The festive season may still be months away, but the market for real Christmas trees is already taking shape. For garden centres, farm shops, independent retailers, Christmas-tree sellers and commercial display buyers, the message for 2026 is straightforward: place orders early. The evidence suggests tighter availability of the best-shaped premium-grade trees in the most requested species and sizes. Christmas trees are a long-grown seasonal crop, while demand is concentrated

Late spring and early summer are among the most important times of year for Christmas tree growers. Although Christmas tree harvesting takes place much later in the year, the quality, shape, colour, and overall health of a real Christmas tree are all influenced by the work carried out during the main growing season. As temperatures rise and daylight hours increase, Christmas trees move into a period of active growth. Buds begin to open, fresh shoots develop, and the tree star

When you picture a Christmas tree farm, you might imagine neat rows of young trees growing steadily through spring and summer, ready to become the centrepiece of homes in December. But long before a tree is cut, netted and taken home, it needs years of careful attention. One of the small but important tools used during the growing season is something many people may never have heard of: the bird stick. Bird sticks may look simple, but they play a valuable role in protecting y