Christmas Tree Ecology

It takes 6 to 13 years to grow the beautiful, fragrant trees that symbolise the festive spirit. Originally, the family Christmas tree came from the forest. Nowadays, most Christmas trees are grown on a plantation, tendered to and then harvested like any other sustainable crop. Growing takes years of investment, starting with a 1 to 3 year seedling.

The seedlings are taken from the nursery beds for replanting. Many are transplanted in to another bed for a further 1 or 2 years before going in to the field. It takes constant skilled care over several years to produce a quality Christmas tree.

Each year the young trees are shaped, pruned and fertilised. By holding back rapid upward growth the grower can encourage the tree to branch more quickly and gradually achieve the full bushy appearance people prefer in their Christmas tree. This takes a great deal of expertise and practice. If too much is taken back the whole shape of the tree is ruined.

Christmas trees also make a major contribution to our environment. The growing trees take carbon dioxide and convert it into oxygen. One acre of Christmas trees will produce the daily oxygen requirement for 18 people.

Christmas tree production is consistent with good forest, soil and water conservation, whether the trees are grown on natural forest land or in established plantations. Christmas tree production is also perfectly suited to forest soils unfit for any other purpose.

Christmas trees harvested are replaced on about a 2 to 1 ratio. Plantations create scenic green belts, abate land erosion, protected water supplies and supported wildlife. The trees are biodegradable unlike plastic ones. They make excellent barriers at beaches and at rivers create refuges for fish and other animals.

Many Local Authorities have recycling points where you can take your tree after Christmas. They then mulch them and use them in the local parks and gardens.