Depending on where you get your Christmas tree, prepare to pay a little more for your living room’s centerpiece this holiday season.
According to many Christmas tree suppliers, there is a national shortage of tall pines and firs that can be linked everything from drought and disease, as well as the 2008 Great Recession.
According to Peg Castorani at Gateway Garden Center in Hockessin, the financial crisis of 2008 led to fewer farmers planting trees. Since it takes between 12 and 15 years to grow a 10-foot tree, the supply we see this season may still be suffering from a lack of planting in the past.
The influx of people staying home for the holiday season during COVID-19’s peak also put unexpected pressure on the industry.
Most tree suppliers in Delaware get their trees from nearby Pennsylvania or New Jersey farms, but some can come from as far away as Canada. The cost of shipment, as well as the impact of drought and disease, have had an adverse impact on the cost and supply of Christmas trees this year.
Christmas at the Beach:Your guide to holiday lights, parades, tree lightings and shopping at the Delaware beaches
Inflation comes as no surprise to anyone at this point, but the increased cost of supplies, labor and maintenance at tree farms and suppliers also could increase Christmas tree costs anywhere from 5 to 20%, depending on a tree’s size and type.
Shop local while supplies last
The best bet to save money and support your local economy is to shop locally.
Delaware Christmas tree farms have faced major hardships throughout the past few decades as suppliers continue to rely on imports from other states and countries.
Tree farms in Delaware that grow and sell their own trees have largely been able to avoid the inflationary costs that other suppliers are facing, but that doesn’t mean their industry is as strong as it was before.
Drought and disease hit some farmers hard in the summer, limiting their supply. While they may not be able to offer the tallest trees this season, farmers like John Clark at Clark’s Family Tree Farm in Smyrna are just happy to be a part of their community’s celebrations.
“If I wanted to be a millionaire, I’d up the prices way higher,” Clark said. “But I love to see the families and kids come out at Christmas time and select the tree. I’m old school, that’s my thing.”
Guide to shopping local:Find the perfect Christmas tree from Delaware-area growers
John Schwalm of Shelterwood Farms in Hartly has been in the business for nearly 50 years. Schwalm, now in his mid-70s with plans to retire after this season, recalls a time when Delaware’s local Christmas tree business was as booming as ever.
“We had growers all around us in every direction,” Shwalm said. “Now I probably have three or four growers within 5 miles of me. Nationwide, the industry is suffering.”
How to shop for your Christmas tree
Nearly every retailer we spoke to is anticipating selling out of stock this season. So the best course of action is a swift one.
“The most important thing for a customer is to go and pick out the tree of your dreams while the selection is the greatest,” Castorani said.
Reviewed.com:Your guide to Christmas trees—here’s everything you need to know
If you’re looking for good needle retention and fragrance, the Francis Fir seems to be a widely-approved favorite.
When choosing the perfect size, make sure to take into account the height of your ceiling and to leave some room for a tree stand, topper and plenty of space for gifts! To save on headaches later, also be sure to check that the trunk is fairly straight.
According to the Real Christmas Tree Growers Association, to find the freshest trees, bend the needles. If the tree is fresh, they should spring right back into place. The bottom of the tree should be sappy and moist. And if you thump the base of the tree near the ground, no needles should fall.
Despite the national shortage, suppliers should be able to meet demand this season.
But if you’re looking to fill your living room space with a tall full-bodied fir, you may want to start looking sooner rather than later.
Like knowing what stores, restaurants and developments are coming and going in Delaware? Join our Facebook group What’s Going There in Delaware and subscribe to our What’s Going There in Delaware newsletter.
Contact Molly McVety at mmcvety@delawareonline.com.
More Delaware holiday stories
More:21 festive events for you to ring in 2022 holiday season in Delaware
More:Delaware has six new Christmas pop-up bars. And two are only 100 feet apart.
More:Delaware man chosen to help decorate the White House for the holidays
More:‘A Longwood Christmas’ glows with half a million lights that take months to install
