December 12, 2020 – For the traditionalist, nothing is better than the smell of a fresh Christmas tree in the home. And this year, even artificial tree lovers are considering the real deal.
According to the National Christmas Tree Promotions Board (yes, that is a real thing), more people who put up an artificial tree last year plan to buy a real tree this year. Most state the pandemic as the reason.
It’s an American tradition that goes back to the 1740’s but was not widely accepted. German settlers in Pennsylvania began the tradition, but the tree was viewed as a pagan symbol until 1846 when Queen Victoria and her family were sketched standing around a Christmas Tree. After the royal family was seen with a Christmas tree, the idea became popular on the East Coast of the United States and nearly 200 years later it is a part of our culture. (Queen Victoria was like the Kardashians of the 1800’s).
Locally, Four E’s Trees in Mount Zion has been around for 55 years. Owner Ron Evans talked about the tradition and what goes into operating a Christmas tree farm.
“The hardest part I think of the business, in general, is planning. You know, what do you plant? My turnaround is a minimum of eight years, up to 15 to 20 for some of these. Canaan Firs have become very popular. For us to grow Canaan Fir in Decatur, is about a 12-year crop and they don’t like hot summers. It’s very difficult to get ahead of the curve.”
Other challenges facing tree farms are droughts and fungi.
“The hot, dry summers have been really hard on our seedlings. I’m in a rebuilding stage right now from the droughts of ’10, ’11, and ’12. You look at 2012 and you add eight years to it, here we are in 2020.”
The Scotch Pine was the go-to tree for decades, but due to fungi, their numbers have greatly decreased. The Scotch Pine is a fast-growing tree that does well in the Illinois climate but high humidity has led to an increase in fungi and the Scotch Pine has struggled in recent years.
Some tips for picking your Christmas Tree:
- Figure out where you want to put the thing BEFORE you bring it home. That includes taking measurements and considerations such as proximity to heating sources (which you want to avoid obviously).
- Check the freshness of the tree you want to buy. The trunk should be slightly sticky. Bend a needle in half with your fingers; fresh firs should snap, while fresh pines bend and should not break. Try grabbing the inside of a branch and pull your hand towards you. If you get a handful of needles. . keep looking. Also, follow the rule that greener is better. Four E’s can help you with this.
- With proper watering, your tree should remain fresh for 4-6 weeks with proper care.
Four E’s is open for appointment only to pick out your tree. www.fourestrees.com.
