the holidays are over, and I've got time to post a question that's been on my mind:
I saw signs around in December for Christmas trees for sale from people's land. I always just buy ours from the Scouts or a local nursery that has a bunch already cut to choose from. But it seems some landowners have plantations of them, and people can come and buy them, and I guess even cut them down themselves? I don't know-
does anyone have experience with this? Is it a way for us to make a little income on the side? Do you have to plant them, or can people just go into the woods to find them? If we plant them ourselves, how long does it take til they are big enough to sell? Does anyone have experience with this? Is it worth getting into?

During this past holiday season, I heard a number of specialists say that the "greenest" Christmas tree is a live one that was purchased from a local tree farm. The market for local Christmas trees may be expanding with the public's growing interest in localism. To sell Christmas trees commercially in Massachusetts, it would probably be necessary to plant the trees as the most popular species are not, or are rarely, found in Massachusetts (balsam, frasier, douglas firs; scotch and white pines; white and blue spruce). While white pine is commonly found across the state, it is one of the less popular Christmas tree species.

There are a variety of types of Christmas tree operations. A landowner can plant trees and have customers cut them down themselves, or they can grow trees and cut a selection to make available to customers, or they can grow trees to distribute to other sellers across the region. Many Christmas tree farms that sell right from their property try to increase visitation and business by including value added products and activities on their property during the holiday season, including the sale of holiday greenery (wreaths), sleigh rides, hay mazes, and other family friendly activities.

Like any other business opportunity, growing Christmas trees for profit requires background research and planning. A good resource for anyone interested in getting started with a natural resources-based enterprise may want to look at the publication found here: nraes.org/nra_order.taf?_function=detail...C4B947919314B4B5E00. Also, the Michigan cooperative extension has information about growing Christmas trees, found here: www.for.msu.edu/extension/ExtDocs/xmastree.htm. And finally, Massachusetts has its own Christmas tree association, which may be able to provide more detailed information: www.christmas-trees.org/associationinformation.htm.

Christmas trees grow quickly, and most people don't require especially large trees, so it's possible that, starting now, you could be selling trees in just a few years. Good luck!

Lisa Romano
Dept. of Natural Resources Conservation
UMass Amherst

I grow Christmas trees on a small scale basis. There is quite a bit of effort involved in doing this well.

You want to start with a plot of land that is open and that can be mowed.

You can buy seedlings or transplants to start. They are generally planted on approximately a 6x6 ft. pattern. As they grow you need to mow between the trees at least several times a year. Once they reach a certain size, you need to start trimming on an annual basis.

Also need to watch for insect and diseases.

It takes from 7 years plus to reach marketable size trees. For cut your own they are various ways to price trees. The easiest is one price for any tree on the lot. This past season I sold my trees for $35 (with a few very small trees for $25).

I have enjoyed doing this work but it is a lot of work!

Read the "Southern New England Christmas Tree Growers Manual" available from the Co=operative Extension Service - this has lots of good information to get started.