I have since read that this is a viable way to get Christmas tree seedlings just as the frost is leaving the soil, since the soil is saturated with water then and the seedlings lift very easily. The base of the live crown of the tree should be about two-thirds as wide as the height of the tree. Four types of pruning cuts are made: basal pruning; central leader pruning; lateral branch pruning; and corrective pruning. ( The first shearing on a new tree will typically take place when the tree is between 2-3 feet tall (60 -100cm). ( Pruning your Christmas tree is actually quite easy once you get the hang of it. ( )?M cC:ZA@ P@ P@ je I E1#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@ PP@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ @ - P@ P@@ @@ PP@ - P@ P@ P@ % - % P@ - % - % P@ P@ P@@ @@ % P@ P@ P@ PP@ PP@ P@ P@ P@ @@ P@ P@ KQ UC" While some growers do make money with Scotch pines selling them out of state or to large retailers such as Wal-Mart, I believe I would not recommend them for local, cut- your-own markets. Ive considered using junk mail catalogs to kill the sod the year before planting. of Ag., 12/17/97, * Balsam fir $8 to $19* Fraser fir $8 to $24* White pine $10* White spruce $6 to $10, * Balsam fir $15 to $45* Douglas fir $25 to $30* Fraser fir $20 to $55* Scotch pine $10 to $30* White pine $10 to $25. Remove branches that rub together. ( University of New Hampshire Extension(877) 398-4769 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. ( 1997, Hortscience. Where nutrients are in satisfactory balance, many growers get good results by applying balanced ratio fertilizers such as 10-10-10 or 23-12-18. ( This article appeared in the Spring, Summer and Winter 1998 issues of The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener. An 8-foot tree, for example, should have about a 5-foot- diameter base. (( (( ( ( Basal pruning is accomplished by cutting of all branches from the ground up to a full, complete whorl of branches. Depending on the species, this last step of the shaping process usually starts when the tree is between 3 and 5 feet (1-1.5 m.) tall and continues annually until the tree is harvested. This size initial planting will enable you to determine how many trees you can tend, and if the market for real Christmas trees is glutted, youll have just enough for your local market and will probably be able to weather that glut better than a large scale grower who relies on Christmas trees and distant, more competitive markets for a greater proportion of his income. say that in the Northeast, nitrogen is the element most commonly required for optimal Christmas tree growth. The process may take some time, especially if you dont have the right tools. ( ( Commercial height and stem diameter were unaffected, but the average harvest . Concentrate releases in hot spots where spider mite numbers are highest. ((h This usually occurs from mid-June to mid-July. One good use of an Austrian pine tree is firewood. Continue Reading Download. ( 1 0 obj<> ( Service, Univ. A well-shaped, dense tree has a fairly uniform spacing of 8 to 10 . Unfortunately Christmas trees are not particularly well suited to growing in pots long-term, and may start to struggle as they mature. Spend a few moments looking at the tree's size and shape and imagining how it should look when you are finished. of Maine Coop. By the time the trees were six or seven years old, it was difficult to get between them to prune and impossible to mow between them. Growing your own conifer as a Christmas tree is lots of fun, and if you keep it in a container for several years you can bring it indoors for the festive season before it gets too big and needs to be planted out. Frost heaving can be worse with August-planted trees, too. ( ( ((t ( Damage assessments after the historic heat wave of June 2021 in Oregon provided lessons for the state's Christmas tree growers. ( ( Rouse Simmons. ( per tree in the 2-3 ft. class to 4.3 lbs. A real Christmas tree has many benefits for you and your family. Worcester 19 minutes drive 1 or U.S. ( 7009, Univ. You should not see an excessive amount of green needles fall to . ( Supplying enough nitrogen is, I think, one area in which we have been too lax with our own trees. Z J Z (( 8 0 obj<>stream (Other experts cite losses of 25 to 30% due to mortality and culling even with pesticide use. The initial cost can be high. Extn. ( The principles and guidelines in this publication will help you master common pruning techniques. ( ( Rotary tree hoes have articulating arms that retract when a sensor touches the tree. Post on 06-Aug-2020. Next, trim