Christmas tree cultivation is an

agricultural Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created f ...

forestry Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests and woodlands for associated resources for human and Natural environment, environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and ...

, and

horticultural Horticulture (from ) is the art and science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs and ornamental plants. Horticulture is commonly associated with the more professional and technical aspects of plant cultivation on a smaller and mo ...

occupation which involves growing

pine A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. ''World Flora Online'' accepts 134 species-rank taxa (119 species and 15 nothospecies) of pines as cu ...

spruce A spruce is a tree of the genus ''Picea'' ( ), a genus of about 40 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal ecosystem, boreal (taiga) regions of the Northern hemisphere. ''Picea'' ...

, and

fir Firs are evergreen coniferous trees belonging to the genus ''Abies'' () in the family Pinaceae. There are approximately 48–65 extant species, found on mountains throughout much of North and Central America, Eurasia, and North Africa. The genu ...

trees specifically for use as

Christmas tree A Christmas tree is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen pinophyta, conifer, such as a spruce, pine or fir, associated with the celebration of Christmas. It may also consist of an artificial tree of similar appearance. The custom was deve ...

s. The first Christmas

tree farm In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated Plant stem, stem, or trunk (botany), trunk, usually supporting Branch, branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, e.g., including only Bark (botan ...

was established in 1901, but most consumers continued to obtain their trees from forests until the 1930s and 1940s. Christmas tree farming was once seen only as a viable alternative for low-quality farmland, but that perception has changed within the agriculture industry. For optimum yield and quality, land should be flat or gently rolling and relatively free of debris and undergrowth. A wide variety of pine and fir species are grown as Christmas trees, although a handful of varieties stand out in popularity. In the United States,

Douglas-fir The Douglas fir (''Pseudotsuga menziesii'') is an evergreen conifer species in the pine family, Pinaceae. It is the tallest tree in the Pinaceae family. It is native to western North America and is also known as Douglas-fir, Douglas spruce, Or ...

Scots pine ''Pinus sylvestris'', the Scots pine (UK), Scotch pine (US), Baltic pine, or European red pine is a species of tree in the pine family Pinaceae that is native to Eurasia. It can readily be identified by its combination of fairly short, blue-gr ...

and Fraser fir all sell well. Nordmann fir and

Norway spruce ''Picea abies'', the Norway spruce or European spruce, is a species of spruce native to Northern, Central and Eastern Europe. It has branchlets that typically hang downwards, and the largest cones of any spruce, 9–17 cm long. It is very clo ...

sell well in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, the latter being popular throughout Europe. Like all

conifer Conifers () are a group of conifer cone, cone-bearing Spermatophyte, seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the phylum, division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a sin ...

s, Christmas trees are vulnerable to a range of

pests PESTS was an anonymous American activist group formed in 1986 to critique racism, tokenism, and exclusion in the art world. PESTS produced newsletters, posters, and other print material highlighting examples of discrimination in gallery represent ...

. The final stage of cultivation,

harvest Harvesting is the process of collecting plants, animals, or fish (as well as fungi) as food, especially the process of gathering mature crops, and "the harvest" also refers to the collected crops. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulses fo ...

ing, is carried out in a number of ways; one of the more popular methods is the pick-your-own tree farm, where customers are allowed to roam the farm, select their tree, and cut it down themselves. Other farmers cultivate potted trees, with balled roots, which can be replanted after Christmas and used again the following year.

History

The practice of cultivating evergreens specifically to sell as Christmas trees dates back to 1901, when a 25,000-tree

farm was sown near

Trenton, New Jersey Trenton is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County, New Jersey, Mercer County. It was the federal capital, capital of the United States from November 1 until D ...

.Faber Harold
Off to the farm for a Christmas tree
''The New York Times'', December 2, 1990, p. 17. Retrieved September 5, 2007. The commercial market for Christmas trees had started 50 years earlier when a farmer from the

Catskill Mountains The Catskill Mountains, also known as the Catskills, are a physiographic province and subrange of the larger Appalachian Mountains, located in southeastern New York. As a cultural and geographic region, the Catskills are generally defined a ...

brought trees into

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

to sell.Summers, Will
From Seed to Santa – A Tale of a Christmas Tree
, ''Oregon Employment Department'', November 28, 2005. Despite these pioneering efforts, most people still obtained wild-grown Christmas trees from forests into the 1930s and 1940s. More trees were grown in plantations after

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, and by the 1950s, farmers were shearing and pruning trees to meet customer demands. The Christmas tree market burgeoned through the 1960s and 1970s, but from the late 1980s onward, prices and the market for natural Christmas trees declined. In the early 21st century, nearly 98% of all natural (not artificial) Christmas trees sold worldwide were grown on tree farms.

Cultivation

Land and climate

Christmas tree farms are best located on relatively level land that is free of obstructions. In the past, Christmas tree farmers established their plantations on less desirable agricultural plots or "wastelands of agriculture". However, emphasis in modern Christmas tree farming has shifted toward the production of higher-quality trees, and increasing land quality expectations. Indeed, some species of trees, such as the Fraser fir, are unable to grow on low-quality, marginal farmland.Leuty, Todd
Fraser Fir for Christmas Trees and Landscape Transplants
, ''Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs'' (Ontario), May 1, 2005. Retrieved September 6, 2007. Flat or gently rolling land is preferred to that with steep slopes and inclines, which is prone to

erosion Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as Surface runoff, water flow or wind) that removes soil, Rock (geology), rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust#Crust, Earth's crust and then sediment transport, tran ...

and fluctuations in fertility. Noticeable obstructions, such as rocks, fences, or significant underbrush, are also undesirable.Brown, et al., Bulletin 670: Choice of Lands for Christmas Trees. Christmas tree farm IA

Like all crops and plants, Christmas trees require a specific set of nutrients to thrive. Some 16 elements are crucial for growth; of those, three are obtained through air and water:

hydrogen Hydrogen is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol H and atomic number 1. It is the lightest and abundance of the chemical elements, most abundant chemical element in the universe, constituting about 75% of all baryon, normal matter ...

carbon Carbon () is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol C and atomic number 6. It is nonmetallic and tetravalence, tetravalent—meaning that its atoms are able to form up to four covalent bonds due to its valence shell exhibiting 4 ...

