Farming, and especially Christmas Tree farming in general isn’t something we tech people usually think about on a regular basis. After all it’s just a matter of cutting down the trees and shipping them, right?Not really as I found out. I always knew that there were multiple types of Christmas Trees as that was always a big topic of debate among my family. Did we get a Douglas Fir because of the dense shape, or a Noble Fir for the wide spaces under the branches? Apparently there are a lot more then that. To make matters much more complicated each tree has different requirements for soil type, amount of water and sunshine, and ambient temperature. One tree that grows fine in one Zone will quickly die in another. Add in disease and pests and it’s a wonder that 30-35 million trees are sold each year.There are five steps in a Christmas Tree’s Lifecycle

Most Growers buy Christmas Tree Seedling from reputable Nurseries. Some will have their own nurseries in which they start the seedlings. Germinated Seeds are started in beds of shallow soil, about 2-3 inches thick. Then covered with a thin layer of sand and kept watered. A climate controlled greenhouse is used to keep the environment humid and warm. Depending on the initial size of the seeds they may need to be thinned out. Too many growing close together can keep the seedlings from growing to their optimal size.

After growing a year or two as a seedling the trees are transported to the growing site. A variety of methods are used to keep the trees moist and healthy during this time. Some are shipped in their growing containers from the nursery. Others are dipped into a growing gel that keeps the roots from drying out. Once the seedling arrives it is planted as quickly as possible.The newly planted seedling is grown for 7-10 years. Between 3-5 years when it reaches a certain maturity the tree is pruned into the traditional conical shape. It is also periodically checked for pests and disease. Like any harvested crop a closely planted crop of the same type is more susceptible to these problems. Pesticides are heavily used, but there is a large movement towards biological control methods. Diseased and damaged trees are removed and new seedlings planted in their place if there is room.

Depending on the tree’s eventual destination harvesting can begin as early as mid-October. For domestic and local destinations the harvesting usually happens in mid to late November. Trees are hauled from the fields to a staging area by tractor or more frequently by helicopter. They’re put on vibrating machine that grasps the trunk and shakes the tree to remove dead needles, bugs and other debris. An automatic baler wraps the tree up to compress it for shipping and to help protect it from physical damage. Refrigerated trucks then take the trees to their destination.

Christmas Trees are typically sold in a temporary lots, although a lot of families have the tradition of going out and cutting it themselves. They’re unbundled and put on display. This is a critical time for the tree as it can’t really exist long with out water. The lots will frequently water the trees down at night, but in colder climates this can cause damage due to freezing weather. Once taken home, families decorate the tree to their liking. Proper care will keep it looking lovely throughout the entire holiday.

Of course after the holiday we’re stuck with 30 million or more Christmas trees. Many people simply throw the trees away, but there is a growing movement to recycle them properly. Some suggestions include putting it in the backyard for birds to use as nesting. Other suggestions include turning it into mulch or buying a live tree and replanting it when it’s taken down.Christmas Trees are a 1.2 Billion Dollar a year industry which contributes to the ongoing fake versus realdebates. The process of growing a Christmas tree is a ten year investment in time and money which attributes to their increasing costs to the consumer, but the tradition of having a tree doesn’t look like it’s going to die out anytime soon.

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