the lateral branches of the top whorl. ( It has always struck me as a great inconsistency to grow a plant that symbolizes life by applying poisons to that crop. ( I spoke with a grower from Vermont several years ago who was using sheep to keep the vegetation down in his plantation, and he was very happy with the system. Deformities in individual trees can usually be corrected by clipping and shearing, thereby improving the quality and saleability of the tree. ( ( ( Service, Orono, ME 04469. Box 3657, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72702; Steve Diver, Technical Specialist; Tel. I cite these recommendations not to encourage you to use chemical fertilizers, but to encourage you to add any needed lime and phosphorus before planting, and to give you a guide as to when trees need which nutrients. Shape by pruning (selective removal or cutting . ( ( Be forewarned, though, that trees of the same species within about 400 feet of one another can cross pollinate; cross pollination can prevent the progeny from resembling the female parent. While the income from Christmas trees comes during the off season, much of the work involved in growing them does not. Anon., Making Wreaths for Profit, Yankee Woodlot Bull. This energy is channeled to react to the wounding. ( Where magnesium is deficient, blends such as 10-18-12-3.6 (3.6 percent Mg) are useful.. Basal pruning is accomplished by cutting of all branches from the ground up to a full, complete whorl of . Experience has shown that unless cultural work is done on a tree it will rarely be a Premium grade tree and will usually grade out to a low U.S. No. ( ( When purchased online. ( ( ( 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. ( ( ( The existing vegetation can indicate whether the site is suitable or not. ( Since then, her children have continued the tradition. When pruning diseased branches, make thinning cuts into healthy wood, well below the infected area. One day last winter, my daughter traveled from the top of one tree to another and another, traversing 11 trees without stepping on the ground. In 1995, we started selling those trees, making a couple of hundred dollars that first year and a few hundred the next. ( Publications suggest going to a spot where the seedlings are growing in the open, such as a recently logged or bulldozed area, and pulling up the native, 3- to 8-inch-tall seedlings while theyre dormant in the spring, packing them in wet peat moss, rolling them in sacking, and setting them in a transplant bed, taking care to keep the roots moist at all times. Avoid pruning plants when they are especially open to attacks by insects or diseases. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. ( The US Forest Service has rules about what types of trees are allowed to be cut, as well as how big they can be. The trees should be set as deep as they were in the nursery, and the soil should be firmed around their roots after theyre planted to eliminate air spaces. USNH Privacy Policies USNH Terms of Use ADA Acknowledgment Affirmative Action Jeanne Clery Act. 2.7K views, 44 likes, 0 loves, 4 comments, 6 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Allagash View Farms, LLC: Basal prunning Christmas trees Z ((h The needles of this tree are very sharp they are awful to prune and the tree doesnt have the fragrance of balsam. The following list describes some of the other species that are grown as Christmas trees. J Di01c Palms with crownshafts should never need pruning if properly fertilized. ( ( For evergreen trees, pruning in late summer and autumn is ideal. ( ( Oregon City, OR, Bio Science Research Technician, Christmas Trees, Commercial fishing, crabbing and clamming, Local, regional and community food systems, Drought hinders popular noble Christmas trees, Trees to Know guidebook helps identify Christmas trees, Historic heatwave offers lessons for Christmas tree growers. ( As a general rule of thumb, the ideal time to prune, shear, and shape is when the shoots stop elongating, but before the branches harden. This is, reportedly, a slow and inefficient process (Christmas Trees Pay Off, Yankee Woodlot series), and its better to replant with vigorous transplants. ( ( This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. The top whorl of branches should be folded up alongside the leader to determine how much to shear. Our soil was very high in phosphorus to begin with and still is (probably the result of annual fertilizing with complete fertilizers in decades past, when the land was in continuous corn), and the pH of 5.5 was okay for growing Christmas