Fraser Fir for Christmas Trees and Landscape Transplants

Christmas trees are often regarded as a conifer crop that can be grown on poor soil such as stoney land that has low fertility, on poor agricultural soil or marginal land that could be considered for reforestation. One of the more popular Christmas tree species however does not perform well on marginal infertile soil and the requirements are often not made clear during generalized discussions on Christmas tree production.

In Ontario, Fraser fir has become a favourite 'end-of-season celebration tree' and is expected to remain popular for some time. The short fir needles stay a dark green colour and remain fixed to the tree long after cutting. As a Christmas tree, Fraser fir adds a pleasant aroma to the house and the needles aren't sharp like the needles of Scots pine and spruce. Many people like the soft needles during tree decorating. As a transplant, Fraser fir makes a nice addition to landscape projects where fertile garden soil has an acid pH.

The best prices and high market demand come at a cost however for Fraser fir Christmas trees. Unlike other conifers, Fraser fir has proven to be the most finicky for management requirements and is best considered as a finely tuned horticultural ornamental. Fraser fir grows poorly when grown on marginal land that is suitable for other Christmas tree conifers such as spruces and pine.

Fraser fir requires soil that has a high fertility and excellent drainage, such as well-drained sand or sandy loam soil. Irrigation is useful during droughty seasons. Fraser fir cannot tolerate low soil fertility, wet soil or heavier clay soil. Areas in a field that are too wet and problematic for Fraser fir will be more suited to balsam fir, Canaan fir or a different crop.

Fraser fir requires acid soil ranging between pH 5.2 and 5.8 and shows little tolerance to soil pH outside of this narrow range. Only in situations where the soil has a very course texture and is very well drained, Fraser fir can tolerate soil pH as high as 6.0. Soil testing prior to planting is required to determine if Fraser fir can be successfully grown on the site.

After planting, and during the eight years until harvest, regular soil testing is necessary to ensure the pH remains within, or as close as possible to the ideal range. If soil pH nudges above 6.0, Fraser fir suffers increasingly from needle browning, poor health, insufficient growth and yellow foliage in the fall.

After bud break, spring frost will damage new tender branch shoots of Fraser fir. In areas prone to late frost, Canaan fir is preferred. Bud break for Canaan fir occurs 7 to 10 days later than Fraser fir, which enables the new green shoots to avoid frost injury. Canaan fir is also more tolerant to wet soil than Fraser fir but still performs better on fertile drained sandy loam soil.

As a recent addition to the group of fir species, Canaan fir is a balsam fir variety from West Virginia and is considered a potential Christmas tree cultivar for Ontario. Canaan fir is gaining interest among growers as Christmas trees and as landscape transplants.

While weed control alone may adequately free up enough nutrients for other Christmas tree species, Fraser fir requires close attention to nitrogen fertility. Yellow foliage is a common problem with Fraser fir near harvest time, even when all the right conditions seem to be met. Growers find that yellowing of foliage is less of a problem where nitrogen is applied each spring and weeds are managed. Even where soil fertility is naturally good, growers of Fraser fir experience better tree colour and growth with annual spring applications of nitrogen fertilizer, similar to other landscape ornamentals.

Ammonium sulphate fertilizer is the preferred source of early season nitrogen for Fraser fir. Leaf tissue analysis and soil analysis are important to determine the rate to use. In situations where soil pH is near or slightly above 5.8, ammonium sulphate fertilizer can help to keep the soil pH in the ideal acid range as a result of the sulphur component.

Acid soil maintains other nutrients, specifically iron and manganese in a soluble form that is more available for root uptake. Adequate iron and manganese with adequate nitrogen has a combined influence in maintaining a thicker dark green foliage in Fraser fir Christmas trees. Annual shearing and tree shaping is an easier task with healthy tree growth.

In the final year when Fraser firs are to be cut as Christmas trees (not as landscape transplants) Michigan State University researchers and experienced growers recommend applying ammonium sulphate again in early to mid-August at a rate of 280 to 560 grams per tree (56 - 115 grams actual nitrogen per tree), depending on size of the trees and on nutrient analysis. Typically, larger trees e.g. 8 feet tall or more, would receive a higher rate while smaller trees e.g. less than 6 feet, would receive a lower rate.

The August application of nitrogen maintains the dark green foliage right to Christmas and contributes to better needle retention. However, any trees that are not harvested that year and remain in the field will be more susceptible to winter injury as a result of the August nitrogen.

A summer treatment of nitrogen can delay or prevent the onset of winter dormancy in the trees. The summer application of nitrogen should not be applied to Fraser fir or other Christmas trees that are not yet mature for the harvest cut, to prevent winter injury.

Insect pests and diseases are similar to other firs, although balsam gall midge (Dasineura balsamicola) is a significant insect pest in eastern Ontario, Quebec and the Maritime provinces and can defoliate Fraser fir during severe infestations.

| Top of Page |