, and

oxygen Oxygen is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group (periodic table), group in the periodic table, a highly reactivity (chemistry), reactive nonmetal (chemistry), non ...

Nitrogen Nitrogen is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol N and atomic number 7. Nitrogen is a Nonmetal (chemistry), nonmetal and the lightest member of pnictogen, group 15 of the periodic table, often called the Pnictogen, pnictogens. ...

phosphorus Phosphorus is a chemical element; it has Chemical symbol, symbol P and atomic number 15. All elemental forms of phosphorus are highly Reactivity (chemistry), reactive and are therefore never found in nature. They can nevertheless be prepared ar ...

potassium Potassium is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol K (from Neo-Latin ) and atomic number19. It is a silvery white metal that is soft enough to easily cut with a knife. Potassium metal reacts rapidly with atmospheric oxygen to ...

calcium Calcium is a chemical element; it has symbol Ca and atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. Its physical and chemical properties are most similar to it ...

magnesium Magnesium is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Mg and atomic number 12. It is a shiny gray metal having a low density, low melting point and high chemical reactivity. Like the other alkaline earth metals (group 2 ...

sulfur Sulfur ( American spelling and the preferred IUPAC name) or sulphur ( Commonwealth spelling) is a chemical element; it has symbol S and atomic number 16. It is abundant, multivalent and nonmetallic. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms ...

boron Boron is a chemical element; it has symbol B and atomic number 5. In its crystalline form it is a brittle, dark, lustrous metalloid; in its amorphous form it is a brown powder. As the lightest element of the boron group it has three ...

copper Copper is a chemical element; it has symbol Cu (from Latin ) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pinkish-orang ...

chlorine Chlorine is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Cl and atomic number 17. The second-lightest of the halogens, it appears between fluorine and bromine in the periodic table and its properties are mostly intermediate between ...

manganese Manganese is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Mn and atomic number 25. It is a hard, brittle, silvery metal, often found in minerals in combination with iron. Manganese was first isolated in the 1770s. It is a transition m ...

molybdenum Molybdenum is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Mo (from Neo-Latin ''molybdaenum'') and atomic number 42. The name derived from Ancient Greek ', meaning lead, since its ores were confused with lead ores. Molybdenum minerals hav ...

iron Iron is a chemical element; it has symbol Fe () and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, forming much of Earth's o ...

, and

zinc Zinc is a chemical element; it has symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a shiny-greyish appearance when oxidation is removed. It is the first element in group 12 (IIB) of the periodic tabl ...

are obtained from the soil. If the necessary elements are not available in the local soil, nutritious fertilizers are used.Hart, et al., ''Christmas Tree Nutrient Management Guide for Western Oregon and Washington''. Other important soil considerations include pH and

drainage Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of a surface's water and sub-surface water from an area with excess water. The internal drainage of most agricultural soils can prevent severe waterlogging (anaerobic conditions that harm root gro ...

.Johnson, et al., ''Tree Crops for Marginal Farmland: Christmas Trees With a Financial Analysis''. Certain types of soil are preferable, depending on the type of tree. Pine trees are usually better adapted to a sandy or sandy loam soil, while

white spruce White spruce is a common name for several species of spruce (''Picea'') and may refer to: * '' Picea engelmannii'', native to the Rocky Mountains and Cascade Mountains of the United States and Canada * ''Picea glauca ''Picea glauca'', the whi ...

trees and fir trees, such as the

Douglas fir The Douglas fir (''Pseudotsuga menziesii'') is an evergreen conifer species in the pine family, Pinaceae. It is the tallest tree in the Pinaceae family. It is native to western North America and is also known as Douglas-fir, Douglas spruce, Or ...

, prefer fine-texture

loam Loam (in geology and soil science) is soil composed mostly of sand (particle size > ), silt (particle size > ), and a smaller amount of clay (particle size < ). By weight, its mineral composition is about 40–40–20% concentration of sand–si ...

s and clay loam soils. Some trees grow well in all types of soil, but in any case, the land must be well-drained for a Christmas tree farm to have a chance of thriving.Koelling and Dornbush, ''Growing Christmas Trees in Michigan''. The weather, as with other agricultural endeavors, plays a key outcome in the yield of a Christmas tree farm. Severe cold in the winter and extreme hot and dry conditions during and after harvest can cause irreparable damage to the crop. Early snow can make both harvesting and shipping trees difficult or impossible.Barney and Finnerty, ''Christmas trees is this the crop for you?''.

