What are the best conditions (climate, soil, etc.) for Christmas tree farms?
Bates: Pennsylvania is an excellent region of the country to grow Christmas trees due to a combination of acceptable soil types (well-drained) and somewhat moderate temperature conditions. Proximity to population centers along the East coast also are an advantage. How many tree farms are in Pennsylvania? Is this more or less than most states? Bates: There are more than 2,000 Christmas tree farms in Pennsylvania, and in recent history, Pennsylvania has usually ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the nation in the number of Christmas tree farms. In terms of acreage and/or dollar volume of sales, Pennsylvania usually ranks behind Michigan, North Carolina and Oregon. Which tree species are commonly used as Christmas trees? Do Pennsylvanians seem to have a favorite that nurseries grow more of because of that? Bates: In Pennsylvania, the Douglas fir and Fraser fir are the two most important species, comprising more than 70 percent of the acreage in the state. Other species grown in Pennsylvania include
