Now that it is time to deck the halls, more and more Americans are heading to their local Christmas tree lots to get started in earnest.
While there may have been plenty of trees to choose from, some may have noticed some major differences this year. For starters, the prices are higher than they have been. Secondly, their choices may not have been as varied as they would have liked.
The extreme weather that we are experiencing has done a number on these trees, which goes a long way toward explaining these types of concerns. According to FOX Weather, this summer was the third warmest in United States history and as a result, states like Oregon and Washington did not produce the same amount of trees that the average retailer is accustomed to.
“The trees we planted in the summer took a pretty hard hit because their roots hadn’t grown enough to deal with that hot heat we had,” Glenn Bustard, Christmas tree farmer and retailer,] shared with FOX Weather. “I think it was more of the heat than lack of water. But the big trees, they were fine.” Meanwhile, 59 percent of the northeast reported “abnormally dry” conditions.
According to the outlet, 24 percent of the northeast was in a drought when August rolled around, which surely did not help matters. Farmers have been quick to note that these conditions have been years in the making, as it takes more than one year’s worth of extreme weather to have this kind of effect. Christmas trees can take anywhere from 8 to 12 years to grow.
“For Christmas tree growers, for the life of that tree, we have to worry about every year of weather,” says Lucas Dull in his interview with FOX Weather. As the co-owner of Dulls Tree Farm in Indiana, he is well equipped to make these observations. “And one year of drought or heavy rains and flooding can affect several years worth of Christmas trees.”
He went on to say: “The last couple years, the supply has been tight depending on what area of the country you are in. However, there has always ended up being enough trees for people, but sometimes people may have to choose a different size or species than they are used to.”
As a result, experts are letting people know that they need to be moving quickly if they would like to get a decent tree without having to spend an arm and leg.