Labor and equipment

Christmas tree farming is a labor-intensive process. Depending on the quality of the land, bulldozing may need to be undertaken prior to planting, to remove obstacles such as large trees or rocks.Brown, et al., Bulletin 670: ''Plantation Establishment and Management: Preplanting Land Preparation''. If the volume of undergrowth requires it, the soil may be tilled; tilling can help remove any debris remaining after tree or weed removal. Both

woody plant A woody plant is a plant that produces wood as its structural tissue and thus has a hard stem. In cold climates, woody plants further survive winter or dry season above ground, as opposed to Herbaceous plant, herbaceous plants that die back to t ...

s and herbaceous weeds must be controlled prior to planting; this is most often done by application of a chemical

herbicide Herbicides (, ), also commonly known as weed killers, are substances used to control undesired plants, also known as weeds.EPA. February 201Pesticides Industry. Sales and Usage 2006 and 2007: Market Estimates. Summary in press releasMain page f ...

. In addition, some types of

fertilizer A fertilizer or fertiliser is any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soil or to plant tissues to supply plant nutrients. Fertilizers may be distinct from liming materials or other non-nutrient soil amendments. Man ...

s must be introduced into the soil prior to planting. The work done before planting tree

seedling A seedling is a young sporophyte developing out of a plant embryo from a seed. Seedling development starts with germination of the seed. A typical young seedling consists of three main parts: the radicle (embryonic root), the hypocotyl (embry ...

s plays an important role in the overall success of a Christmas tree crop. After the trees are in the ground, work on the crop continues. Animal pests (especially insects) and diseases must be monitored and controlled, and weed growth must also be minimized. Many species of pine and fir require pruning and shearing two to four years after planting to maintain the classic Christmas tree shape. Late or omitted pruning can result in trees that are unmarketable due to large gaps in needle coverage. Some species of pine, such as the

, are susceptible to dormant season "yellowing", which is generally countered with a green dye or paint.Lane, Pirjetta, et al
Christmas tree production in Iowa
(

PDF Portable document format (PDF), standardized as ISO 32000, is a file format developed by Adobe Inc., Adobe in 1992 to present documents, including text formatting and images, in a manner independent of application software, computer hardware, ...

file), Cooperative Extension Service, ''Iowa State University'', December 1992. Retrieved September 6, 2007. The outlay of money on equipment varies greatly. Some items commonly found on Christmas tree farms are

insecticide Insecticides are pesticides used to kill insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against insect eggs and larvae, respectively. The major use of insecticides is in agriculture, but they are also used in home and garden settings, i ...

sprayers,

tractor A tractor is an engineering vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort (or torque) at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a Trailer (vehicle), trailer or machinery such as that used in agriculture, mining or constructio ...

s, and shaper sheers.Preston, For a Very Merry Christmas, Invest in Trees for the Season. ''International Herald Tribune''. Mechanized planters, at a cost of about

US$ The United States dollar (Currency symbol, symbol: Dollar sign, $; ISO 4217, currency code: USD) is the official currency of the United States and International use of the U.S. dollar, several other countries. The Coinage Act of 1792 introdu ...

4,000, are not essential but a work-saving luxury for farmers. Farmers can purchase seedlings, the lifeblood of a Christmas tree farm, from nurseries. One farmer in Oregon purchased seedlings for

200–300 per 1,000 plants. The farmer, a wholesaler, sold his final products for about $20 each; after the cost of the trees and other expenses, a profit of $2–3 per tree.

Trees

The best-selling species in the North American market are Scots pine,

Douglas Fir The Douglas fir (''Pseudotsuga menziesii'') is an evergreen conifer species in the pine family, Pinaceae. It is the tallest tree in the Pinaceae family. It is native to western North America and is also known as Douglas-fir, Douglas spruce, Or ...

, Noble Fir, balsam fir, Fraser fir,

Virginia pine ''Pinus virginiana'', the Virginia pine, scrub pine, Jersey pine, possum pine, is a medium-sized tree, often found on poorer soils from Long Island in southern New York (state), New York south through the Appalachian Mountains to western Tennesse ...

, and

eastern white pine ''Pinus strobus'', commonly called the eastern white pine, northern white pine, white pine, Weymouth pine (British), and soft pine is a large pine native to eastern North America. It occurs from Newfoundland, Canada, west through the Great Lake ...

, although other types of trees are also grown and sold.Wolford, ''Christmas Tree Facts''.Christmas Tree Facts
, Plant Materials Program, ''National Resources Conservation Service'', December 16, 2003; January 23, 2006. Retrieved September 3, 2007. In

Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

, for example, types of trees grown for use as Christmas trees include eastern white pine, Red Cedar, Virginia pine, Leyland cypress, and Arizona cypress.Fischman, Bernice and Tilt, Ken
History of the Christmas Tree
, College of Agriculture - Horticulture, ''Auburn University''. Retrieved July 14, 2007. In

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

, the sand pine and spruce pine are among the 20,000 grown in the state each year.McEleroy, Terance
Florida-Grown Christmas Trees Presented To Governor Bush And Commissioner Bronson
, (

press release A press release (also known as a media release) is an official statement delivered to members of the news media for the purpose of providing new information, creating an official statement, or making an announcement directed for public releas ...

), ''Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services'', December 5, 2006. Retrieved September 3, 2007. In Great Britain, Nordmann fir is a popular species, largely due to its needle-retention qualities.Anonymous, ''Metro'' (London), ''Tree shortage threatens Christmas''.Christmas tree
Gardening, ''BBC''. Retrieved 3 September 2007. Other popular trees in Britain are Norway spruce, Serbian spruce, and Scots pine, the last of which is slightly rarer; it has sharp needles that do not shed easily. In the U.S. Pacific Northwest, a major Christmas tree growing region, Douglas fir has always been the primary species grown. A full one-half of all trees produced in the Pacific Northwest are Douglas fir.Bondi, ''An Introduction to Growing Christmas Trees''. Douglas firs typically take five to seven years before they are mature enough to sell as Christmas trees. Also common in the region are noble fir, a tree that commands a higher price than Douglas fir, and grand fir, which accounts for about 10% of the annual harvest in the Northwest. Other species collectively account for only 3–5% of the total Northwest harvest. In

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

, Fraser fir, grown in the

Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, are a mountain range in eastern to northeastern North America. The term "Appalachian" refers to several different regions associated with the mountain range, and its surrounding terrain ...

