LAKE ELMO, Minn. – It is one of the last harvests of the year, and the fresh scent of pine and fir trees can be bittersweet in a way.
“The fields we are harvesting this year have been a part of us for eight years or more and we have watched them grow,” John Krueger said. “And now they will be cut down.”
Krueger is the third generation owner of Krueger’s Christmas Tree Farm. While he finds joy in knowing that the evergreens will make a family happy, they may not realize how much effort it took to reach these towering heights.
Krueger said his trees grow about three feet per year. This means that it takes about eight years to reach the optimal height of 2.5 meters. Some grow a little taller, about 9-10 feet. That time frame falls within normal weather conditions.
The trees on his farm and across Minnesota have been suffering from drought for about four years, sometimes on the severe and extreme end of the spectrum.
“It (the drought) is definitely the most impactful in the first few years, at least in terms of survivability,” he said.
Trees need water immediately after planting to establish root systems, and even more in subsequent years to stimulate growth. In unfavorable drought conditions, they can only grow about 6 to 8 inches per year.
“The tree usually grows in height despite the drought and so the height will be there, but just that fullness and density may be a little bit lacking,” Kreuger said.
About a decade ago, Krueger said they made changes to the farm that help protect the trees from drought.
“We are going to plant the trees a little closer together, so that they are easier to manage. We are also investing a lot in wood chips and spreading them over the rows, so that the soil stays cool and also retains moisture.” Krueger said.
Drip line irrigation was also added. Krueger said all of these changes will allow the trees to grow on schedule and at their full potential, despite what Mother Nature has done to them. He said customers can expect trees sold today to look just like trees sold 10 years ago.
Fortunately, abundant rain fell this spring and summer, exactly when moisture is needed most.
“The rain stopped this year around September, but by then the trees were mostly dormant,” he said. “Having extra water this fall will be great for the trees in the spring.”
Soil type is also important in enduring drought. Krueger said areas with a lot of sand in the soil, unlike his farm, likely had more difficulty with tree growth.
