Last winter's moisture helped this holiday season's crop of firs and cedars
Fresh Christmas trees already have arrived at local businesses, including The Plant Foundry, above, and Green Acres. For those who like to choose and cut their own trees, El Dorado County growers report a good supply. Courtesy The Plant Foundry
We’re still busy with Thanksgiving preparations but our attention has already turned the holiday page. Christmas trees have arrived in local stores and nurseries, and the scent of fresh evergreens has us craving a tree in the living room.
They may be pricey, but Christmas trees should be in good supply this holiday season. Just shop early, says the National Christmas Tree Association.
Wildfires in Canada and droughts in the U.S. have affected tree supply elsewhere in the country, particularly on the East Coast.
“Supplies are tight and some locations will sell out early, but there are enough real farm-grown Christmas trees for everyone who wants one to get one,” says the association. “Supplies of real farm-grown trees have been tight since 2016, but each year shoppers have been able to find a tree.”
In particular, trees should be in good shape and plentiful from El Dorado County growers. Last winter’s heavy snow and abundant moisture really plumped up the firs and cedars. Recent rain was just enough to refresh their needles and help them look their best.
In its 2022 post-holiday survey of tree shopping habits, the national association found that nearly 31% of all fresh trees were purchased from choose-and-cut farms. About 20% came from chain stores and almost 17% were purchased at nurseries.
Nationwide, the average price in 2022 for a fresh tree was $80. This holiday season in the greater Sacramento area, expect to pay $95 or more for a 6-foot noble fir.
Clustered around Placerville in the Apple Hill area, local growers traditionally open their tree farms to visitors the day after Thanksgiving and keep selling until sold out. That may be pretty fast; some El Dorado County growers reported they sold out in 2022 on opening weekend. For a map, details and directions, go to https://chooseandcut.com/.
Several Apple Hill farms offer apple treats or other seasonal goodies along with trees. Find a map and more information here: https://applehill.com/grower-cat/christmas-trees/.
City shoppers also should find a healthy selection of fresh trees, says the national association.
In the greater Sacramento area, fresh trees have arrived at many local nurseries including all seven Green Acres locations as well as The Plant Foundry and The Secret Garden.
Looking for a Christmas tree near you? Check out the tree locator map (and tree tips) at: www.itschristmaskeepitreal.com.
What about a potted living tree? Firs, pines and other conifers are not houseplants; it’s best if these trees’ days indoors are numbered.
If you decide to use a living Christmas tree, keep it outside in a sunny location and well-watered until Christmas week. This reduces stress on the young tree. Make its stay indoors as brief as possible before returning outside – and hopefully finding a spot where it can put its roots down.
Comments
0 comments have been posted.Sacramento Digs Gardening to your inbox.
Local News
Thanks to our sponsor!
Sites We Like
Garden Checklist for week of May 5
Survey your garden after the May 4 rainstorm. Heavy rain and gusty winds can break the neck of large flowers such as roses. Also:
* Keep an eye on new transplants or seedlings; they could take a pounding from the rain.
* Watch out for powdery mildew. Warmth following moist conditions can cause this fungal disease to “bloom,” too. If you see a leaf that looks like it’s dusted with powdered sugar, snip it off.
* After the storm, start setting out tomato transplants, but wait on the peppers and eggplants (they want warmer nights). Pinch off any flowers on new transplants to make them concentrate on establishing roots instead of setting premature fruit.
* Trim dead flowers but not leaves from spring-flowering bulbs such as daffodils and tulips. Those leaves gather energy to create next year's flowers. Also, give the bulbs a fertilizer boost after bloom.
* Pinch chrysanthemums back to 12 inches for fall flowers. Cut old stems to the ground.
* Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and control weeds.
* From seed, plant beans, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, corn, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, radishes and squash.
* Plant onion sets.
* In the flower garden, plant seeds for asters, cosmos, celosia, marigolds, salvia, sunflowers and zinnias. Transplant petunias, zinnias, geraniums and other summer bloomers.
* Plant perennials and dahlia tubers for summer bloom.
* Don’t wait; plant summer bulbs, such as gladiolus and tuberous begonias.
* Harvest cabbage, lettuce, peas and green onions.
Powered by California Local