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

, has been called the "Cadillac of Christmas Trees", as well as the "most popular and most valuable of Christmas tree species".Vukina, Tomislav, et al. (2001). A Hotelling-Faustmann Explanation of the Structure of Christmas Tree Prices. ''American Journal of Agricultural Economics'' 83 (3): 513-525. In the

Southern United States The Southern United States (sometimes Dixie, also referred to as the Southern States, the American South, the Southland, Dixieland, or simply the South) is List of regions of the United States, census regions defined by the United States Cens ...

, Virginia pine is a popular Christmas tree species. In

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

, white pine, white spruce, Scots pine, blue spruce, and Fraser fir are commonly cultivated. In the province of

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, Scots pine has always dominated both the domestic and export markets. Other regions of the world also have different favorites of natural Christmas trees, and Christmas tree farms reflect these; In Europe, Norway spruce is popular.Wolford, ''Tree Types''.

Pests, disease and weeds

Many of the

species cultivated face infestations and death from such pests as the balsam woolly adelgid, other adelgids, and

aphid Aphids are small sap-sucking insects in the Taxonomic rank, family Aphididae. Common names include greenfly and blackfly, although individuals within a species can vary widely in color. The group includes the fluffy white Eriosomatinae, woolly ...

s. Invasive insect species, such as the pine shoot beetle and the gypsy moth, also threaten Christmas tree crops.Division of Communications: Untitled story
, ''Outdoor Indiana'', November/December 2006, Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 4, 2007. Christmas trees are also vulnerable to fungal pathogens, resulting in such illnesses as

root rot Root rot is a condition in which anoxic conditions in the soil or potting media around the roots of a plant cause them to rot. This occurs due to excessive standing water around the roots.-Hydroponics Root Rot: What is It, How To Treat It, How ...

, and, in California, Washington, Oregon and British Columbia sudden oak death.Sudden Oak Death (SOD) - Phytophthora ramorum
, ''City of Victoria'' (British Columbia), Parks, Recreation & Community Development: Parks Division. Retrieved 11 September 2007.

trees are especially vulnerable to infections from plant pathogens such as '' R. pseudotsugae'' and '' Rhabdocline weirii''; ''R. weirii'' affects only Douglas fir trees.How To Identify and Control Rhabdocline and Swiss Needlecasts of Douglas-Fir
North Central Forest Experiment Station ''United States Forest Service'', 1983. Retrieved September 7, 2007. The pathogen often makes Douglas fir trees unsaleable as Christmas trees and heavily affects the Christmas tree farming industry.''Cornell University'', Rhabodocline Needlecast (''Rhabdocline weirii''). Mammals such as

deer A deer (: deer) or true deer is a hoofed ruminant ungulate of the family Cervidae (informally the deer family). Cervidae is divided into subfamilies Cervinae (which includes, among others, muntjac, elk (wapiti), red deer, and fallow deer) ...

, gophers, and

ground squirrel Ground squirrels are rodents of the squirrel family (Sciuridae) that generally live on the ground or in burrows, rather than in trees like the tree squirrels. The term is most often used for the medium-sized ground squirrels, as the larger ones ar ...

s are also threats to Christmas tree crops, due to the damage they cause to roots and buds. Certain species of birds are also considered pests, including the pine grosbeak, which feeds on conifer buds,''Christmas Tree Pest Manual''
Index A
. Retrieved September 7, 2007. usually affecting Scots pine but also affecting

and

red pine ''Pinus resinosa'', known as red pine (also Norway pine in Minnesota), is a pine native to Eastern North America. Description Red pine is a coniferous evergreen tree characterized by tall, straight growth. It usually ranges from in heigh ...

, as well as spruce trees.''Christmas Tree Pest Manual''
Shoot/Branch Injury

. Retrieved September 7, 2007. Herbaceous

weed A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, growing where it conflicts with human preferences, needs, or goals.Harlan, J. R., & deWet, J. M. (1965). Some thoughts about weeds. ''Economic botany'', ''19''(1), 16-24. Pla ...

s, as well as

s, also compete with Christmas tree crops for water and nutrients, necessitating control methods including mowing, chemical

use, and tilling.

Quality

Christmas tree quality grades have been in place since 1965 in Ontario, Canada, and were included under the provincial Farm Products Grades and Sales Act.Leuty, ''Christmas tree production''. While the grades in Ontario are law, in the United States the grading system is not mandated. In fact, it is common for U.S. growers to develop their own grading systems.Brown, James H., et al
Bulletin 670: Harvesting the Christmas tree crop
''Ohio Christmas Tree Producers Manual'', Ohio State University. Retrieved September 6, 2007. The grading systems established by individual jurisdictions are often in the spirit of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) grading scheme, even if they are not entirely based upon them.Wholesale
''New Hampshire-Vermont Christmas Tree Association'', official site. Retrieved 6 September 2007. The Department of Agriculture's United States Standards for Grades of Christmas Trees took effect on October 30, 1989, covering "sheared or unsheared trees of the coniferous species which are normally marketed as Christmas trees".''United States Department of Agriculture'', "United States Standards for Grades of Christmas Trees".

