New Hampshire Christmas tree farms expect ‘strong’ winter season

Most will open to the public this weekend, some for just a couple of days. The shopping season is shorter this year due to the late Thanksgiving. Although heavy rains and late spring frosts have recently wiped out seedlings of several popular Christmas tree varieties, New Hampshire and parts of New England are experiencing drought, but farmers are adapting.

Phillips, a retired software engineer, said his family expects to sell about 300 trees from their small 5-acre farm this season. They aim to keep prices low ($65 per tree) and complement the fun with hot cocoa, cappuccino, homemade cookies, candy and a scavenger hunt for the kids, he said.

“We try to make this a very family-friendly event,” he added.

Nigel Manley, program director for the New Hampshire-Vermont Christmas Tree Association, said people have a strong nostalgia for the ritual of choosing your own tree and cutting it down, especially for those who have fond holiday memories associated with the tree’s distinct scent. real wood in a warm house.

“People want to keep it,” he said.

Manley, who co-owns South Farm Christmas Trees in the small town of Bethlehem, N.H., on the northern edge of the White Mountains region, said he originally planned to open the farm’s retail business after Thanksgiving, but ultimately decided to do it the weekend before , since Thanksgiving came so late this year.

The farm typically sells about 800 trees a year, Manley said. That includes 200 trees sponsored by the Trees for Troops program, which delivers donated trees to U.S. military bases, he said. The farm also sells about 350 trees wholesale to retailers in southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts and sells the rest to private consumers.

Manley said the typical price to cut and remove an average 7.5-foot tree can range from $65 to $90, or higher in some areas.

“It’s like real estate,” he said. “It depends on the location. If you’re close to a lot more people and you’re selling a lot more trees, chances are they’ll be more expensive, because that’s just the way it is.”

Early signs indicate consumer demand is “really strong” this year, although whether retail business booms or busts this weekend largely depends on the weather, Manley said. His farm is located just north of Franconia Notch, so severe winter weather can snarl traffic and prevent potential clients from reaching him.

Unlike last year, when some conifer species were in short supply or even unavailable at the New Hampshire State Forest, this year’s extremely dry fall prompted some businesses, including Tonry Tree Farm in Hampton Falls, N.Y. Hampshire Coastal Area Warn Buyers should take particular care to water trees and stay a safe distance from heat sources in their homes.

According to Manley, who recently retired from a long-time job with the Humane Society, the effects of drought or excessive rainfall in any given year will vary from one farm to another and primarily affect newly planted trees more than trees with established root structures. Protecting New Hampshire’s Forests.

Farmers who experience a particularly bad year for their seedlings can often “catch up” by planting additional trees in subsequent years, since the trees people cut down each winter are typically five to 10 years old, Manley said. Even so, farmers here in New England and elsewhere are adopting irrigation systems and mulching techniques to improve the yield of their seedling crops as they adapt to climate change, he said.

Farm-grown trees aren’t the only option for families looking for a Christmas solution.

The USDA Forest Service sells permits online for as little as $5 to those who want to find and cut down a holiday tree in designated areas of the national forest of their choice, including the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire or the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont.

Manley said he has mixed feelings about consumers uprooting trees from the forest. Such specimens won’t be “nice and well-kept” like those grown under the care of a farmer who mows, fertilizes and prunes throughout the year, he said.

In addition, he said, many customers appreciate the whole experience of visiting a family-owned operation and choosing locally grown agricultural products.

For those thinking about visiting a Christmas tree farm this season, Manley has some important tips:

First, before heading to a farm—there are hundreds listed on the National Christmas Tree Association’s website—double-check to make sure its hours are up to date. (Nothing ruins a family trip like finding out that Wally World is closed.)

Second, think about your preferences for the specific tree species and height, as well as any additional services you may want to use. Many farms wrap trees to protect them on the way home, and some use shakers to reduce loose needles and debris.

“It just depends on the farm,” Manley said.

Third, be prepared to go outside and cut down the tree. While the family at Grandfather’s Farm in Loudoun said they provide hand saws and sleds, they note that you can also bring your own tools, but remember that Christmas tree farms typically prohibit visitors from using power tools.

“Most insurance companies don’t want a lot of people running around with chain saws,” Manley said.

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Stephen Porter can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @reporterporter.