As a novice Christmas tree farmer, I was determined to do everything right during my first year. I found myself being overly protective of my trees and constantly worrying about their growth and health. Looking back, I realize that my approach might not have been the best for their development. In this post, I will share my experience and the lessons I learned as I navigated my way through the challenges of Christmas tree farming.

Christmas Tree Farming: First Year I Was Overly Protective

Introduction

Christmas tree farming is a profitable business in the United States. Millions of people enjoy picking out the perfect tree for their homes during the festive season. While Christmas tree farming may sound like an easy job, it requires a lot of dedication and hard work. In this article, we’ll look at the experiences of the East Fork Christmas Tree Farm and the Flanagan Homestead as they share their learnings and tips on Christmas tree farming.

Learning to Spray Herbicide Early

East Fork Christmas Tree Farm learned to spray herbicide in late March to kill weeds while trees are still dormant. This prevents the weeds from competing with the tree for nutrients and sunlight during the growing season. They also switch herbicides to prevent weed tolerance and ensure the weeds continue to die off.

Covering the Trees before Spraying Herbicide

Flanagan Homestead planted a thousand Nobles and 200 grandfirs on their first year. They used grocery bags to cover each tree before spraying herbicide, leading to a messy process. Now, they spray when the trees are dormant and weeds have started to grow. This has made the process simpler and less messy.

Using Glyphosate Products

Glyphosate products like Roundup or Broadleaf can be used on grand and Noble firs, Nordman trees. Using glyphosate products is a more efficient way to manage weeds than using traditional hand weeding methods, which can be time consuming and labor-intensive.

Dealing with Lack of Rain

The young trees in the fields have nice new growth, but there hasn’t been any rain in five weeks. This can be stressing for trees as they require water to grow. East Fork Christmas Tree Farm installed irrigation systems to help keep their trees healthy during dry spells.

Preparing for Pest Control

The Flanagan Homestead will spray for aphids on the Nobles with Old Tour and Bravo. Aphids can be a major issue for Christmas trees, and can cause the tree to become stressed and not grow as well. It is important to prepare for pest control as early as possible to prevent damage to the trees.

Conclusion

Christmas tree farming is a rewarding business, but requires careful planning, dedication and hard work. Growing healthy and beautiful trees requires a lot of effort, and it is important to monitor and adapt to the changing conditions. Farmers need to plan ahead and stay ahead of potential threats to ensure their crop is successful. Learning from mistakes and adapting to new circumstances is key to running a successful Christmas tree farm.

FAQs

1. How often should Christmas trees be fertilized?

• Christmas trees should be fertilized in the spring and fall, and the amount and type of fertilizer used will depend on the tree species.

2. How long does it take for a Christmas tree to grow?

• The growing time for Christmas trees can vary from 4 to 15 years depending on the species of tree.

3. What is the best time to plant Christmas trees?

• Fall or early spring is the best time to plant Christmas trees when the soil is moist and temperatures are mild.

4. How do you maintain healthy Christmas trees?

• Healthy Christmas trees require a lot of care, including watering, fertilizing, pest control, and pruning.

5. What are the most popular Christmas tree species grown in the United States?

• The most popular Christmas tree species grown in the United States are the Douglas fir, Fraser fir, and Balsam fir.