( However, you should also make sure that the tree is healthy and doesnt have dead needles on the inner branches. %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ( ( ( ( Kapple-Smith, Diana, A Christmas Business, Country Journal, Dec. 1980. ( . Y+Q@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ % - P@ P@ % P@ @@ % PP@@ @ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ PP@ P@ P@@ @ - P@ P@ @ - % P@ P@ P@ P@ PP@ P@@ @ P@ P@ P@@ @ P@ PP@ % P@ P@ P@ P@ @Gd3D P@ P@ P@4j1gP}.>j > mz Add no fertilizer the year of planting, but do implement an effective weed control program. ( ( ( This can lead to damaging the natural defences of the tree and could result in infection. You should not see an excessive amount of green needles fall to . We have had a few customers come after dark and happily cut trees that they could barely see, or shine their headlights on the trees until they find the right one. ( TTY Users: 7-1-1 or 800-735-2964 (Relay NH) At this point, I would recommend setting the trees 5 to 6 feet apart within rows and setting the rows 7 feet apart. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Despite the losses, she believes grazing her plantation is worthwhile, because she has never had to mow between the trees, and she gets milk and beef from the animals. In 1995, we started selling those trees, making a couple of hundred dollars that first year and a few hundred the next. ( ( Delay basal pruning until no more than 1/3 of the total foliage on the tree will be cut off to prevent excessive shock. There are two other reasons. ( For more information view our full Privacy Policy. J s Ef3D P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ @@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ N Qt ( ( 346, Univ. Those of you who grow fresh vegetables or other warm-season crops might be interested in generating such additional income in the off season. ( When you are done, the base should be about two-thirds as wide as the height of the tree. ( The lateral branches of the top whorl should be cut to two-thirds the height of the pruned central leader. Box 3657, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72702; Steve Diver, Technical Specialist; Tel. An 8-foot tree, for example, should have about a 5-foot- diameter base. Our 3-acre plantation is in a field that was cut for hay a few times each summer for at least a decade. ( ( We recommend that you evaluate each tree and prune according to the growth of the tree. First, I think the shears are more ergonomic, because you use both arms to the same extent to do the pruning. The time to prune apple trees if you want to keep them small is during the Summer Solstice. Sunday: 09:00 18:00, Stourport 9 minutes drive They need to be planted in late April and early May and are best pruned in late June and through July. Real Christmas trees are also environmentally friendly, reducing the amount of waste dumped into landfills. FOR-16 through 36, plus PPA-16 and ID-85, 90 pgs. ( We hope you manage to keep your Christmas tree looking fantastic through the festive season. ( Much like trimming shrubs to maintain a specific shape, trimming the lateral branches of Christmas trees can increase the density of the branches and create the desired taper. ( This energy is channeled to react to the wounding. ( Put the collected cones in a paper bag for a week or two and keep them in a warm, dry place. ( Year 4. In Alabama, researchers found that Christmas trees could add $176 per acre net profit on cattle grazing land if the trees (Virginia pines) were grown 8 feet apart in rows 33 feet apart (165 trees per acre) and if the trees were protected by a single strand of electric fence on each side of the row. ( Big birds such as trumpeter swans come in at 47 while brown pelicans have a BMR of 75. Learning how to shear a Christmas tree is not difficult and the benefits are well worth the effort: For the first few years after planting, corrective trimming during the dormant season is all that Christmas trees require. ( ( Dec 3, 2021 | Experiment Station, Lexington, KY Donovan, Dave D., Seedling Availability, Planting, Initial Care, Oklahoma State Univ. ( They are now resembling a Christmas tree, although only about three - four foot. ( ( ( Opening Times. per tree in the 2-3 ft. class to 4.3 lbs. ( Shearing refers to cutting new growth to improve form and density. Pruning in the winter, however, can leave a big wound that can be damaged by frost or infection. The usefulness of supplying phosphorus after the first few years of growth is debatable, since that element is so immobile in soils. Bewdley 15 minutes drive Opening times: Mon-Sat: 08:30 - 19:00 Sunday: 09:00 - 18:00. ( zop~^UQ@\wl5h ( This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. ( ( ( This should be applied in mid-May or early June. For lots of Christmas tree farmers, selling bulk brush for wreaths is good revenue. ( The best time to prune your Christmas tree is outside of its growing season, from January through March. ( ( The cut should be made at an angle. If this is the case, plant your tree out in the garden and decorate with outdoor fairy lights to brighten up dark winter evenings. ( (800)248-8239. I'm recommending the practice to others, and thought it a good idea to have a list of recommended varieties. Kym Pokorny | ( Service, Univ. ( ( ( The tops should have good caliper (stem diameter) and good bud development. After several months, prune out all sprouts growing in response to the cut. ( v@@@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ PP@@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ PH.L{ % P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ Pu5, P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ PP@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ %4S[-;m3z`u @ - P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ % g5 You might consider intercropping as a means of generating income from your plantation in its early years. of N.H., Durham, NH 03824. Pruning your Christmas tree is