Christmas Trees

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Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since around 1850 when most were cut from forests. Midway through the last century, tree farms began to appear, and now most Christmas trees are grown on farms. If you want to grow trees worthy of a winter wonderland, make use of Penn State Extension’s extensive resources. Find information to improve tree quality, eliminate pests, manage weeds, and more. Learn how to increase your profits and market your trees.

The Christmas Tree Industry in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania ready-cut Christmas tree industry has been in existence since the mid-nineteenth century. The state is one of the top US producers, along with Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Washington. There are around 1,400 Christmas tree farms in PA. They take up 31,000 acres of the state and produce approximately 1 million cut trees every year. On average, three new seedlings are planted in place of each cut tree.

If you’re looking for a profitable cash crop for your small acreage, growing Christmas trees is an attractive option. The crop is low maintenance, ideal for a spare-time project, and can produce a good income for years to come. You only need to plant a small acreage. As the trees mature over an average of eight years, you can harvest and replant them to provide a steady income.

You can harvest most tree varieties when they reach a height of between 5 to 7 feet. This takes around eight years. The standard spacing is 5’x 5’, and you also have to allow for loading areas and access roads every 12-15 rows. Taking all this into account, you can plant around 1,500 trees per acre. To ensure a steady income, you should aim to plant or replant one-eighth of your acreage every year, which is about 200 trees per acre.

Plenty of advice and guidance is available such as the Christmas Tree Growers Meeting and Trade Show and regular Green Industry Conferences. Both provide opportunities for beginners and more experienced growers to stay up to date on the latest research, techniques, and technology.

Christmas Tree Farming: Getting Started

Christmas tree production is a great option when space is limited, but you require a crop that offers a good return on your investment. Before you plant your first tree, you should learn all that is needed to grow a crop from start to finish.

Factors to consider include production and harvesting techniques and soil management. Knowing which Christmas tree types your customers prefer will help you pick the right cultivars.

Integrated Pest Management plays a vital role in any successful Christmas tree farm. It is crucial for you to identify, monitor, and control disease and insect pests that might affect your crop. Pests and diseases can seriously affect your profits.

Put in the right amount of effort in the beginning, and a Christmas tree operation can be financially rewarding and personally satisfying.