trees. $5 from Dr. Deborah Hill, Forestry, 201 Thomas Poe Cooper Bldg., Univ. Just after the seedlings emerge in the spring, expose them to 50% light by covering the bed with wood lath screening or snow fencing or by making a grid with stakes and rope about 1 foot off the ground and setting fir boughs on this grid. ( Start pruning the central leaders when the trees are waist-high at the same time you do basal pruning. Recommendations for growing Christmas trees are almost all based on a chemical approach chemical fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and miticides. This will help prevent the formation of a multiple top. ( Oregon Title 29. ( ( ( A publication from the University of Kentucky suggests watching livestock carefully during fly season, when they may rub against trees, and when trees are putting on new growth and animals may be tempted by the succulence. a balanced, symmetrical form with no gaping holes. ( ( For many reasons, the cost of a real Christmas tree has been rising in recent years. ( Once trees are cut, they should be stored in a cool, shaded area that is protected from the wind. Stourbridge 26 minutes Pruning your Christmas tree can be done anytime of the year, but the best time to prune is during the early spring or summer. ( Extn. Attention should be given to maintaining the desired taper. (h ( ( ( Extension Facts No. ( ( ( It involves breaking off upward growing shoots and removing old or damaged shoots to create a more even shape throughout. TTY Users: 7-1-1 or 800-735-2964 (Relay NH) Basal pruning reduced cutting time to (average of 23%). ( Make a shallow cut on the underside of the branch, about 4-5 inches from the trunk. ( ( Pruning removes an entire leader or lateral limb. Basal pruning reduced cutting time approximately 25%, and baling time approximately 10%. Water-stressed plants are less tolerant of spider mite damage. This task involves taking off upward-growing shoots and pruning away wayward ones to maintain a healthy shape. ( Granger et al. ( A healthy old leaf will be completely . At this point, I would recommend setting the trees 5 to 6 feet apart within rows and setting the rows 7 feet apart. ( They will not need shade in the transplant bed but may need to be watered and fertilized periodically. ( Leave the shade on until late September. ( ( Pruning a Christmas tree requires some special care. ( It should be about 1 inch above a good bud. endobj } We hope you manage to keep your Christmas tree looking fantastic through the festive season. Four types of pruning cuts are made: basal pruning; central leader pruning; lateral branch pruning; and corrective . There is a large group of palms that have crownshaftsa region of smooth, usually green, tightly clasping leaf bases at the top of the gray trunk (Figure 3). ( ( ( During the three years that we have been selling trees, only two people have specifically said they wanted a Scotch pine. ( Cultural practices can have a significant impact on spider mites. ( When trees are harvested, we replant in those spots the following spring. Could we work up a short list of conifer candidates that are native to Oregon? Some publications say that when planting in old pastures or hay land, you can turn the soil with a disk harrow, or plow the rows where the trees are to be planted. The best time to prune deciduous trees is late winter or early spring (February, March, and early April) before they begin to leaf out. ( Please contact us at either 814-591-4109 or 814-496-9200 for any questions as well as to get a list of prices and sizes available. News story. Second, you should cut the tree at a 45-degree angle. ( ( You should also measure the size of the tree stand. We have established a pleasant summer routine in which I write and edit for a couple of hours in the morning, prune trees for an hour or two, then take the kids to the beach. A division of Branded Garden Products Limited. ( ( ( 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. This past Christmas, we sold 47 trees at $15 each making enough money ($705) to offset much of our Christmas spending. ((h (h( Sow seed into a freely draining seed-mix during spring and summer. On the other hand, if youre going to have the general public traipsing around your land with saws and axes, youll have the added expense of liability insurance. 