COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE • UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF , LEXINGTON, KY, 40546

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Agroforestry Farming: Christmas Deborah B. Hill, Department of C hristmas trees don’t fit precisely into the definition of , but they are a non-timber (NTFP) and produce income for the grower in a shorter period of time than timber. Kentucky has always had a Christmas industry, although at a very small scale. About 25 years ago two extension specialists—Dr. Bonnie Appleton, then a horticulturist at Kentucky State University, and I—- began to develop this industry with a combination of workshops and materials (print and video). The ben efits of producing Christmas trees include guaranteed market every year, a short growing period relative to other tree , periodic intensive management (planting, shearing, marketing) but otherwise not much time required in management, and a good return on investment. Today we suggest that Christmas treessilvopasture should be grown in systems. This could include growing trees along fence rowsalley (as cropping in a and some have small shops where they sell orsystem), in the in “shrub” single or area multiple in a riparianrows intercropped buffer strip with or wreaths, ornaments, tree skirts, homemade foods or windbreakannual agronomic crops (as in systems), other items. Some growers have said that their shops make more money than the trees! - system, as the trees will be removed when Christmas trees (pines, spruces, firs) grow successfully they are relatively small (6-8 feet tall). Planting every - on soils that may not be suitable for other crops. Coni year in these last two systems would ensure that there fers prefer a more acid soil than is common in partsPinus of would always be trees in the ground, where they pro strobusKentucky, but many Christmas tree species have been tect against soil and where their presence in grown successfully all over the state. White pine ( the intercropped system diversifies or strengthens ) is the most desirable disease-resistant pine the whole system. species to grow. Since its needles are long andPinus soft, Potential growers need to know that the Christmas- virginianathey must be sheared tightly so that ornaments can be tree business demands a lot of interaction with the successfully hung on the branches. Virginia pine ( public. Although all Christmas tree farms can deter ) is anotherPicea possibility; abies it grows very rapidlyPi- mine when they will be open for customers, growers ceaand pungens needs careful managementPseudotsuga in its early menziesii growth. are very busy between Thanksgiving and Christmas- Norway spruce ( ), Colorado blue spruce ( Day, so be advised! Also, choose-and-cut growers (most ) and Douglas-fir ( ), profitable method) must have appropriate liability in although slower growing than the pines, have been surance for having the public on their property using reliable species for Kentucky growers. An advantage sharp objects such as saws and hatchets. Many growers of these last three species is that their normal growth have developed Christmas tree sales on their property habit is conical, so they require less shearing and into a whole family outing experience. Growers offer pruning for market and can be managed during the hot coffee, cocoa or cider; some offer hay rides into the dormant season. The pines need to be sheared during Agriculture and Natural Resources • Family and Consumer Sciences • 4-H Youth Development • Community and Leadership Development EXTENSION the growing season to encourage appropriate bud set satisfied customers. Many growers advertise only the for the next year’s growth. Recently, several Kentucky week before Thanksgiving or the weekend just after growers looked at a variety of other exotic treeAbies species nor- Thanksgiving. That is when the season “officially” dmannianato grow as Christmas trees here. PiceaAfter severalmeyeri years, opens and when potential buyers are looking for trees. the growers concluded that Nordmann fir ( With greater concerns about the cost of gas mileage, Abies fraseri)) and Meyer’s needs to spruce be either ( farther north) could in locally grown trees will become more attractive. be successful. The Cadillac of Christmas trees, Fraser Providing “extras” such as tree disposal bags, netting fir ( or twining of the purchased tree, and shaking out of latitudeAbies balsamea or higher in phanerolepis elevation to grow successfully dead needles will all encourage your buyers to return. withAbies minimal balsamea insect and disease problems. Canaan fir Keeping a mailing list of your customers and sending ( var. ), a variety of balsam them a reminder the following year also retains and fir ( ), can be grown in Kentucky and has grows your client list. been popular with several of our growers. Another Cupressocyparis leylandii Growing Christmas trees is a rewarding experience but possible species for our area is Leyland cypress (X - requires patience and a willingness to serve the public. ). Its natural growth habit is However, during the holiday season, there is nothing also columnar or conical, and it grows rapidly—pos like the smell of a fresh Christmas tree in the home. sibly producing a marketable tree (6-foot industry Additional Information standard) within three or four years. Kentucky Christmas Tree Production Workbook - - To start, plan where you want the trees to be, both (FOR- immediately and in the future. A variety of commer 26) http://www.ca.uky.edu/forestryextension/publi cial nurseries in nearby states sell growing stock for cations_nontimber.php or from UK Forestry Extension Christmas trees. Pine species are available through Pruning and Shearing Christmas Trees in hard copy ($15). the Kentucky Division of Forestry nurseries. Planting - is done in the early spring (late February through early video. University March) so that trees can establish their before of Kentucky, Department of Agricultural Communica - the warmer (and often drier) weather begins. Pine tions. - seedlings are one to two years old in the nurseries; Kentucky Christmas Tree Association at www.ky spruce and fir seedlings are two to three years older, christmastreefarms.com. This organization is tremen as their seedlings take longer to grow to transplant dously helpful to its members, sharing both successes size. Growers use herbicide to clear the planting spots and failures and giving advice freely. The association for the seedlings, or they cultivate and then mulch the sponsors an annual auction in Lexington each seedlings heavily with woody mulch (chips or sawdust) spring and has a second meeting in the fall on one of once planted. Mulch is important for the first year or the Christmas tree farms. two as the seedlings become established, but applying mulch is labor intensive. Mulch retains water in the zone for the seedlings, keeps the soil temperature cooler, discourages weed growth around the base of Agroforestry in Kentucky the seedlings, and eventually decays into nutritious organic matter. Most growers find that they need to re-apply mulch every two or three years in the normal FOR-111 Alley Cropping five- to eight-year growing cycle for Christmas tree FOR-112 Strips production. FOR-113 Silvopasture Christmas is an annual holiday, and people who buy FOR-114 real Christmas trees buy a new one each year, so many FOR-115 Forest Farming growers do very little advertising. Growers find their http://dept.ca.uky.edu/agc/pub-dept.asp?dept=Forestry clientele grows annually through word of mouth from

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Issued 8-2009