Changes through the years impacting Christmas tree growth

HEBRON, Md.- When you’re picking out Christmas trees, you may not think of all the hard work that goes into growing them or how climate change can be a big factor in how many trees are available.

“Our summer is very warm and spring is very wet, similarly, fall is also very wet so when we need rain there is no rain during the summer, so there is a possibility in the future our evergreen crop may suffer,” Dr. Naveen Kumar Dixit, an Assistant Professor of Horticulture and UMES Extension Specialist, said.

Dr. Naveen Dixit, a University of Maryland Eastern Shore Professor, said it’s an issue Maryland has seen for the past 6 years.

Which can cause headaches, for Christmas tree farmers.

“Conditions for growing Christmas trees are not very conducive in Maryland, even then our farmers they are doing their best to grow these trees in our area,” Dr. Dixit, said.

Bruce Nichols, owner of Nichols Tree Farm, has been in the business for at least 60 years, he uses the phrase “constant change” to explain what he’s seen during growing season.

“There’s always an atmospheric change, there’s always an effect of people the affect of other things,” Bruce Nichols, Nichols Tree Farm owner, said.

Right now, Nichols grows somewhere in the neighborhood of 1different species of Christmas trees from all over the world, and they have different needs.

“There’s species of Christmas trees, which benefit from warmer weather, benefit from drier or warmer or wetter conditions,” Nichols said.

“That actually is unique in that it grows almost all year long in a green house, with moisture type of situation,” Nichols said.

And, while high temperatures can harm trees the flooding in the area is an even bigger issue.

“It’s a great factor every year, but the last 4 years it eliminated a lot of trees 50 rain is the worst factor that you cant control of these soils in this type of topography,” Nichols said.

Even with these constant changes, Nichols is working hard, to not only make his farm thrive now, but to also overcome future changes.