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. If you add lime, be sure other nutrients are adequate and still in balance, otherwise needles may turn yellow.) This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages. I knew that Ralph and his wife made enough money from his trees and wreaths to pack up the day after Christmas and spend the rest of the winter in Florida, so I felt confident that I could grow my trees without chemicals, too. He said that as long as he moved the sheep frequently, they ate the grasses and other weeds their preferred foods and left the trees alone. There are some tips you need to follow when cutting your own Christmas tree. ( Benefits of not mowing between the trees are that goldenrods and other wildflowers were allowed to bloom, providing pollen and nectar for bees; and ground-nesting birds were given a safe home. All buds below the top bud next to the cut should be removed from the leader down to about 3 inches from the top whorl. For more advice on growing and caring for conifers, visit our conifer hub page - our dedicated resource that covers everything you need to know about planting conifers in your garden. ( It can also help you determine its exact size. >7 Zqz 'CP}}T lw{wtw B nv|?q@P=z}h 7I=hVw|_q@ o i@: _x} 7R N(b '7n[P h | h! '* /Jnt h?c~ /8^~ s?p\| pcv~A> A7yx 4j>H) o_/4 W '!YN _5M;rP uHB #v@ !4 $? X__ /[Y?@ 7|(02av) GlpZ ? _Ea >T? &_ /l2mmh+ g$ _>J9o !8Rg[WUv u\> :\Fc2uj Ooivwj?A}hXlP ~ 9[ sb,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@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ % - P@ +P Dont plant in gullies, ditches or other low-lying spots that are susceptible to frost. 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. Chase, Nan, Growing a Healthy Crop for Christmas, National Wildlife, Dec.-Jan 1995, p. 24. Service, Manhattan, KS, Media Inquiries:Contact Jennifer Wilhelm [emailprotected]. ( ( Treetopia. Some grasses can reduce tree growth by as much as two-thirds. We planted our first crop in a mowed field and mulched with 1-square-foot pieces of black roofing paper to keep the grass down. ( The cut should be made at an angle. In addition, real trees are recyclable, so when youre done using them, you can reuse them as mulch. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Basal Pruning. Pinewood, Rectory Lane, ( ( It was difficult to get into our trees to mow with the tractor after the first few years, because wed set the trees just 5 feet apart in all directions. This way, you can know the height of the tree. Trees with roots curving up in a U-shape, for instance, will grow poorly. ( Some growers basal prune trees 0 to 2 Christmas tree farm maintenance company that takes care of all shearing, planting, basal pruning, and harvesting needs for Christmas tree farms in the New. The following year about 30 trees were ready, so we sent a few more postcards. ( ( Christmas Tree Farm Locator. Pines can be sheared to achieve good results only when the new needle growth is about two-thirds the size of the old needle length. :t ( ( Read more articles about Christmas Trees. If you want to save some money but still buy plants, you could buy 2-0 seedlings and grow them in your own transplant bed for a year or two. Competition is less severe during the later part of the summer. The Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) says, Many growers in Cape Town, British Columbia, claim that sheep are probably the most commonly used animals for this practice, but cows and even ostriches are also effective. NCAP also says that cultivating and heat steaming machines can be used for weed control but that the startup costs and management requirements are greater for these than for other methods. ( Tree Crops for Marginal Farmland--Christmas Trees #446-605. x+234R0 Bk hd The advantage of this method is that you can select, to some extent, seed from desirable trees. ((h Extn., Orono, ME 04469. If the top whorl has too many lateral branches (more than 8 or 10), remove the extras; the remaining ones should be evenly spaced around the trunk. ( ( During the last year or two of pruning, youll probably have to invest in a pole pruner to reach the top laterals and the central leader. If youre not sure, try shaking the tree to see if any of the branches are dry. This allows the tree to heal after the cut and encourage new growth. The reduction was statistically signifi- cant in three of the four plantations. ( It is important not to prune back more than one years growth. ( ( ( ( Thinning cuts remove branches back to their points . Bromsgrove 16 minutes drive I strongly recommend that you start with balsam firs. This publication outlines how trees grow and the culturing practices necessary to develop the size, shape, and density of true fir, Douglas-fir, pine, and spruce Christmas trees so that they are marketable. Next, look at branches that cross or rub