About Our Trees

Tug Fork Tree Farm has 6 acres of Christmas trees, approximately 4,000 trees.

We have been raising Christmas tree
since 1966.

Trees range in size form 4 feet to 15 feet.

The majority of our trees are Scotch Pine. We have a few spruce and firs, Austrian Pine and Virginia Pine.

All tree are sheared annually. We do not put colorant on our trees.

Most of our customers select and tag a tree for later cutting. Those who come early get the best selection.

Tree Care

Our fresh cut trees will last 4 to 6 weeks without dropping needles. However, you need to take a few simple measures:

1. Keep water in your tree stand. A fresh cut tree will take up 1 to 2 quarts of water the first several days. Check it daily the first several days. Water intake will decline with time. Check the tree stand for water every 3-4 days after the first week. Commercial tree preservatives help but regular watering is essential.

2. Try to place your tree away from a heat register and out of the direct sun. Hot air blowing on the tree will significantly reduce the length of time if will retain needles.

3. The pines tend to retain their needles longer than spruce and fir.

Question and Answers:
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions.

Q. Can I dig a tree?
A. We do not sell dug trees. Our soils are very shallow and it very difficult to get a good root ball. The best source for a dug tree, called balled and burlap by the industry, is to go to a garden store or commercial tree nursery. If you get a tree with roots and you intend to plant it in your yard, your should not keep it in the house longer than 7 to 10 days.

Q. What is the best kind of tree?
A. That is personal preference. However, if you have a lot of heavy ornaments, Scoth pine is a good choice. They have strong branches that will hold heavy ornaments. White pine is a very pretty tree with soft needles, but it will not hold heavy ornaments since its limbs are thin.

Q. What should I look for when picking a tree?
A. We suggest three general rules. First is size. Know your ceiling height and then use one of our measuring sticks to find the right height. Since any size tree is the same price, you can pick one that is taller than you need and we can cut it to the size you need. Some trees are thin at the bottom, so look for one that has enough height so any poor or thin areas at the bottom can be cut off, leaving you a full tree for the height you need. Second look for a straight trunk. This will make it easier to put your tree in a stand and keep it up. Avoid trees that lean. Also make sure the trunk diameter will fit in your tree stand. Third factor is how open or full you want your tree. Trees that are full and sheared tightly need to be decorated differently than a tree that is more open. Open tree has more room for large ornaments to be hung on the branches. We have both kinds of trees. Also individual trees vary from side to side. Generally the sunny side (south) is fuller than the shady side (north). The best side will be the sunny side and the poorest side is generally the shady side.

Q. How long does it take to grow a tree?
A. It takes about 10 years to grow a tree on our soils. We plant 6" to 8" seedlings and it takes about two years for the roots to get established. After that, the tree grows about 1 foot per year. So in 10 years we have an 8' to 10' tree.

Q. How do you shape the trees?
A. After the third or fourth growing season we shear every tree every year. This gives the tree shape and fullness. Tree shearing is done in June after the new growth is finished elongating. It takes about a month to shear all our trees.

Q. What are the major jobs in growing Christmas trees?
A. In addition to shearing, mowing fields to keep grass and weeds from shading young trees or the lower branches of larger trees, and controlling insects and disease. Then of course the Christmas sales season is a busy time. It is more than planting and waiting 10 years to cut them.