Harvest

Christmas tree farm customers cut n choose1

Christmas trees can be

ed and marketed in different ways. Some operations are known as "choose-and-cut" or pick-your-own farms, which allow customers to walk through the planted land, select their Christmas tree and cut down themselves. Wholesale operations are more labor-intensive because they usually require the farmer to complete tasks such as baling, cutting, moving the trees to a roadside pick-up, and loading the harvest. In addition, this work must be completed during a very short period in November. Growers also harvest trees by digging and balling the root and selling the trees as nursery stock or as live, reusable Christmas trees. This last option allows trees to be harvested earlier than the usual six- to ten-year period required to grow a mature Christmas tree. Christmas tree farm customer choose n cut farm2

Christmas tree farm customer choose n cut farm2

Larger farms began using helicopters to move tree harvests during the 1980s.Chastagner and Benson, ''The Christmas Tree: Traditions, Production and Diseases''. One farm in Oregon lacked road access, so it began using helicopters to move up to 200,000 Christmas trees per year. Helicopters reduce the amount of time between harvesting and market, cutting it from up to two weeks down to as little as three days.Kalkstein, ''KVAL News Channel 13'' (

Eugene, Oregon Eugene ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lane County, Oregon, United States. It is located at the southern end of the Willamette Valley, near the confluence of the McKenzie River (Oregon), McKenzie and Willamette River, Willamette rivers, ...

), "Christmas tree harvest". Not all natural Christmas trees harvested are grown on plantations. In

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

, Canada, for example, most of the 900,000 trees harvested for use as Christmas trees came from native pine and fir stands.Christmas Trees
, BC Farm Products A–Z, ''British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Lands''. Retrieved September 7, 2007. The British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Ranges allows any resident of the province to cut a Christmas tree for free from

Crown Land Crown land, also known as royal domain, is a territorial area belonging to the monarch, who personifies the Crown. It is the equivalent of an entailed estate and passes with the monarchy, being inseparable from it. Today, in Commonwealth realm ...

s, provided the individual receive prior permission in writing from a forest officer.Okanagan Shuswap Forest District
Information on cutting free Christmas Trees for Personal Use, ''British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Ranges''. Retrieved September 10, 2007. In the United States, the U.S. Forest Service and the

Bureau of Land Management The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior responsible for administering federal lands, U.S. federal lands. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the BLM oversees more than of land, or one ...

offer permits for individual tree cutting on government land, mostly within the National Forest system.Christmas tree permits
, ''United States Forest Service'', December 3, 2000. Retrieved September 10, 2007.

Farmers

The people who operate Christmas tree farms range from full-time growers to part-time farmers. One farmer in

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

, who began planting Christmas trees in 1967, gave his trees away for free from his modest farm for ten years before establishing a tree farming business.Foster, Jessica
For 37 years, tree farm has built tradition in FL
, ''Forest Lake Times'' ( Forest Lake, Minnesota), December 8, 2004. Retrieved September 4, 2007. Other farmers started growing Christmas trees as a supplemental income for retirement or college funds,Briody, Judy
Family traditions abound at Christmas tree farm
, ''Farragut Press'' ( Farragut, Tennessee), December 16, 2004. Retrieved September 4, 2007.McLeod, Gerald E
Day Trips
''The Austin Chronicle'' (

Austin, Texas Austin ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat and most populous city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and W ...

), December 12, 2003. Retrieved September 6, 2007. or they worked farms that were not originally established as Christmas tree farms.Zigmond, Jessica
Christmas trees help hog business
''Medill News Service'', Northwestern University, August 17, 1999. Retrieved September 6, 2007.Scott, Julia
Tradition grows at 'perfect' Christmas tree farm
''Oakland Tribune'', December 8, 2006, via FindArticles. Retrieved September 6, 2007. Various national growers' associations have been founded in Christmas tree producing nations. In the

, the British Christmas Tree Growers Association is a

trade association A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association, sector association or industry body, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific Industry (economics), industry. Through collabor ...

open to membership from Christmas tree farmers in Great Britain and

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...

.British Christmas Tree Growers Association
official site. Retrieved September 6, 2007. The National Christmas Tree Association serves a similar function in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

.About Us
, ''National Christmas Tree Association'', official site. Retrieved September 6, 2007. Most recently, a new trade group was formed that focuses on the critical role Christmas tree distributors or "Brokers" play in the supply of Christmas trees.
The Association of Real Christmas Tree Merchants
was formed in 2022 and as of July 2024, has close to 3,000 members.

Environmental effect

In the United States, the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) promotes the environmental benefits of live Christmas trees over the competing artificial alternative. The NCTA stated that every acre of Christmas trees in production produced the daily

requirement for 18 people; with in production in the U.S. alone, that amounts to oxygen for 9 million people per day. The NCTA also stated that the farms help to stabilize the soil, protect water supplies and provide wildlife habitat.''National Christmas Tree Association'', "Real Christmas Trees are a Benefit to the Environment". In addition, the industry points to the reduction of carbon dioxide through Christmas tree farming.Hickman, "Is it OK ... to get a Christmas tree?" An independent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study, conducted by a firm of experts in sustainable development, states that a natural tree will generate 3.1 kg of

greenhouse gases Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are the gases in the atmosphere that raise the surface temperature of planets such as the Earth. Unlike other gases, greenhouse gases absorb the radiations that a planet emits, resulting in the greenhouse effect. T ...

whereas the artificial tree will produce 8.1 kg per year.Ellipsos Inc.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Christmas trees, A study ends the debate over which Christmas tree, natural or artificial, is most ecological
", December 16, 2008; accessed online September 22, 2009. A 1998 report from the

Michigan State University Michigan State University (Michigan State or MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State o ...

