Celebrating the holidays with a live Christmas tree is one way to support local farmers and make memories with your family this time of year.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says, “Taking your family to a tree farm to select the perfect centerpiece for your holiday celebration is a great way to start a new tradition, or continue an old one, and it gives you the chance to connect with a farmer while supporting the local economy.”
Here are five tips from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and the Iowa Christmas Tree Association (ICTA) for selecting and caring for a live Christmas tree at home:
- Measure the height and width of the space you want the tree to fit before you leave home.
- Wear comfortable clothes, sturdy shoes, and bring gloves to the Christmas tree farm.
- Pick a tree with a straight trunk that will fit properly in a stand.
- Fresh trees may use up to a gallon of water each day. Check the water in tree stand daily.
- Fresh cut trees are biodegradable, so recycle them after the holidays.
There are many choose-and-harvest Christmas tree farms in the U.S. More than 14.5 million Christmas trees are cut and sold in the U.S. each year. Oregon is the leading state in Christmas tree production followed by North Carolina, Michigan, Washington and Pennsylvania as the top five states. The most widely grown Christmas trees in the U.S. are Fraser fir, Douglas fir, Balsam fir and Noble fir. However, some states, such as Iowa, produce primarily pine tree varieties. On average, it takes six to 12 years to grow a Christmas tree before it’s ready to be sold. For every Christmas tree harvested, farmers plant two to three more in its place.
EDITOR’S TAKE:
We hope you find this article interesting as well as informational. As the Christmas holiday season approaches, more families will decide to purchase a live tree. Providing proper care is very important and can not only prolong the life of the tree but also help prevent disasters, such as a home fire. Perhaps you can direct people to your local Christmas tree farm so they can experience the thrill of choosing and cutting their own tree. Put it on your website or in your social media – as farmers and consumers will appreciate your support.
