Southern Tablelands Farm Forestry Network |
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[Print this fact sheet - pdf 101kb] Christmas trees are becoming a popular option for landholders wanting to plant trees for commercial benefits but want a short term option. Radiata pine is the species that is most commonly used for Christmas tree plantations. The establishment of radiata pine for Christmas trees is almost identical to the establishment of pine for timber production. The site preparation, planting and handling techniques, weed control and fertiliser are all the same. Consult some of the other STFFN information sheets for more information on these topics. The ‘differences’ are the genetics of the seedling, spacing between trees, pruning and of course markets and marketing. Genetics It is possible to purchase pine seedlings that have been bred for Christmas trees. That is, the trees will have more branches and the whorls of branches will be closer together. This is different to pines bred for timber production that will have fewer branches further apart. These specially bred pines are typically more expensive and it is important to place your order early. Purchasing the specially bred pines for Christmas trees will not guarantee a perfect looking Christmas tree. It is the pruning that will make the critical difference between a Christmas tree and a timber tree. Spacing Christmas trees may be planted close together as they will be harvested in 5 years. Spacing may be in the order of 2m by 1.5m aiming for a density of 3000-4000 trees per hectare. Spacing may be this close as the trees will be harvested by 5 years old and they will not be adversely competing with each other up until then. Pruning Pruning is the absolutely critical factor that will determine the quality of Christmas trees. With increasingly fussy markets an unpruned tree will simply not be saleable. Pruning may commence when the trees are 1 year old with a basic form prune to remove double leaders and competing side branches. In years 2 and 3 trimming of the side branches needs to occur to encourage re-shooting to produce bushier, denser trees. It may be necessary to prune twice a year to achieve the desired result. A pair of secateurs or shears will do the job. It is also recommended that the first 20cm of the stem to the nearest whorl of branches be pruned flush to the stem including the removal of any needles. Markets It is vital to investigate your markets before you plant your trees as different markets have different size and shape specifications. Most producers are targeting either the Canberra or Sydney markets. There still appears to be a healthy demand in both these centres but there are certainly more and more growers planting for this market. The most important component of marketing is to produce a quality product, ensuring to better your circumstances in the market place. |