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Have you ever wanted to plant your own Christmas Tree and see it evolve into a blossoming Christmas Tree? Well, that is possible, but it will take time. Several people pot or grow Christmas trees with utmost love and care. An average Christmas tree growth rate is about four to ten years for a full bloom.
Different species of trees grow into a perfect tree for Christmas. Trees like Spruce, Pine or Fraser fir are decorated with various ornaments, lights and beautiful hanging are an integral part of Christmas celebrations. Adorned beautifully to be placed outside or inside, it can be a natural, fresh-cut, potted living tree or artificial tree. So let us see how long does it take to grow a Christmas tree and the factors that foster its growth rate.
1. Facts to Keep in Mind When Growing Your Own Christmas Tree
Consider these facts about its plantation as the tree species, appropriate environment, and the perfect season for planting them.
- The highest possible size and full maturity for average growing Christmas trees from seed to seedling takes four to ten years approximately. You have to take care of the tree once you have planted it.
- A real tree needs to be sheared regularly, and the branches at the bottom should be trimmed, or base pruning should be done after two to three years of plantation. This enables the tree to get a proper balance.
Photo by Wonderlane on Unsplash /Copyright 2018
2. Let Us Understand How Long Does It Take to Grow a Christmas Tree
How long it takes to grow a Christmas Tree depends on the soil type, the nutrition it’s given, and the climate. Let us check out the requirements to grow a Christmas tree. The best soil for growing a Christmas tree is moist and loamy. It should also be well-drained. The seedlings for Christmas trees develop best in moderate and cool temperatures.
The seedlings should be fed with an all-purpose fertilizer. This should be done once or maybe two times a year only. The seedling should be watered from late spring through early fall, once a week in its initial year of growth.
After the tree has grown across the first year, the planted tree will not need a lot of water. The harvest time for Christmas trees depends on the type of tree that you are growing. The best time to cut it down is the fall season because that time the aura is full of moisture.
It is necessary to check that no weeds are contesting for your Christmas Trees’ nutrients. For a Christmas tree to grow to maturity, the seedling should be taken care of till you are ready to plant it. For new growth, the right environment is crucial. Seedlings of Fir and Spruce require 2-2 transplants.
However, the demands for soil and water differ for different species, and the growth rate for some is quicker than for others. So a little research is always good.
3. Steps to Plant Your Christmas Tree
- To start planting your Christmas tree, plant a few seeds in every pot and cover them with soil. The seeds sown should not be very close and should be a third of an inch apart from each other.
- Water them, and wrap plastic on the top of the pot. This pot should be kept in full sun. The seeds will poke up above the soil in a few weeks and tiny green shoots will appear. At this point, the plastic wrap can be removed and the plant can be watered once a week.
- Find a planting site to transfer. Sloping areas that receive sun are ideal for better drainage, sunlight, and air. Once you plant the seedling in a sizable hole, it should be covered with soil. There should be at least a seven-foot space if you want to plant another tree. Proper care and maintenance will be required now till your tree radiates healthily.
3.1 After the Christmas Tree Has Been Transferred to the Planting Site
- The branches at the lower back should also be trimmed consistently for a lot of trunk room. This would enable a better placement in a pot or a stand later. Keep a check on the tree across summer to see when it will be most suitable for harvesting.
- The seedling should spend two years in the seedbed and two years in the planting site. The soil should be drained well in the planting site and should not contain heavy clay.
- Harvesting time for Christmas trees is generally six to nine years, but it depends on different species of trees. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, the average growing time for most trees is about seven years to reach the typical height.
- When your tree is moisture-laden during the late fall, the fresh tree has either a deep green or blue-green color is supple, and the needles stay green.
- You can also make a Christmas tree bow at home. To know the process click here.
4. Christmas Tree Farms
A large number of trees that are sold during Christmas festivities are farm-produced rather than being procured from forests. Christmas tree farms nurture and encourage bushy and cone-shaped trees that people usually prefer. They inculcate pest control and weeding in their farming techniques. Christmas Tree farmers nurture and bring to blossom evergreen trees of several species.
You can plan a day trip yearly to a Christmas Tree farm to choose your desired tree while making it a pleasure-filled memorable family outing.
4.1 Puddle Ford Christmas Tree Farm
Like in Puddle Ford Christmas Tree Farm, you can cut your desired tree and take it home. In the late fall, the farm is for the public for just five weekends, and you can go there and cut the tree you want to take home.
