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Dec 10, 2007 8:56 am US/Eastern
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Drought Affects Christmas Trees
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
Summer is long gone, but Maryland remains in a drought, and the latest crops affected are Christmas trees.
Meteorologist Tim Williams reports the lack of water has done minimal damage, so far.
At nearly seven and a half inches below normal rainfall, raindrops on the needles of Christmas trees are the best gift Santa could give to a tree farmer.
"The trees got a pretty good drink right before harvest time, so I think they should be in very good shape for putting in your house," said Wayne Thomas, president of the Maryland Christmas Tree Association.
At Thomas Tree Farm in Manchester, Carroll County, it's shake, rattle, and roll as business is picking up.
Mike Slenbaker's family from Essex is continuing its tree cutting tradition for the 19th straight year.
"They needed somebody, and they said that girls always complain they don't get to use power-saws, So, I was like 'I'll do it.' I got down, and my whole body was like shaking because it was a powersaw," said Kayla Slenbaker.
There are approximately 30 to 35 million real Christmas trees sold in the U.S. every year. At Thomas alone, 2,200 are sold.
For every natural tree harvested, up to three seedlings are planted in its place. Fortunately, the drought did not totally destroy this season's crop.
Thomas says while some of the older trees weathered the drought pretty well, some of the younger trees are still struggling through. But because it takes roughly eight years for a tree to fully mature, Thomas says it will be nearly a decade before he knows the full impact of this drought.
"I think it's excellent. I think it's an excellent crop this year. I don't think you should be concerned with the drought at all with the trees that we're harvesting this year," Thomas said.
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