Christmas Tree Growers

Thanks to the ongoing popularity of the fresh Christmas tree, there are thousands of Christmas tree growers worldwide. Trees used to be harvested from forests, but due to the amount needed, they are now commercially grown on Christmas tree farms – such farms are both profitable and eco-friendly as they are self-sustainable, planting at least one new tree for every one they sell.

Cultivating Christmas trees is a long, drawn-out process, and so Christmas tree growers really do have their work cut out. From seed, it takes between 8 and 12 years to grow a 7-foot tree, depending on the species. Seeds are usually grown in nurseries for 3 to 4 years before the Christmas tree farm buys them, and then they are planted and cultivated on the farm for the remainder of the time. The outcome depends on species of tree, soil type and weather conditions, amongst other things such as cultivation techniques.

In the UK, providers of quality Christmas trees can be identified by the BCTGA logo. The BCTGA (British Christmas Tree Growers Association) is the trade association for those who grow fresh Christmas trees in the UK and is an assurance that only the freshest trees are available for sale. Such trees are grown in accordance with the BCTGA environmental code of practice, meaning they are guaranteed fresh and will last around 4 weeks.

If you only stick to Christmas tree growers that are members of the BCTGA, then you should have no problems at all with your real Christmas tree. Once trees are cut they begin to slowly lose their freshness, and good farms leave the cutting of their Christmas trees as late as possible. Better still, if you go to a farm where you can choose your tree before it is cut down, you will be sure that your cut Christmas tree is as fresh as can be. UK-based Christmas tree growers work hard to ensure that they offer a wide variety of tree, and these include the popular Norway spruce and Nordmann fir, as  well as other species such as the Noble fir; Fraser fir; Lodgepole pine; Scots pine; Serbian spruce and Blue spruce.