Why Control Weeds?
Good weed control is one of the most important operations if high quality Christmas trees are to be grown at minimum cost. The control of weeds in a Christmas tree plantation produces several important benefits: It improves the survival and growth of the trees. Weeds compete with Christmas trees for the limited amounts of sunlight, water and nutrients available on the site (Fig. 18). Excessive weed competition significantly reduces the survival and growth of the trees (Fig. 29). Such competition is particularly detrimental when trees are young and during years when the spring and summer are dry. Benefits are most pronounced on sites having heavy weed cover and with the more demanding spruces, firs and Douglas-fir, but any species of Christmas tree planted on any site benefits from good weed control (Figs. 30, 31).
