Experts share tips on ideal weather conditions for growing your perfect Christmas tree
While picking out the perfect Christmas tree for your home, take a moment and think about how much planning and hard work has gone into growing that evergreen.
When it comes to growing the perfect Christmas tree, the weather conditions play a key role.
In general, you won’t need advanced gardening skills to grow your Christmas tree, but experts recommend keeping in mind that the ideal tree-growing weather conditions can vary between tree species.
“When it comes to the weather, most evergreen species prefer deep rains followed by dry, sunny periods in order to allow roots to dry out but also to provide relief from insect- and fungus-loving dampness,” said Kyle Tobin, owner of Toronto-based Lawn Savers, a tree-decorating and installing company.
Examples of evergreen trees include Arizona cypress, balsam fir and eastern red cedar.
Fir trees, including Douglas, noble and concolor, grow best in hardiness zones from zone four (minimum temperature of minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit) to zone seven (minimum temperature of 0 F).
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Plant Hardiness Zone map helps gardeners and growers figure out which plants are most likely to thrive at a particular location.
“The Balsam Fir can withstand temperatures of almost minus 40 degrees Celsius, or minus 40 F, putting it in the three-to-six hardiness zone,” said horticulturist and planting expert Gena Lorainne.
The United States Department of Agriculture's Plant Hardiness Zone Map Is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree Fahrenheit zones. (Photo/USDA)
If you want your Christmas tree to grow sooner rather than later, pine trees may be your best bet, as they tend to grow faster than other species.
Scotch and white pines tend to prefer colder climates and their lowest hardiness zone is three, yet they can easily grow in zones four to seven, Lorainne said.
“Virginia pine's minimum tolerable temperature is minus 34.4 C, minus 30 F, and it will perform well in the four-to-eight climate zone," she added.
Sand pines grow best in warmer climates, seven-to-ten hardiness zones (between 0 and 40 F).
The spruce species, which can grow up to 200 feet tall, also make great Christmas trees.
“The Norway spruce grows in a rather cold climate (hardiness zones two to seven), and the famous Colorado Blue spruce falls between the four to seven hardiness zones, [the general zones for Christmas trees],” Lorainne said.
While some trees may thrive in colder conditions, extreme cold poses a threat to a Christmas tree’s growth.
Extreme cold can injure a tree, and excessive snow and ice can cause limbs and branches to snap off.
In evergreen species, winter burn can occur during frigid temperatures or if there is blowing wind or low soil moisture, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden.
The trees become dehydrated and unable to replace lost water if the ground is heavily frozen.
Certain species, including the Sand pine and some Cypress species, are particularly sensitive to frost.
Experts recommend that these species not be planted on the base of a slope, or where cold air settles.
“What can really damage most of the trees, however, is warmer weather,” Lorainne said. “If temperatures don't fall enough during winter, the chilling requirement of the tree may not be met.”
The chilling requirement is what tells the tree that it’s winter, allowing it to go dormant for the time period, Lorainne explained.
For any Christmas tree that you decide to grow, keep in mind that they all require a well-drained soil to thrive.
Experts suggest planting trees on steep sites, which allow the proper drainage without letting excessive moisture build up.
For the same reason, heavy clay-containing soils should be avoided, according to Lorainne.
“Some trees, such as firs, prefer slopes facing north or east, and others, like the pines, prefer south and east,” she said. “The growing site providing full sun is a priority, however.”
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