each. ( ( %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ( This step will prevent a lateral branch from taking over as the leader. If the site is abundant in alders, sphagnum mosses and blueberries, maybe you should grow blueberries. ( ( It also destroys the plant's natural shape and promotes suckering and the . At least plant your trees in straight rows to simplify mowing! opacity: 1; Basal pruning reduced cutting time 25%, and baling time 10%. ( In this way, the trees will have time to grow and become ready for sale. ( Worcester 19 minutes drive ( We knew balsams were a favorite of New Englanders (and of us), and all of the extension publications we read said to include Scotch pines because they grew fast and would shorten the wait for some income. ( ( With the machete in my hand and the stiff, poorly fitting chap on my leg, I felt quite vulnerable. 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. For lots of Christmas tree farmers, selling bulk brush for wreaths is good revenue. Add no fertilizer the year of planting, but do implement an effective weed control program. 7012, Univ. ( If its becoming too large for its pot then youll need to repot it using John Innes No. Remove the . ( . 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 ( width: 100%; ( Anon., So You Want to Grow Christmas Trees? Yankee Woodlot Bull 7048, Univ. (607)255-3245. ( of Maine Coop. Basal pruning consists of removing all the branches from the ground up to a full whorl or set of branches. ( The distance between the whorls (rings of branches) determines how full the finished Christmas tree will look. 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. ( If security is a problem in your area, you might want to plant your trees away from the road and close to your house. Bulletins, Room 245, 30 N. Murray St., Madison, Wisconsin 53715. This cut should be made at a 45- to 60- degree angle and should be about 1 inch above a good bud; that bud will become next years central leader. Some also offer wreaths, arts and crafts, gifts, and onsite family activities such as hay rides. ( Growing a green manure crop the previous summer and turning it under a couple of weeks before sowing tree seeds is quite helpful. Z ( A good rule of thumb is that one predator is needed for every 10 spider mites to provide control. Fir and spruce should be cut after a killing frost has set the needles, while pines should be cut before a hard frost to prevent foliage discoloration and old needle drop. Kevlar gloves are also worn by some workers. ( ( This process should be completed at least two years before the tree is harvested. See our land acknowledgement.Copyright 1995-2023 Oregon State University | Web disclaimer/privacy | Equal opportunity/accessibility, Photo: Judy Kowalski (Cropped from original), Photo Credit: Jacquie Klose - Adobe Stock (Cropped from original), Photo: Christina Friehauf (Cropped from original), Photo Credit: jpldesigns - Adobe Stock (Cropped from original), Photo: Judith Kowalski (Cropped from original), 8:15 am ( If you dont have these tools, you can also use an electric chainsaw. Having two kids and nonfarm jobs has limited the time for such escapades. ( For subscribers: Oregon's drought killed many young Christmas trees, spared mature trees to be sold this year 'Really beautiful work' Last year, Oregon Christmas tree sales totaled $107 million, with workers harvesting 3.44 million trees, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.Clackamas County leads Oregon in Christmas tree acreage with 9,472 acres, and Marion County is next . Make it fun by challenging everyone to find each of the most common Christmas trees: Douglas-fir, noble fir and grand fir. ( ( For an excellent discussion about collecting balsam fir seeds and growing seedlings, see Balsam Fir Seed Collection and Storage, by M.L. Thank you! ( ( ( by wpx_cairns | Sep 19, 2022 | Tree Prunning. ( ( We price our trees at $15 each and leave it up to the customers to get their moneys worth. Ever since I saw a smallish (about 3-feet-high) one sitting on a table in Kentucky, its dense greenery decorated with lace and delicate ornaments, Ive wanted to grow these as Christmas trees (and landscape ornamentals). These cost about $45 at Agway, but I was lucky to find one for about $20 at Renys one summer. ( Typically, lilac pruning aims to meet any combination of the five following goals: Deadheading - removing spent blossoms and seedheads to visually clean it up and increase blooming potential for next year. This way, you wont have to worry about it being too large or too small. This can be as early