UC Grown Christmas Trees Are An Option

You have local options for selecting a natural Christmas tree grown in the Upper Cumberland.

Sycamore Springs Farm Co-Owner Joe Pennycuff said that the Virginia Pine and the White Pine are the most common Christmas trees grown here as both are native trees. Pennycuff said when picking a natural tree it is best to not only look at the tree itself but also look at what is down around the tree as well.

“They need to look for a tree that’s got a bright green color and gently rub the tree and make sure that the needles are staying on the tree firmly,” Pennycuff said.  “Look underneath the tree and if it’s and it’s got an excess amount of needle drop, you might want to choose a different tree.”

McCulley’s Amazin’ Acres Operator Daniel McCulley said some tree farms will sell precut trees. McCulley said if you are looking to buy a precut natural tree make sure you are paying attention to how they have been stored.

“Especially if you are going to buy some that are precut look to see if they have been stored in water,” McCulley said. “Some places just cut the precuts and they just have them sitting outside and they are going to lose their needles faster. Just look for the ones that have been stored in water and have been kept out of the sun.”

McCulley said once a tree is cut it needs to be watered as water can keep the tree alive even though it has been disconnected from its roots. McCulley said it is best to measure before cutting a tree as a mistake people often make when cutting a tree is cutting the tree too long.

“Just remember when you cut a Christmas tree it has to go in a stand in your house,” McCulley said. “So they don’t look as big when they are in the field but when you get them in your house than can grow a little bit.”

Pennycuff said the drought the Upper Cumberland has had this year has limited the growth of trees this year.

“Our small seedlings that we set out haven’t grown any at all this year,” Pennycuff said. “Our other trees have slowed down considerably as well and we’ve had about a 12 to 15 percent loss of trees due to the drought.”

McCulley said drought has affected his farm but nowhere near as bad. McCulley said his farm lost about 3 to 4 percent with most of those trees being Canaan Firs.

“We are continually still dry here,” McCulley said. “Ponds are all down. The pines were not affected as the firs were. The pines just didn’t quite get as much growth on them this year as they typically would, but some of our furs you can see the drought damage. We actually have lost a few pines but more of our firs have taken that hit than the pine trees have.  The pine trees are a little harder and a little more used to the heat and dryness we have in this area.”

McCulley said he believes most people like having a natural Christmas tree as cutting a tree is a family tradition.

“It’s a real tree and it’s not store-bought, it’s not plastic, it’s not imported from another country,” McCulley said. “The smell so it’s got the smell and the look. It’s just the experience of going out and cutting your tree,  picking your tree, cutting your tree, bringing it back, and putting it in your house. It just means a little more than taking it out of the box and throwing up the lights on it and all you do is put it up and plug it in. It is a little more convenient that way but it’s not the same, it doesn’t mean as much.”