Lesson 14: Growing Christmas Trees

TEACHER:

SCHOOL:

GRADE LEVEL: 9-12

TASKS/COMPETENCIES SOL CORRELATIONS

ANR8040.085 Identify diseases of trees caused by English organic pathogens, environment, and 9.2 (oral presentations) insects. 10.7 (variety of writings) 10.10 (collect, evaluate, and organize information) ANR8040.090 Produce Christmas trees, including a 11.8 (personal and business correspondence) plan for delivery to wholesale buyers. 12.1 (oral presentations) 12.7 (expository and technical writings) ANR8044.017 Prune and trim trees. Civics and Economics ANR8046.196 Explain a pruning, fertilization, and CE.9 (economic decisions in the marketplace) pest control plan for urban plantings. Earth Science ES.7 (renewable and nonrenewable resources) OBJECTIVES AND GOALS ES.9 (influences on freshwater resources)

• The student will determine characteristics of a Biology suitable site for growing Christmas trees. BIO.5 (life functions of monerans, protists, fungi, plants, and animals) • The student will determine suitable tree varieties. BIO.7 (modern classification systems)

• The student will identify sources of adequate, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES, AND healthy tree stock. MATERIALS NEEDED

• The student will outline procedures for hand or • Tree planting tools (shovel, mattock, planting bar) machine planting. • Tree pruning tools (pruning saw, hand shears, electric shears, and shearing knife) • The student will determine schedule for pruning • Sample trees for tree-shaping instruction and shaping (shearing) operations. • Instructor-prepared guidelines on plan report • List of commercial and government nurseries selling • The student will demonstrate procedures for Christmas tree planting stock (available from shaping trees. Virginia Division of Forestry or Virginia Tech Extension Forester) • The student will identify insects, diseases, and animals that may damage trees.

• The student will outline procedures for harvesting, grading, and tying trees.

• The student will identify marketing methods.

• The student will identify records that must be kept to determine profit or loss from Christmas tree production.

• The student will define terms associated with Christmas tree production.

121 ACTIVITIES

Preparation Lesson approach • Growing Christmas trees is a year-round job. • Before entering the business, the grower must identify the local and distant markets. • Careful attention must be given to the area selected, tree species to be raised, and labor available for tending the trees. • Christmas tree growing can be a profitable enterprise.

General situation Many people think that all one has to do to make a lot of money raising Christmas trees is to plant any species of evergreen tree on any available area of land and wait.

Local situation Obtain answers to the following from the students: • Who among the students have Christmas tree plantations? • Who among the students have helped “tend” Christmas tree plantations? • Who among the students have marketed Christmas trees? • What species and how many of each species are sold locally? • Where do the locally marketed trees come from?

Application • Arrange a field trip to an operational Christmas tree plantation for purposes of observation and gathering information for the students’ plans for producing and marketing Christmas trees. • Arrange Christmas tree shaping demonstration and student practice session.

122 Presentation: Christmas Trees

During the past 40 years, considerable interest has developed in Christmas tree production in Virginia. Prior to and even during this period, many of the trees used locally at Christmas were shipped in from other states and from Canada, but recently, more and more of our trees are produced at Virginia plantations. It is possible that in the near future, very few of our trees will come from outside sources.

The Christmas tree market is likely to become very competitive. Growers must produce quality trees, and to do this, they must implement effective management practices. Christmas tree production requires an eight- to ten-year investment before any income is realized.

Site selection

Accessibility A successful site must be near an all-weather road. To discourage theft of the trees, the site should be near a dwelling. The grower who intends to establish a choose-and-cut operation will find it almost always necessary to live on the site. A large, all-weather parking area for customers is desirable.

Topography Level to gently rolling land is best; cultural operations are much easier on this type of land.

Present land use A clean, medium fertile piece of gently rolling pastureland is desirable. Cutover or newly cleared land should be avoided. Very rich upland or bottomland will require expensive vegetation control.

Soil Soil should be neither too poor nor too fertile. Poor soils produce poorly formed, off-color trees. Very fertile soils cause the trees to grow too fast. Soil should be easily worked, have good depth, be well drained, and not be too rocky.

Site preparation • Land must be cleared of all trees and brush and should be mowed clean. • Surface rocks should be removed. • Both large and small border trees should be cut; otherwise seedlings will be shaded. • Roads, loading areas, and parking areas must be set aside. • Rows must be determined. − Seedlings should be planted on the contour if the land slopes steeply. − If rows are to be mowed both ways, seedlings must be planted in a checkerboard pattern, and turning space for the mower must be cleared.

Species selection • The species selected depends upon the climate, the soil conditions, and the market demand. • The tree species that grow best in Virginia and are most preferred by consumers are white pine, scotch pine, Norway spruce, and Fraser fir. Species should not be mixed in a row.

A Guide to Region and Species

Coastal Plain Piedmont Mountain White pine White pine White pine Scotch pine Scotch pine Scotch pine Virginia pine Virginia pine Virginia pine Norway spruce Norway spruce Fraser fir

123 Planting stock selection

Age It is best to plant two-year-old seedlings, except for Virginia pine from southern nurseries, which is planted from one- year-old seedlings.

Source Christmas tree seedlings can be obtained from either state or private nurseries. Seedlings from private nurseries are usually two to three times more expensive than those from state nurseries. Good stock is essential to growing success.

Planting procedure

When to plant Spring planting is recommended, usually from late February through April, depending upon the locality and seasonal weather.