actually quite easy once you get the hang of it. Pruning your Christmas tree can be done anytime of the year, but the best time to prune is during the early spring or summer. ( Removing or minimizing basal shoots (suckers). say that in the Northeast, nitrogen is the element most commonly required for optimal Christmas tree growth. Soon I hope to be selling 200 trees per year a sustainable number for our 3-acre plantation and making $3000 a welcome addition to our income at Christmas time. Pruning a Christmas tree is a simple process once you get the hang of it. recommend 20 to 50 pounds of actual nitrogen per acre during the first through fourth years after planting and 50 to 100 pounds when the trees have been in the field for five or six years. Shaping is any process which removes limbs, branches, or new growth with the purpose of improving overall tree quality. Description of stands used in evaluation of basal pruning on Fraser fir Christmas trees. Excessive leader growth which detracts from the desired symmetry of the tree can be remedied through pruning of the terminal leader or basal pruning. Vegetation killed by an herbicide can release enough nutrients for Christmas trees in their first year, and I expect mulching would do the same (if the mulch is not highly carbonaceous and will not, therefore, tie up nitrogen). Christmas trees respond surprisingly well if the growing tips are snipped back regularly in late summer or autumn. This is quick and efficient but results in a tree that is too perfect, in my opinion. If you are thinking of growing Christmas trees, Id suggest starting small that is, planting 10 acres or less, 2 acres each year for five years. This process should be completed at least two years before the tree is harvested. Assuming youll be mowing the grass in your plantation with a tractor-mounted implement, be sure to leave enough room at the ends of each row to turn the tractor around. To prune your Christmas tree, remove any upward growing stems that compete with the leader, and trim back any wayward shoots to maintain a nice even shape all round. Most growers use a machete to shear their trees. His tree farm work experienceincludes selling, shearing, basal pruning, planting, cutting, loading, delivering, and mowing. J (h Their summary recommendations are as follows: Your fertilizer program should begin with a soil test a year or two before planting. Also, if youre adding nitrogen, you want to be sure you supply (or your soil supplies) enough potassium to enable the plant to use that nitrogen. ( Second, you should cut the tree at a 45-degree angle. Grasses and other plants have well developed root systems that can compete strongly with small trees, especially during the first three years in the plantation, by using most of the available soil moisture, competing for nutrients, and shading Christmas tree seedlings. We have expended very little in actual cash to establish our trees because we pulled most of our seedlings from our own land, did all of the planting, pruning and other care ourselves, and use a tractor and bush-hog that we would have bought for the farm anyhow. ( J ( Blumenstock, Bud, Growing Tree Seedlings in the Home Nursery, Yankee Woodlot, Univ. ( Balsam fir seeds, however, are easily damaged by dewinging, so should be planted whole. ( For instance, make sure that you have a vehicle that is large enough to accommodate the tree. J Z ( ( ( If youre working with a pine tree, you dont want to risk snapping the needles as you go. 2023 The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. Sale. The most important thing to remember is that you should not prune back further than the current years growth as new growth will not emerge from old wood. ( ( ( Make it fun by challenging everyone to find each of the most common Christmas trees: Douglas-fir, noble fir and grand fir. According to ATTRA, rotary hoes are an effective cultivation tool for in-row weed control and soil cultivation. ( ( Visit Us. ( We price our trees at $15 each and leave it up to the customers to get their moneys worth. width: 100%; Rotary tree hoes have articulating arms that retract when a sensor touches the tree. ( ( ( We have had to cull some trees that succumbed to a disease that has sensitive fern as the alternate host; eliminating the fern by mowing or grazing or improving drainage in those areas might help. This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages. Pinewood, Rectory Lane, Shearing and shaping can be done with hand clippers or shears or a specially-designed, long-bladed shearing knife. ( ( However, the development of new buds will best be stimulated if shearing is done during late June and July when new growth is beginning to firm up. If its becoming too large for its pot then youll need to repot it using John Innes No. ( ( Christmas Trees From Seed to Sale, 1992, Tree Publishers, Inc., Lecompton, Kansas. Basal pruning is removing the lower branches of the tree up to the first perfect whorl. 4 views. ( Blumenstock, Bud, Christmas Tree Marketing, Yankee Woodlot Bull. :LYkQ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@u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t This is usually done just in the first year of shearing, when the tree is about waist-high. Our Scotch pine plantation got away from us, too, when I was pregnant and when my son was an infant, because I wasnt able to get to the pruning then. Excessively dry or wet sites are undesirable, so avoid both sandy soils that are low in organic matter and heavy clay soils. ( Trees can be cut right to the ground to produce a tree of maximum height and to leave no stumps over which you might trip. 5 0 obj<> It is important not to prune back more than one years growth. .item01 { to work with farmers and helpthem find the solutions to their routine maintenance and management needs. Some trees should receive the ultimate pruning at this time: complete removal. display: flex; ( endobj Also, cut it at a 45-degree angle to avoid water collecting on the cut