Harnett County Center
TOP 10 FACTS ABOUT CHRISTMAS TREES, 12/18/98
Probably no other plant holds so much significance for so many people. We praise its beauty and virtues in poem, story, and song. And it is the focal point of the holiday season for many folks. Consider these interesting facts about this most special plant.
1. North Carolina is the number two producer of Christmas trees in the United States, growing 12% of all Christmas trees sold, and second only to Oregon. In 1997, there were 3.7 million North Carolina grown Christmas trees sold.
2. Christmas trees are ranked fourteenth in the list of top agricultural commodities grown in North Carolina. Sales of this crop in 1997 were valued at 86 million dollars. This industry makes a valuable economic contribution to our state. Growing Christmas trees is hard work, requiring regular pruning, fertilization, and pest management. It takes five years or more from when a tree is planted until it can be harvested.
3. Christmas trees are a renewable resource. Farmers plant a new tree whenever one is cut, and your old tree can be recycled into mulch!
4. North Carolina Christmas tree farms cover 23,530 acres! Ahh, breathe deep. That's a lot of oxygen being produced! Trees also take up carbon, which helps to counter the greenhouse effect.
5. Redcedar is the traditional tree for eastern North Carolina, the tree that your parents or grandparents may have cut down from the woods. It is native to this area.
6. Other species that can be produced in our neck of the woods include White Pine, Virginia Pine, and Leyland Cypress (not just a screen shrub!).
7. Fraser Fir, a native to our state, is the most popular tree grown and sold in North Carolina, accounting for 96% of the total. Fraser Firs are adapted to cooler climates and thus are grown in the western part of the state. They do not grow well in our area.
8. Would you like to have a living tree this year (i.e. one that can be planted in the yard after Christmas)? For this region, I recommend Redcedar, Virginia Pine, or Leyland Cypress. White pine is also an option, but tends to be short lived in the landscape. Just be sure to keep your living tree well watered while in the house, and try to acclimate it gradually to the cold before you plant it in the ground.
9. Want to relive a Christmas tradition of years past, or start a new one? Visit a local Christmas tree farm to cut your own! Call my office to find one close by, or visit our website (address below).
10. Bringing plants, trees, or foliage into the house is a tradition with roots in many countries and cultures, from the Egyptians to the Romans and more. It is steeped in meaning and symbolism. There is something comforting about bringing fresh greenery into the house in the middle of winter as a reminder of the wonder and beauty of life. Take some time this holiday season to reflect on what the Christmas tree symbolizes for you.
The statistics mentioned above were gathered from the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website.
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