as 5 years of age for pines but is usually about 10 or more years for balsam firs. ( Apply a fine mist of water to avoid washing the soil away from the tree roots, and apply at least 1/2 inch each time you water so that the moisture gets deep enough in the soil to reach the roots. ( Christmas Trees magazine, Tree Publishers, Inc., P.O. Excessive leader growth which detracts from the desired symmetry of the tree can be remedied through pruning of the terminal leader or basal pruning. Second, I dont like machetes because theyre dangerous. Here in Maine, Austin Moore is growing Christmas trees among his apple trees to get some income while he waits for the apples to mature. Our initial spacing was 5-foot by 5-foot which, we now believe, is too close. ( ( ( (913)887-6324; Subscription $10 for 4 issues. Double leaders are removed, and deformities corrected. Compact foliage Shaping controls the width between the branches and helps eliminate bare spots. 6 0 obj<>stream Remove weeds from the beds as soon as they appear. margin: 0; The first step in pruning a Christmas tree is to ensure that it is still young. ( The quickest and easiest but most expensive way to start your plantation is to buy seedlings or transplants from a nursery. background: #215a64; Q: We buy live Christmas trees and then plant them as a family tradition. 346, Univ. ( Jacob Putney, Chal Landgren | ( Pruning is one of the most important cultural practices for maintaining woody plants, including ornamental trees and shrubs, fruits and nuts. After several months, prune out all sprouts growing in response to the cut. In essence, shearing the tree is accomplished by visualizing an imaginary cone over the tree and cutting off all the branches that stick out beyond the cone. ( ( Usually, only the terminal twig on each lateral branch needs to be cut off in shearing. Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences. Likewise, establishing a leguminous crop before planting the trees and then mowing or grazing that crop after the trees are planted would probably fix and cycle enough nitrogen to feed the Christmas trees. ( We have had remarkably few problems with such pests. ( Kapple-Smith, Diana, A Christmas Business, Country Journal, Dec. 1980. Basal pruning had no effect on height. This will help straighten the roots. ( It is usually started when at tree is 4 to 5 feet high, although some shearing may be necessary at a younger age to control a gross defect. Assess the tree. ( 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. These should be cut so they are not longer than the leader. ( Suggestions for natural control. Alternatively, you can hire a tree surgeon to trim your tree for you. J Z ( This is usually done just in the first year of shearing, when the tree is about waist-high. 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. ( Remove dead wood promptly, by cutting dead branches back to healthy branches. During this year we will basal prune them which involves removing the first 8 of branches. Z ((h Biweekly from April through September. ( Bewdley 15 minutes drive This will be the direction of the new growth. ( Sale. If you need to apply potassium and raise the pH, wood ashes would be a good material to use (but use them carefully because a little goes a long way). 5 0 obj<> Rayon is very passionate about the Christmastree industry and working outdoors. ( Landgren is the former OSU Extension Christmas Tree Specialist. Last year we planted 100 Concolor firs where balsams had been harvested because a few people in our area are starting to recognize and ask for this tree. With an associate degree in Applied Science for Construction Practice . ( ( Pines are pruned from the time they are 2 to 3 feet tall (about two years after they are planted out), while spruces and firs can usually wait until they are about 4 feet tall. If you can, choose a tree farm with saws available for customer use. ( ( Revenue and Taxation OR ST Section 321.805. ( ( . ( ( Large cavities may never close, but as long as the tree does not sustain further damage, a basal cavity may not be a problem. ( ( a Target Plus partner. Granger et al. As the mulch decomposes, more can be added. Keep an eye on the trees where you intend to collect. ( Copyright 2023, University of New Hampshire. Be sure to provide adequate irrigation. One publication says that no tree should be more than 50 feet from an access road; another says 200 feet. ( ( A spade full of compost or well rotted manure could substitute for this chemical fertilizer; or you could save your familys urine all winter and use that on some of your trees!