Christmas Trees
 

We have 10+ acres in the country, I had this thought I’d like to put a couple of acres into Christmas trees so my Granddaughter will have trees she can cut each year. Don’t know a whole lot about this, any one here have a tree farm and suggestions on what’s involved?

I dont have a farm but years ago I planted 50 Norway spruce for a hedge row. They would make nice XMas trees.

MA, first of all I never raised Christmas trees, and am far from an expert on the subject, however we bought trees for many years from a man that did raise them, so I do know a little bit just from exposure to someone that did raise them.

If you want them to look nice, they have to be shaped once a year. Just planting them, and letting nature take it's course won't get you the best shaped, full trees. That part is the hard part of raising Christmas trees. Then there's the part after about 10 years, they are too tall to harvest, unless you just use the top of the tree, and throw the rest away. So from 6, to 10 years are when trees are big enough to use, but not too big to fit in a house with 8 foot ceilings. Maybe staggering the years you plant them would be most beneficial?

Lots of evergreens are subject to blights, so they can need spraying to keep the fungus in check. I got that piece of info from the guy we bought our trees from.

I've had real trees the majority of my life, some very close to perfect, and some that looked a little better than the Charlie Brown tree.....LOL

In summation, just like anything else that you plant, the better care you take of a crop, the better it is at harvest.

You tube has plenty of videos on the subject:

https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...tmas+trees+for

:2cents:

If you do the paperwork you can probably get a property tax break because you can designate your property "Agricultural"

We al ready do because a local dairy farmer takes hay off of the property.

Dang didn’t even think of YouTube lol :o:o

Not knowing how your property is arranged...

Maybe plant the trees in a perimeter, out lying boundaries of property. Maybe planting to allow thinning out of tree lines, as harvested. Of course, the last of the trees to be harvested might be too tall (Maybe not for Clark Griswald). Just leave them and enjoy them.
There may be types of trees, better suited to your climate.

Here’s a drone shot that bigger square mowed area is ours we also into the woods at the back of the property. That little rectangular area is a dirt mound left from sand mound testing. That wouldn’t be touched.

Hopefully those Lantern flies will leave them alone.

Merry Christmas to you and the family MaryAnn.

Thank you Gary Merry Christmas to you and your family as well. :) Oddly enough we have no Lantern Flies here I think I’ve seen maybe 5 in the last 3 years.

Stay safe and be well:)