Farm life

Christmas Tree Farming

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A SEASONAL CASH CROP FOR YOUR SMALL ACREAGE, YOU COULD CONSIDER GROWING CHRISTMAS TREES

By Karen Luff

have not already bought, you are thinking of getting your Christmas tree. This, when our children were younger, was always magical. Going out to our local farm, the children running around in their wellies, wrapped up warm, searching just about the whole farm for the perfect tree in shape, size, and colour. That day was always the highlight of the season. Once home, the smell of pine filled the house and the time spent dressing the tree was always wonderful. Covering it with sparkling lights and ornaments, passed down from Christmases past. With people thinking more and more about the environment and using less plastic, the sales of real trees has increased, however don't think you will get rich fast on growing Christmas trees. However, as a supplementary income, as a once a year cash crop, this could be a winner to a small holding, grown on the right kind of land, and sold direct to the public. Once planted the trees don’t need much work or attention until ready to cut. A six foot tree can take up to eight years to grow so you’re not going to get rich overnight. It's recommended that you plant yearly allowing trees to grow, and leaving space for trees, when thinned out by sales, to mature in height and shape. Planted on well-draining slightly acidic soil, and if possible a sheltered spot, they will do very well in full sun. Pruning the tree in to a good shape is recommended, and also possible during growth. Growing one crop for just one point of the year is also risky. If autumn is late, and the tree has not gone in to dormancy (yes, evergreen don't lose their leaves and make a great show like other trees, however their needles do have a seasonal change) the tree will go into early needle drop which no one wants on the carpet. If this happens you could lose the faith of your customer base, and they may resort to leaving things to the last minute to buy, or worse decide on an artificial tree. However I am told that it can work very well running alongside a farm or smallholding, and can complement the main business of the farm encouraging people to see other produce and products you may have available, encouraging sales in other areas. Denmark is of course the largest exporter of Christmas trees. Firs, spruce, or pine Karen with her husband John followed their dream and moved to Le Chataignier, a 400 year old house in the beautiful Mayenne region of France, with their five year old son. Over 14 years later they have established a

So it’s that time of year when, if you smallholding on the site. there is a wide range. However the one Another popular tree is the Scotch pine that we all seem to know about is the (Pinus sylvestris,) again for its shape and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii.) This smell, and excellent soft green needles tree has a wonderful shape, fantastic which stay on the branches even if the tree colour, and needles which are less likely to gets dry. No awful mess to clear up if you drop, and the smell that fills the whole forget to water it with all the festivities house, many reasons why it’s deservedly going on. one of the most popular trees to buy. One There is a vast array of trees to choose of the best smelling trees has to be the from and the list goes on. Grand fir (Abies grandis). Its needles are softer to touch then some other trees and its smell will fill the house. One way of keeping your tree fresh when you get it home, and over the holiday season, is to cut a couple of centimetres Norway spruce (Picea abies) is another of off, using the same principal as you would the more commonly when you cut stems when buying flowers known trees. It has a from the supermarket. great scent but sadly is far quicker at losing its needles. The Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) has bicolour needles with a contrast of a deep green above, and silver below on the needle. It has a good cone shape and has stronger branches which will hold those Like any plant, to keep it going longer, a stand with a well of water is a good idea and this should be topped up daily. If you can keep this up most trees will last a good four weeks. However a good idea is to keep them away from the fire. I always think of that Christmas scene with Santa sitting in a chair next to an open fire with a tree next A six foot tree can take up to eight years to grow so you’re not going to get rich overnight heavy ornaments. to him and think of the fire risk. Let’s stay The Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana) safe this Christmas in more ways than one. has a dark green colour, and the needles Keeping away from any fire and heat on this tree again are slower to drop, but it source will keep the needles from will cost you more than the Norway dropping as well. spruce. I hope this season brings you the joy of Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) has good needleholding properties, a lovely pine fragrance, my memories putting our tree up with our family. and the regular shape of a Norway spruce. Have a wonderful Christmas.