When we first moved onto our property ten years ago, there were several fir seedlings in places we did not fancy massive Douglas or grand firs growing to maturity.
They were either too close to the house or power lines or were crowding along the fence. Rather than clear them away, I decided to cultivate them as future Christmas trees.
We cut one that very winter. Once it was up and decorated, I realized there was more to growing a beautiful Christmas tree than just cutting down the one that was most in the way. It was lop-sided and offered few branches for decorations. Almost everyone who walked through our front door laughed out loud or tried not to. Not to be discouraged, I read up on cultivating Christmas trees and began giving them more care. Anticipating that we would use up the half-dozen or so “In-the-way” firs, I began planting seedlings.
I now cultivate about eight trees in various stages of growth.
You may be surprised to know that it doesn’t take a huge area to grow a few Christmas trees. You can start with as few as two trees and then continue to plant one or two seedlings per year. Space them about two to three meters apart. This may sound like it will take up your whole backyard, but trees can be planted along a fence or road, scattered throughout flower beds, or grown in small groves.
Most homeowners don’t want full-grown Douglas firs in their backyards, but the ones under three meters are attractive and provide many benefits: pleasant greenery year-round, food and shelter for wildlife, and shade. Your Christmas tree patch could be part of a beautiful native garden, arranged amongst a variety of shrubs so that it won’t be so obvious when one goes missing!
I spoke with Iola Elder at Sylvan Vale Nursery Ltd., a reforestation nursery in Black Creek, who says the native Douglas firs are the most commonly grown commercial Christmas trees in our area because they are hardy, fast-growing, and respond well to pruning. But she suggests that some slower-growing species of “true firs” are greener, more bushy, and smell more fragrant than the old standby D. Fir. Her list includes: Concolor, Norman, Korean, Fraser, and Shasta firs. She also suggests Scotch pine for a unique Christmas tree. A variety of seedlings are available at Sylvan Nurseries at a cost of about two dollars each. So, for a whopping investment of less than ten bucks and a little tending, you can start your very own sustainable tree farm.
Fall or spring are ideal times to plant seedlings. Firs prefer a full sun and well-drained soil. A south-facing slope is ideal. Water trees during dry spells. Mulch around the base of trees helps retain moisture during the summer and reduces the need for watering. Fertilizing is not necessary, but an application of all-purpose balanced fertilizer in the spring is a good idea, especially if the soil is poor.
Leave the seedlings to grow undisturbed for two or three years. After that, you can begin shaping them. In the spring, when the “candles” begin to form (these are the new growth at the ends of each branch and branchlet), pinch off several of them to encourage bushier growth. As the tree grows, you can also use clippers to shape the overall form. You can also trim down the central leader, as this tends to grow very long. I prefer my trees to look natural and bear individual quirks, so I do a minimum of shaping. I also trim away lower branches to allow for mulching and to make cutting easier.
When the tree’s time has come, try to cut it as close to the ground as possible. Cover the stump with some mulch and leave it to rot naturally. Plant a new seedling right next to it to help fill in the blank space.
