Growing Christmas Trees in the Northeast

Christmas trees in the Northeast may be produced in either plantations or natural stands. Scotch pine is the leading plantation species; balsam fir, the leading "wild" one. In both cases, good quality is achieved through cultural practices that improve the color, density, and/or symmetry of the trees. A new Agricultural Conservation Program cost-sharing project is providing incentive to the managers of natural stands to weed, thin, and prune. To help the natural tree compete with the artificial one, growers show the potential qualities of their products at state, county, and local fairs.