Agricultural Experiment Station An agricultural experiment station (AES) or agricultural research station (ARS) is a scientific research center that investigates difficulties and potential improvements to food production and agribusiness. Experiment station scientists work with ...

predicted increasing environmental concerns about tree production and use as one possible reason people may favor artificial trees in the future. The report cited the use of

s and

pesticide Pesticides are substances that are used to control pests. They include herbicides, insecticides, nematicides, fungicides, and many others (see table). The most common of these are herbicides, which account for approximately 50% of all p ...

s and increasing concerns regarding tree disposal as the chief elements in its prediction.Koelling, Melvin R., et al
Christmas Tree Production in Michigan
, Agricultural Experiment Station, ''Michigan State University'', July 28, 1998. Retrieved September 3, 2007. Critics of tree farming have raised the concerns highlighted in the 1998 report, as well as other issues, such as the effect that large-scale tree farming operations have on

biodiversity Biodiversity is the variability of life, life on Earth. It can be measured on various levels. There is for example genetic variability, species diversity, ecosystem diversity and Phylogenetics, phylogenetic diversity. Diversity is not distribut ...

. Pesticide use on Christmas tree farms is one of the main concerns of environmentalists;Sidebottom, ''Frequently Asked Questions about Christmas Tree Farms and Pesticides''. fir trees are vulnerable to a wide array of pests and diseases which requires the use of pesticides and other chemicals including the widely used herbicide

glyphosate Glyphosate (IUPAC name: ''N''-(phosphonomethyl)glycine) is a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide and crop desiccant. It is an organophosphorus compound, specifically a phosphonate, which acts by EPSP inhibitor, inhibiting the plant enzyme 5-en ...

. Glyphosate is commonly used in Christmas tree production in the U.S. state of North Carolina, where studies have found traces of

agricultural chemicals An agrochemical or agrichemical, a contraction of ''agricultural chemical'', is a chemical product used in industrial agriculture. Agrichemical typically refers to biocides (pesticides including insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and nematicid ...

in homes and tree industry workers' urine samples. The average Christmas tree receives roughly a half of an

ounce The ounce () is any of several different units of mass, weight, or volume and is derived almost unchanged from the , an Ancient Roman unit of measurement. The avoirdupois ounce (exactly ) is avoirdupois pound; this is the United States ...

(14 g) of pesticide over its lifetime. The

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

's "Gardening" website called buying Christmas trees directly from the farm, "the most environmentally friendly way of getting a tree". Other positive environmental attributes have been given live Christmas trees as well. Researchers at the

University of Nebraska A university () is an educational institution, institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly ...

included the reuse of natural Christmas trees as

mulch A mulch is a layer of material applied to the surface of soil. Reasons for applying mulch include conservation of soil moisture, improving soil fertility, fertility and health of the soil, reducing Weed control, weed growth, and enhancing the v ...

and, in larger quantities, piled up as

soil erosion Soil erosion is the denudation or wearing away of the Topsoil, upper layer of soil. It is a form of soil degradation. This natural process is caused by the dynamic activity of erosive agents, that is, water, ice (glaciers), snow, Atmosphere of Ea ...

barriers, among the benefits of live tree use.Wilson, Jon
Keep Christmas Trees Fresh and Safe
, West Central Research & Extension Center, ''University of Nebraska'', 4 December 2000. Retrieved 3 September 2007. Other positive reuses included fish habitat in private ponds and backyard bird feeders.

Research

Since 2004, several researchers at

Oregon State University Oregon State University (OSU) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. OSU offers more than 200 undergraduate degree programs and a variety of graduate and doctor ...

's (OSU) College of Forestry have researched various aspects of Christmas tree cultivation. In the Department of Forest Resources, Rick Fletcher is researching Christmas tree

genetics Genetics is the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in organisms.Hartl D, Jones E (2005) It is an important branch in biology because heredity is vital to organisms' evolution. Gregor Mendel, a Moravian Augustinians, Augustinian ...

, fertilization and disease management, while Chad Landgren is concentrating his emphasis on Christmas tree genetics and disease management. Both men are doing their research in the

Silviculture Silviculture is the practice of controlling the growth, composition/structure, as well as quality of forests to meet values and needs, specifically timber production. The name comes from the Latin ('forest') and ('growing'). The study of forests ...

and

Ecology Ecology () is the natural science of the relationships among living organisms and their Natural environment, environment. Ecology considers organisms at the individual, population, community (ecology), community, ecosystem, and biosphere lev ...

Section of the department.Silviculture and Ecology
, Department of Forest Resources, ''Oregon State University'' College of Forestry. Retrieved September 10, 2007. In OSU's Department of Forest Science, Mike Bondi is conducting ongoing research into Christmas tree fertilization, productivity and genetics, as well as natural and artificial regeneration systems.Current Research of 2004
''Oregon State University'' College of Forestry. Retrieved September 10, 2007. During the mid-1990s, the trio's research was primarily focused on creating better Christmas tree seed stock, resulting in a higher percentage of quality mature trees, through genetic improvements.Rost, Bob

, (

Press release A press release (also known as a media release) is an official statement delivered to members of the news media for the purpose of providing new information, creating an official statement, or making an announcement directed for public releas ...

