Texas experts anticipating heightened Christmas tree demand this season

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Christmas tree producers in Texas are experiencing heightened demand this year after back-to-back seasons impacted by drought, Texas A&M Forest Service experts shared Wednesday.

Experts said higher prices are probable for any choose-and-cut and shipped-cut trees this holiday season.

“Demand is up, whether the previous seasons impacted supplies or supplies held steady, so there is a potential for price increases and limited selection,” said Fred Raley, Ph.D., Texas A&M Forest Services' director of the Western Gulf Tree Improvement Program. “The increased cost of shipping in fresh-cut trees from other states will also factor into prices.”

Potential drought impacts varied based on different regions' localized rainfall and growers' access to irrigation, Raley added. Some farms are combating drought effects but adding more shipped trees to their native tree stocks.

Christmas tree sales tend to pick up the weekend after Thanksgiving, Raley said, adding many Texas farmers are expanding on their services to add family-friendly activities like holiday hayrides, do-it-yourself decorations, wreath making and other attractions.

“They’re trying to build a complete seasonal experience,” he said. “We’re seeing some older generational farms closing, but we’re also hearing from younger entrepreneurs who want to do something in the green industry, and they are looking to start with Christmas trees.”

Elsewhere, experts estimated between 85 and 95 tree farms operate in Texas. Those include smaller family-sized operations to dozens of acreages at larger-scale sites.

Here in Texas, four tree varieties perform best: Virginia and Afghan pines along with Leyland and Carolina sapphire cypresses. Statewide, tree growers often grow their crops in four-year rotations. Stan Reed, executive secretary of the Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association, told the Texas A&M Forest Service roughly 130,000 seedlings have been purchased so far for those replants.

More details on this year's crop and weather report are available online.