surface, which will promote the development of diseases. ( ( Stand your tree in a tree stand. Extn., Orono ME 04469. ( ( Droitwich 16 minutes drive ( $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ? ( We are using land that was idle and on which we would have been paying taxes anyhow. (9dHc2HUz XJ}sHzh P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ @ - % P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ PPPP@ P@@ P@ % P@ % P@ PP@ PP@ P@ % P@ - PP@ P@ P@@ @@ @@ % P@ @@ P@ P@ P@ PP@ P@ P@ P@ P@ PP=GAYkQ % - P@ P@ q6i-sN~j]A:&_$o+b7|7_IP This method is known as basal pruning. ( ( This year, it was extra short. I find that if I dont ask her to help and just let her do what she wants when she shows up in the trees, she is very helpful and is good company, to boot. x+234R0 Bk hd Its a good idea, however, to transplant on a cloudy, still day, if possible. Read the code on FindLaw 2009; Ordering Information: Virginia Tech Extension Distribution Center 216-A Hutcheson Hall (0904) Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA 24061 Phone: 540-231-5863. For more information about growing a Christmas tree, visit the Michigan State University Extension site. This year we sold 47 trees all by word-of-mouth from previous customers, postcard notices, the sign at the end of the driveway, and a poster at the local food co-op. ( ( Basal pruning reduced cutting time 25%, and baling time 10%. ( of Maine Coop. ( Z (( Recommendations for growing Christmas trees are almost all based on a chemical approach chemical fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and miticides. All rights reserved. ( ( You should avoid cutting the tree too close to the trunk to avoid damaging the natural defenses. ( ( We started advertising our trees as certified organic this year; that may have brought a few more customers. ( Please, before purchasing anywhere else, stop by and check out our specialized trees. ( When a tree is basal pruned after harvest, the base of the crown is not as full and smooth, compared to trees pruned several years earlier. Thoroughly water the soil. Once established on perennials, predatory mites can reproduce and provide biological control indefinitely without further augmentation unless nonselective insecticides are applied that kill the predators. Even though we are a new Christmas tree farm, we promise you will be surprised at the beauty of our trees. ((h It was written for orchardists, but some of the information relates to Christmas trees, as well: Purchase and release of predatory mites can be useful to establish populations in large plantings or orchards, but the best results are obtained by creating favorable conditions for naturally occurring predators for instance, by avoiding dusty conditions and pesticide sprays. There are many ways to prune your trees in order to keep the right proportions. ( Basal pruning is accomplished by cutting of all branches from the ground up to a full, complete whorl of branches. Having two kids and nonfarm jobs has limited the time for such escapades. You can generate some added income by managing balsam firs (and other evergreens) for tip production for wreaths. of Kentucky, Pub. Some growers basal prune trees 0 to 2 ( ( ( Pruning must be done with an understanding of tree biology because improper pruning can create lasting damage or shorten the tree's life. opacity: 1; ( In the spring you can replant between the stumps. Our main problem has been with yellowing and needle cast in the fall partly a natural occurrence as second- and third-year needles are shed, but one that could be limited, I think, by better fertility, more water during August, and better control of weeds. ( Growing Christmas trees is an enterprise that has wide appeal as a land management alternative for many land-owners in Virginia. ( ( ( ( ( The different planting dates combined with the different growth rates of individual trees has resulted in a field of trees of varying ages so that a continuous supply of trees will be available over the years. Hill, Deborah B., Christmas Trees as an Alternative Enterprise, Forest Farmer, June 1988. This will prevent it from dropping needles and ensure that the tree is fresh. Fraser fir [Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.] Moreover, this procedure will prevent decay and damage to the tree. Small weeds can be pulled, but larger ones can be cut so that tree seedlings arent uprooted when the weeds are removed. If you think you can find the time to plant, prune and sell Christmas trees, and if you have the patience to wait about 10 years for a plantation to generate income, this might be a good crop to add to your farming system. Q: We buy live Christmas trees and then plant them as a family tradition. The usefulness of fertilizers in the first year is debated among growers, and Scotch pines, which grow well on soils of low fertility, rarely need fertilizers. After the cones open, shake the bag to free the seeds from the cones. ( of Maine, Orono ME 04469. ( ((h ( Concentrate releases in hot spots where spider mite numbers are highest. ( ( ( J Z (( It includes strategies for using prevention, mechanical means, cover crops and vegetated strips, flame weeding, and biological and chemical controls. ( Another important aspect of pruning is to remove any dead, discolored, or overly dry branches. ( One publication recommends using a deflection shield so that you can mow close to trees without damaging lower branches. ( ( ( ( ( The smallest chap I could find was still too large and stiff for me. ( ( ( When pruning flowering plants, pinch off spent flower blooms before trimming. Christmas trees are ready to harvest when theyre 6 to 8 feet tall. It also destroys the plant's natural shape and promotes suckering and the . ( Most growers in our area spray Scotch pines for weevils, which can ruin central leaders. The advantage of this method is that you can select, to some extent, seed from desirable trees. ( Let buyers know the species, size classes and quality of your trees.