), ''Oregon State University'', News and Communications Services, December 9, 1996. Retrieved September 10, 2007. Similar research has been conducted by the

New Mexico State University New Mexico State University (NMSU or NM State) is a public, land-grant, research university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States. Founded in 1888, it is the state's oldest public institution of higher education, and was the original land-g ...

.Christmas Tree Research and Forest Genetics
, Agricultural Experiment Station, ''New Mexico State University'', 2006. Retrieved September 10, 2007. U.S. institutions in other Christmas tree producing locales have also undertaken their own research programs. North Carolina State University has several full-time staff dedicated to all aspects of tree production. Specialties at N.C. State cross several academic departments and range from a Christmas tree

program to providing material support for growers in areas such as

sustainable agriculture Sustainable agriculture is agriculture, farming in sustainability, sustainable ways meeting society's present food and textile needs, without compromising the ability for current or future generations to meet their needs. It can be based on an ...

and pest management.Christmas Tree Research and Extension
", ''North Carolina State University'', Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, accessed April 16, 2007. The Christmas Tree Research Center in Bible Hill,

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...

does research on Balsam firs for Canadian producers.

Industry classification

Activities related to the cultivation of Christmas trees require cross-disciplinary (

horticulture Horticulture (from ) is the art and science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs and ornamental plants. Horticulture is commonly associated with the more professional and technical aspects of plant cultivation on a smaller and mo ...

, and

agriculture Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created ...

) skills and fall into different specialty categories. Under the terms of Title 29 of the

United States Code The United States Code (formally The Code of Laws of the United States of America) is the official Codification (law), codification of the general and permanent Law of the United States#Federal law, federal statutes of the United States. It ...

, which defines federal regulations pertaining to the

United States Department of Labor The United States Department of Labor (DOL) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government. It is responsible for the administration of federal laws governing occupational safety and health, wage and hour standards, unemp ...

, Christmas tree planting, tending and cutting are specifically not "farming operations".29 CFR 780.208 - Forest and Christmas tree activities
, Title 29, Chapter 5, Section 780.208, Code of Federal Regulations, ''United States Department of Labor''. Retrieved September 10, 2007. The U.S.

Farm Service Agency The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is the United States Department of Agriculture agency that was formed by merging the farm loan portfolio and staff of the Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) and the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service ...

(FSA) does not provide federal crop insurance for Christmas tree crops, however, there is an alternative program, through the FSA, which provides assistance for non-insured crops.Farm Service Agency
,

' , Office of Communications, ''United States Department of Agriculture'', 1997, p. 4. Retrieved September 10, 2007. The U.S. Census Bureau, responsible for the Agriculture Census until 1997, excluded Christmas tree farms as farms from its reports. When the Census of Agriculture authority was shifted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1997 the differences in definition were resolved and the Census of Agriculture included Christmas tree farms.Hoppe. Robert A. and Korb, Penni
Farm Numbers: Largest Growing Fastest
, (

file), ''Agricultural Outlook'', October 2002, pp. 24–27, ''Economic Research Service'', United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved September 7, 2007. The status of Christmas tree farms as actual, by definition,

farms A farm (also called an agricultural holding) is an area of land that is devoted primarily to agricultural processes with the primary objective of producing food and other crops; it is the basic facility in food production. The name is used fo ...

, and their products thus agricultural in nature, has evolved in the various government agencies responsible for such categorization. In both Canada, and the United States the governments take a regular Census of Agriculture, reporting in these censuses relies on the classifications. Beginning in 1996, the

Canadian government The Government of Canada (), formally His Majesty's Government (), is the body responsible for the federal administration of Canada. The term ''Government of Canada'' refers specifically to the executive, which includes ministers of the Crown ( ...

included Christmas tree farms in its Census of Agriculture concerning the issue of net farm income and farm cash receipts. The changes also included the addition of egg hatcheries to the census. The results were marginal with net cash farm income rising just 0.1 percent.Net Farm Income
, Agriculture Economic Statistics, ''Statistics Canada'', May 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2007. In the United Kingdom, Christmas trees do not fall into the category of enterprises included in farm profits.''HM Revenue & Customs'', ''Nurseries and Market Gardens - definition''. Instead, Christmas tree farms are classified as "

market garden A market garden is the relatively small-scale production of fruits, vegetables and flowers as cash crops, frequently sold directly to consumers and restaurants. The diversity of crops grown on a small area of land, typically from under to s ...

s". Market gardens are defined separately from farming and are nurseries or gardens used for the sale of produce other than

hops Hops are the flowers (also called seed cones or strobiles) of the hop plant ''Humulus lupulus'', a member of the Cannabaceae family of flowering plants. They are used primarily as a bittering, flavouring, and stability agent in beer, to whic ...

. However, in

, some Christmas trees are cultivated and harvested by the Forest Service.Forest Fresh Christmas Trees
, ''Forest Service'' (Northern Ireland), United Kingdom Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Retrieved September 10, 2007.

Cultural significance

In the United States, visits to Christmas tree farms have become a Christmas holiday tradition for people. Christmas tree farms have embraced this trend; at one Minnesota tree farm it has become tradition for customers to pose for snapshots with their trees, when they return in subsequent years they can check the "wall of memories" for their photo. Other tree farms have served the same families for multiple generations, becoming a part of each group's holiday traditions.Long, Tom
N.H. family's donation preserves Christmas tree tradition
''The Boston Globe'', 23 August 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2007. In 2006, New York state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick H. Brennan, supported the virtues of purchasing Christmas trees from local Christmas tree farms.Chittenden, Jessica A
Commissioner urges consumers to buy New York Christmas trees
, (

), ''New York State Department of Agriculture'', 7 December 2006. Retrieved 4 September 2007. In a statement released to support New York Christmas tree growers he stated, Some tree farms offer more than just a chance to cut down a live Christmas tree. Outdoor and holiday themed activities are not uncommon and include wagon rides, offering hot cocoa or

cider Cider ( ) is an alcoholic beverage made from the Fermented drink, fermented Apple juice, juice of apples. Cider is widely available in the United Kingdom (particularly in the West Country) and Ireland. The United Kingdom has the world's highest ...

