What goes into growing Christmas trees?

HEBRON, Md. — Have you picked up your Christmas tree yet? Growing them is a tedious and time-consuming process. Nichols Farm explained what it takes to cultivate the perfect tree.

Owner Bruce Nichols said, “It’s a journey, and you don’t always make it to the end. We don’t. If there’s any disease, any insect problem, or if a deer tears it up greatly, we remove it from the patch.”

The process starts with collecting cones and hand-extracting the seeds. Nichols said, “Each seed is a little different, but it’s about breaking dormancy so you can plant them and have germination.”

Once the seed germinates, it takes two to three years just to become a seedling. The seedlings are then transferred to beds that are still not in the field environment.

“Then, about three years later, you can plant them in the fields, where all these trees came from. The fields have trickle irrigation and plastic covers,” Nichols said.

Throughout the process, there are various diseases and animals that can damage the trees. However, the hope is that in 16 to 20 years, the trees will be in prime condition for the holiday season.

“We’ve got a tremendous selection this year, and it took that long to bring them to this degree of completeness,” Nichols said.

Once you pick out your tree, proper care is essential. While many people believe adding aspirin or fertilizer to the water will help the tree last longer, Nichols said it won’t.

“Basically, you have to keep them wet. The cooler you keep them, the longer they’ll last, and the longer they’ll stay green and flexible,” Nichols said.

Nichols Farm offers 15 different species of trees, with the white fir having the greatest longevity. The farm is located in Hebron, Md.