Georgians will buy close to a million Christmas trees this
year. Many are choosing a
new kind of tree that can make the holidays easier for
everyone.
"About 40 percent of the trees grown in Georgia this
year are Leyland
cypress," said Dave Moorhead, a forest regeneration
specialist with the University of
Georgia Extension Service.
Tree breeders crossed Alaskan cedar with Monterey cypress and
got the best of both
trees in one.
This is the first year these trees are widely available.
Moorhead said farmers have
grown a few of the delicate, lacy trees for about 10 years. But
consumers have just
"found" them. Leyland cypresses are gaining in
popularity for many reasons.
"Leylands have a nice, soft foliage that’s easy to
decorate," Moorhead said.
The new cypresses have some advantages other Christmas trees.
They don’t have a very
noticeable odor. And they don’t hold dust or pollen that could
cause problems for allergy
sufferers. They don’t shed needles, either.
"It’s a very clean tree to take in and out of the house
as long as you keep plenty
of water in the stand throughout the season," Moorhead
said.
Farmers like Leyland cypresses, too. They grow fast and are
ready for market in three
to four years. Many other trees grown in Georgia, including the
Virginia pine and red
cedar, may take four to six years to reach marketable size.
They’re also more disease- and insect-resistant.
"Farmers don’t have to spend a
lot of extra dollars or time trying to keep the trees in good
shape," Moorhead said.
Without insects, farmers don’t have to spray costly pesticides
on the trees.
Fewer insects on the tree in the field means holiday buyers
take fewer insects into
their homes, too. Homeowners choosing Leyland cypresses won’t
likely be bugged by aphids
living on the tree they pick.
Like other fresh trees, Leyland cypresses do gulp down water.
Moorhead said most trees
will drink more than a quart of water every day.
"No matter what kind of fresh tree you choose, check the
water level in the stand
several times every day," he said. "And keep it filled
with fresh water."
Trees with plenty of moisture stay fresh longer and are more
fire-resistant.
Moorhead said Georgia farmers provide about a third of the
trees Georgia families buy
for their holiday decorating. Most Georgia tree farms sell their
trees on a choose-and-cut
basis.
Choosing a Christmas tree is an important part of the
holidays for many families, said
Don Bower, an extension family and consumer scientist.
"Families keep going out and choosing and cutting a tree
because it
a tie to the past,"
he said. "It=
during the holidays."
"It’s a sure way to get a fresh tree," Moorhead
said.
Whether you choose and cut your tree or buy it at the market,
prepare it carefully
before you set it up in your stand. Cut off about a half-inch of
the trunk just before
taking it inside. That opens up the tree’s vascular system,
allowing it to easily take up
water.
When you take the tree inside, choose a place away from
heater vents and fireplaces.
With all these advantages, it seems that Leyland cypress
trees would be more expensive
than other trees. But they aren’t. "Leyland cypress prices
fall right between
Virginia pines and Fraser firs," Moorhead said.
Expect to pay $4 to $7 per foot for a six-foot Leyland
cypress.