Santa Claus Santa Claus (also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Santa) is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Chris ...

visits and holiday crafts.Go to a Christmas tree farm to relive, make, keep memories
, ''Tennessee.gov'', 13 November 2006. Retrieved 4 September 2007. Many tree farms actively encourage schools to sponsor field trips to the farms. One grower in Kansas contended that usual worries for businesses, such as a tight economy, do not affect Christmas tree farms. The grower thought that obtaining a tree from a Christmas tree farm was something that almost nothing could stop; an activity that transcended the economy and the weather.Krug, Nick
Tradition clashes with economy
''The Topeka Capital Journal'' (

Topeka, Kansas Topeka ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, in northeastern Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2020 cen ...

), 2 December 2002, via FindArticles. Retrieved 4 September 2007.

Notes

References

* Anonymous
Tree shortage threatens Christmas
, ''Metro'' (London), November 28, 2006. Retrieved September 3, 2007. * Barney, D.L., and Finnerty, T.L
Christmas trees is this the crop for you?
(

), Alternative Agricultural Enterprises, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, ''University of Idaho'', June 1995. Retrieved September 3, 2007. * Bondi, Mike
An Introduction to Growing Christmas Trees
Oregon State University Extension Service, ''Oregon State University'', via Washington State University. Retrieved September 4, 2007. * Brown, James H., et al

''Ohio Christmas Tree Producers Manual'', Ohio State University. Retrieved August 25, 2007. * Brown, James H., et al

''Ohio Christmas Tree Producers Manual'', Ohio State University. Retrieved August 25, 2007. * Chastagner, Gary A., and Benson, D. Michael
The Christmas Tree: Traditions, Production and Diseases
''Plant Management Network International'', (authors from North Carolina State University and Washington State University), October 13, 2001. Retrieved September 4, 2007. * ''Cornell University''

Department of Plant Pathology. Retrieved September 7, 2007. * Day, Eric

Insect Identification Laboratory, Department of Entomology, ''Virginia Tech'', January 2002. Retrieved September 3, 2007.
Christmas tree
, Gardening, ''BBC''. Retrieved September 3, 2007. * Hart, John, et al
Christmas Tree Nutrient Management Guide for Western Oregon and Washington

PDF
, OSU Extension Service, ''Oregon State University'', February 2004. Retrieved September 3, 2007. * Hickman, Leo

''Guardian'' (UK), December 6, 2005. Retrieved September 3, 2007. * ''HM Revenue & Customs''

Business Income Manual
Contents
, BIM62601, 2003–2007. Retrieved September 10, 2007. * Johnson, James E. et al

Virginia Cooperative Extension, ''Virginia Tech'', March 1997. Retrieved September 3, 2007. * Kalkstein, Meghan

''KVAL News Channel 13'' (

), November 18, 2006. Retrieved September 5, 2007. * Koelling, Melvin and Dornbush, Laurie J
Growing Christmas Trees in Michigan
Forestry Area Of Expertise (AOE) Team, Michigan State University Extension, ''Michigan State University''. Retrieved September 6, 2007. * Leuty, Todd

''Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs'', March 26, 1999; July 31, 2003. Retrieved September 3, 2007. * ''National Christmas Tree Association''
Real Christmas Trees are a Benefit to the Environment
. Retrieved September 3, 2007. * Preston, Holly Hubbard
For a Very Merry Christmas, Invest in Trees for the Season
, ''International Herald Tribune'', December 23, 2000. Retrieved September 3, 2007. * Schmitz, John

''The Capital Press'', June 28, 2002, via Washington State University. Retrieved September 3, 2007. * Sidebottom, Jill R

Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center, ''North Carolina State University'', October 30, 2006. Retrieved September 3, 2007. * ''United States Department of Agriculture'',
Christmas Tree Pest Manual
', Michigan State University Extension, 1997–1998. Retrieved September 7, 2007. * ''United States Department of Agriculture''
United States Standards for Grades of Christmas Trees
(

file), Agricultural Marketing Service, October 30, 1989, reprinted January 1997. Retrieved September 6, 2007. * ''University of California, Berkeley''
A Christmas Tree Grower's Guide to Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora ramorum)
, (

file), College of Natural Resources, November 20, 2006. Retrieved September 3, 2007. * Wolford, Ron
Christmas Tree Facts
Christmas Trees & More, ''University of Illinois''. Retrieved August 25, 2007. * Wolford, Ron

Christmas Trees & More, ''University of Illinois''. Retrieved September 3, 2007.

External links

Attack of the Mutant Artificial Trees
Flash game, from the NCTA
Canadian Christmas Tree Growers Association
Canada *
Christmas Tree Magazine
', trade publication
British Christmas Tree Growers Association
Great Britain
National Christmas Tree Association
United States

{{DEFAULTSORT:Christmas Tree Cultivation Cultivation

History

Cultivation

Land and climate

Labor and equipment

Trees

Pests, disease and weeds

Quality

Harvest

Farmers

Environmental effect

Research

Industry classification

Cultural significance

See also

Notes

References

External links