. We can grow them on production farms, but only down to about 3,000 feet elevation. If you go lower than that, it becomes too warm, and the soil does not drain as well in flat land and they’re very susceptible to root rot.
“So, as the planet warms, we’re going to have to move up the hill, possibly, or we’re going to have to use alternative conifers that are used to warmer climates.”
Be Green
Hundley says that farmers replace the trees as they come out and make an effort to disturb the soil as little as possible. Integrated pest management also lets them avoid using pesticides.
He also encourages people who buy real Christmas trees to recycle them if their community offers such a service. Often, the trees are chipped into mulch.
This Jan. 14, 2013 photo shows free mulch strewn in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, N.Y., available for residents to take home and use in urban backyards. The mulch comes from Christmas trees that are collected and recycled in a program run by the New York City Department of Sanitation and the New York City Parks Department. The city collects about 150,000 trees each year and uses the mulch in parks, playing fields, and community gardens in addition to making some of it available for personal use.
Conclusion
Christmas trees are a weather-dependent crop, and farmers face challenges from drought, excessive rainfall, and extreme temperatures. As the climate changes, farmers must adapt their practices to ensure the health and well-being of their trees. By working together, we can all do our part to protect the environment and ensure a sustainable future for Christmas tree farming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do Christmas trees grow?
A: Christmas trees are often spruces, pines, or firs. They grow in places with moderate temperatures, plentiful rainfall, and no extreme cold or heat.
Q: What are some of the challenges faced by Christmas tree farmers?
A: Christmas tree farmers face challenges from drought, excessive rainfall, and extreme temperatures. They must also adapt to changes in the climate.
Q: How do farmers ensure the health and well-being of their trees?
A: Farmers replace trees as they come out and make an effort to disturb the soil as little as possible. They also use integrated pest management to avoid using pesticides.
Q: What can I do to help the environment?
A: You can help by recycling your Christmas tree if your community offers such a service. The trees are often chipped into mulch, which can be used in gardens and parks.
