Garden Column for the Salisbury Post

Darrell Blackwelder

November 22, 2001

Driving home to visit my parents farm Thanksgiving Day, I was passed by a huge load of fraser fir Christmas trees that sparked my memory of Christmas in the 60’s. I can easily recall my father selecting a cedar tree from an abandoned field on Christmas Eve. The scrawny sapling was laced with honeysuckle and maybe a bird’s nest- a “Charlie Brown” tree if there ever was one.

In contrasting to the 60’s, today Christmas is big business. The Christmas season actually began a month ago with Thanksgiving Day as the kick-off day for Christmas trees sales. The live trees we buy today are picture perfect as compared to trees 10 years ago. Constant research and competition for the perfect tree make North Carolina one of the leaders in the Christmas tree industry.

Even with trees of perfection, there is downward trend in live tree sales. However, I think this trend will soon reverse itself. The slow economy coupled with the September 11th tragedy has more people spending time at home. Below are a few facts I that may be of interest those in search of perfect tree.

*Historians believe that the Egyptians and Romans used greenery to decorate homes in December. However, most agree that the tradition was started over 400 years ago in Germany.

*By 1900 one in five American families decorated trees during Christmas. By 1930, nearly every home became a part of this tradition.

*North Carolina is second only to Oregon in Christmas tree production supplying 15% of live tree sales in the United States.

*Christmas trees produced in North Carolina are shipped to all 50 states including countries as far away as Japan and Bermuda.

*The North Carolina fraser fir has been chosen as the nations best Christmas tree for the White House 8 times.

*It takes 12 years on the average to grow an average fraser fir, about 8 years to grow a white pine Christmas tree.

*Fraser firs comprise 90% of all Christmas trees grown in North Carolina-50 million trees on 25,000 acres. White pine, Scotch pine and Virginia pine are also produced as live Christmas trees in North Carolina.

*Fraser firs grow best at elevations above 3000 feet.

*The best way to judge a fresh cut tree is to pinch the needles. They should be soft and aromatic. Shake the tree. If needles fall, go to another tree.

*Trim ¼ to ½ inch off the butt end of trunk into water. Always make a new cut before placing into the stand.

*A typical Christmas tree will consume up to one quart of water a day.

*Those that want a balled and burlaped tree should choose white pine, Norway spruce or Colorado blue spruce. Fraser firs will not thrive here.

*There are over 400 choose and cut Christmas Tree farms in North Carolina including Rowan County.

Christmas tree producers had rain at just the right time for beautiful greenery. The selection is wonderful and the prices reasonable. For more information about Christmas trees in North Carolina, log on the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association website at http://www.ncchristmastrees.com