You can also go picnicking here while indulging in delectable beverages during pleasant afternoons. You can go to Christmas tree farms to pick up your perfect real tree.
Growing Christmas trees involves laborious efforts and is a serious business similar to agricultural crop production. Tree farm grows these Christmas trees.
4.2 Tree from Local Farmers
Local farmers grow cut-your-own trees. During the vacations, you can visit a local farmer and get your Christmas tree. The local farmers supply Christmas trees to retailers who transport and sell the harvested trees. They grow Spruce, Pine, and Fir for Christmas.
5. Benefits Of Growing a Christmas Tree
There are countless advantages of growing your Christmas Tree but foremost is environmentally friendly. As the real Christmas tree grows, they provide oxygen for their surroundings. It is recyclable and will not be a store-bought artificial tree.
You can find out how long does it take to grow a Christmas Tree and plant your own so you do not have to search for live Xmas trees. You can find more benefits of growing your own Christmas tree here.
6. Most Popular Christmas Trees
The most popular Christmas trees are Balsam Firs, White Spruce, Arizona Cypress, Blue Spruce, and White Pine. Nordmann fir grows slowly, around 9-12 inches per year. The sapless Leyland Cypress is prevalent in the areas of the American South. Douglas Fir is harvested outside the South and is shipped globally.
6.1 Fir
Fir tree grows in cool climates and fertile, well-drained soils on elevated sites. These trees grow best in zones three to six. Fir trees take about seven to ten years as they develop for 12 to 18 inches per year, and to reach 25 cm it may take up to four years.
Douglas Fir takes seven to ten years for a full bloom. Fraser Fir has the conventional Christmas fragrance and great branches ideal for decorations.
Balsam fir blossoms with a traditional Christmas fresh scent and its varieties may vary from region to region. Balsam Fir grows slowly and takes up to ten years to become a perfect tree.
6.2 Pine
Pine trees grow fast and bloom at their maximum in about six years. The growth of pine trees depends on the species of pine you are growing.
White Pine can be chosen if you have allergies, as their Christmas tree scent is mild and grows at about two feet a season. Scotch Pine grows slowly, about a foot or two every year.
Virginia Pine is found in the areas of Virginia and Kentucky. The branches of these trees are woody and stout. The bask is similar to the pines. These trees are found in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee in the South.
6.3 Spruce
Cooler climates facilitate the Spruce trees’ growth. However, spruce trees are slower growing than pine trees. They take about seven to ten years for a full bloom.
Spruce trees are stiff and have single-needle foliage with stout and thick branches that can take up heavy ornamentation. The Sitka subspecies of Spruce trees grow around 36 inches, and Norway Spruce grows to about 12-15 inches each year.
Colorado Blue Spruce does not require much maintenance and has slower growth. These trees are found in the rocky areas of Colorado.
6.4 Cedar
The Eastern Red Cedar has a unique and natural pyramidical crown. It requires low maintenance for pruning. Cedars are commonly grown in warm climates of the south.
Cedars have fern-like limbs. Hardiness zones. These zones let one discover the type of Christmas Tree you want to select.
6.5 Cypress
Leyland Cypress grows to about 24 inches annually and comes as the fastest-growing species for Christmas trees.
Cypress trees can be grown in zones 5-10. They reach maximum height in about 4 to 5 years and grow fast. Well-draining and moist soil is ideal for these trees. The Arizona Cypress also grows fast.
7. States That Produce Christmas Tree
Christmas tree-producing states like Michigan are the third largest in variety and quantity. Christmas trees grow best in this region due to the area’s soil composition and climate. A few that grow here are the Douglas Fir, Blue Spruce, and Fraser Fir. In the region of the Pacific Northwest, Douglas firs are harvested. North Carolina produces a large number of Fraser Fir every year.
8. Conclusion
Planting your own Christmas tree for Christmas gives happiness and contentment. The fragrance of a real Christmas tree and seeing it blossom is an experience to imbibe for the whole family. You now know how long does it take to grow a Christmas tree, but there are other factors that affect the growth of these trees like drainage, soil content, and care. After the festive season, you can do much more with your dearest Christmas tree.
Decorate your beautiful trees and embellish them to enliven the festive occasion. You can recycle your tree to create beautiful habitats for aquatic life for fish, once the holidays are over.
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