How to handle the seedlings • Ideally, seedlings should be planted as soon as they arrive from the nursery. State nursery seedlings will last two to three weeks before planting. • If a delay is necessary, seedlings should be stored in a cool, shaded place with ample air circulation around the bundles. • During planting, seedlings should be carried in a bucket or planting bag. If seedlings are moss-packed, wet moss and water should be added to the bucket. If seedlings are clay-packed, they should be covered with moist burlap bags, with no water added.

Planting techniques • Most seedlings that are planted by hand are dibbled into the soil with a planting bar. If machine planting is desired, the machine may be rented from the local forester. • Planting techniques are outlined in Lesson 7, “Reproducing the Forest.” • Spacing may be determined according to the following guidelines. − If the site is to be mowed with a farm tractor, the rows should be 10 feet wide, and seedlings in each row should be 5 feet apart. − If the site is to be mowed with a small riding lawnmower, the rows should be 6 feet wide, with seedlings 6 feet apart. − If the site is to be mowed with a walk-behind mower, the rows should be 5 feet wide, with seedlings 5 feet apart.

Rotation • A one-time planting will be ready for harvesting in 8 to 12 years; seedlings are not replanted. • To obtain an income each year, a definite number of seedlings are planted each year. Trees are harvested when they are 5 to 10 feet tall. • A given area may be planted over 3 or 4 years, trees chosen and cut, and seedlings replanted within the same area. This method is good for the small grower.

Maintenance and protection

Control of vegetation Two or three mowings a year are sufficient. Chemicals to control grass and hardwood brush should be used with caution, as weeds invade where grasses are controlled.

Fire Protection from fire is essential. Grass, weeds, and brush should be mowed to reduce danger of fire. Good relationships with neighbors help reduce this hazard.

Livestock and rodents Livestock can be fenced out; rodents can be controlled by mowing or by use of poison bait.

Insects • White pine weevils attack white pine. • Bagworms and red spiders attack Norway spruce and Fraser fir. • Tip moths attack all pines except white pine. 124 • Saw flies attack all pines. • Aphids attack all pines, but are especially damaging to white pine. • Bees, wasps, and hornets do not damage trees, but are pests to the grower.

Diseases • Needle cast is a disease of scotch pine. • Die-back and root decline are diseases of the white pine and Fraser fir.

Cultural operations Shearing is essential to the growth of quality trees. • Purpose Shearing is done to shape trees and to produce thick, dense foliage. Sometimes it is done to salvage a damaged tree. • When to shear − Shearing should be done when the top leader of the tree grows more than 12 inches in length, usually the third year. Pines are sheared in spring and early summer (June 1 to July 15), before new growth hardens. Spruce and fir may be sheared any time, but the winter months are preferable. − Once shearing is started, the tree must be sheared from top to bottom every year. Shearing should be done as lightly as possible the last year before the tree is sold. • How to shear Start with the terminal at 12 inches or less, and make the cut on a 45-degree angle so that one new bud will form in a dominant position; then shear the lateral branches to shape the tree into an inverted cone. Shearing skill comes with practice and observation. Instructions are included in Virginia Tech Extension Service Bulletin 507. • Tools for shearing Tools include hedge shears, electric shears, and shearing knife. A small hand pruner may be used for the terminal shoot and to establish the handle. If a handle is desired, it should be established either before the age of five or at the time of cutting.

Marketing methods • Wholesale − Marked or flagged individual trees may be sold, or the entire crop may be sold on the stump for a fixed amount per tree. The entire stand of trees is seldom ready for harvest at one time; it usually takes three to four years to liquidate a stand. − Trees may be cut and prepared for pickup at the site. Most trees sold this way are fixed with a stump and netting. − Trees may be cut, readied, and delivered to the marketplace. • Retail − Customers come to the plantation to select and cut trees. Usually, saws, car top or trunk ropes, and netting for the trees are provided. − The grower may set up a retail lot in town for a self-employed operation. Trees are sold in upright tree holders.

125 Some Terms Used in Growing Christmas Trees

Leader (Terminal) No more than 12" left after shearing Top Whorl

Whorl The several lateral branches that radiate from a node

Internode

Height Main Stem

Lateral Branch

Bottom (Basal) Whorl Most important whorl. Grass and brush control develops this one.

Handle As near to 12" as possible Width

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Arrange visits to several sites and discuss their suitability for Christmas tree production. • Invite a forester to visit the classroom and discuss the varieties of Christmas trees, characteristics of good planting stock, and procedures for planting. • Demonstrate and have students practice shaping Christmas trees. • Discuss optimum growing conditions for various trees and methods of protecting the trees from various hazards. • Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various harvesting schedules. • Invite a Christmas tree grower to explain how trees are marketed and to discuss the records that must be kept for this business.

SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDENT EVALUATION

Student should generate a written plan for producing and marketing Christmas trees.

126 SUGGESTED RESOURCES

• Christmas Trees—The Tradition and the Trade. USDA Agriculture Information, Bulletin 94 • Growing Christmas Trees in the South. USDA, Forest Service General Report SA-GR5 • Growing Christmas Trees in Virginia. Virginia Tech Extension Service, Bulletin 507 • Technical Manual for Christmas Tree Farmers. Allied Chemical Corporation • http://forestry.about.com/library/weekly/aa120598.htm • http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/forest/xmas/growing • http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/forestry/420-080/figure1.html • http://www.cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_h/h-411.html

127 TEACHER NOTES

128