It looks like the Texas Christmas tree sales will be getting a boost this year, said a Texas A&M AgriLife expert and others associated with the industry.
Texas Christmas tree growers are expecting another good year for live tree sales.
But not just any Christmas tree, Raley said. There will be a much greater demand for live Christmas trees, as many people consider them the quintessential symbol of the holidays.
He also noted that almost all artificial Christmas trees are imported, and live trees have the benefit of being entirely biodegradable.
Texas Christmas tree production and pricing
According to the Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association, TCTGA, there are 175 Christmas tree farms in Texas producing some 200,000 trees annually on about 2,500 acres statewide.
Various Christmas tree types grow in rows at Texas tree farm. They are various colors, ranging from a bluegreen gray to a dark green.
Despite the drought, Texas Christmas tree production was good, but increased input costs are expected to make tree prices a little higher this year.
Prices will vary depending on the size and type of tree and may be a little higher than last year, he said. But generally, there should be no big price increases. However, where you may find higher prices is for those trees that are grown out of state and then brought into Texas, as they will have additional costs associated with transportation.
The Virginia pine is the favorite among Texas Christmas tree growers because it grows well in many areas of the state.
These trees will likely cost 10-12% more this year, due to higher input costs combined with the rising cost of transportation.
People choose a live tree for Christmas so they can have variety from year to year instead of pulling out and putting up same artificial tree every year. They also enjoy coming to the farm and choosing their own tree. In that regard, we provide more than just Christmas trees, we provide a complete experience for the family.
Christmas tree popularity
The most widely grown live Christmas tree species in Texas are the Virginia pine, Leyland cypress, Afghan pine and Arizona cypress.
Raley said the best-selling and most popular live Christmas tree species is the Virginia pine. because it grows well throughout the state.
“Virginia pine trees were selected by the Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association for their survivability, growth and form,” he said.
The Afghan pine seems to be growing in popularity in some parts of the state, especially Central Texas, where it also happens to grow the best. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Michael Arnold)
However, he said, there has been an increased interest in other tree species, particularly the Afghan pine.
Afghan pines grow well in Central Texas, and that’s the area from where most of the increased consumer interest has come. But there has also been growing interest in other species as live Christmas tree selections.
The Tree Improvement Program is working with industry and growers to provide seeds and technical assistance in finding additional tree species that may be grown successfully in the state and offer consumers even more options when selecting their live Christmas tree.
Reed said for those wanting to buy a live Christmas tree, his best advice is to shop early.
“If you wait until the second or third week of December to buy, you’ll have a limited selection of Christmas tree types and sizes,” he said. “It’s best to buy early. If you properly water and maintain your live tree, it will easily last through Christmas.”