Dry summer could spell future shortages at local Christmas tree farms

Christmas is just around the corner, and local tree farms are gearing up for the holiday.

While the trees are still abundant this year, the owner of one Bedford County farm said this summer's weather can have negative impacts on the holiday tradition for years to come.

Rick Koontz with Seller's Christmas Tree Farm in Bedford, which first opened in 1951, said that he's only seen one other summer as dry as this year.

"By mid-June this year, I could see problems. We had had the first two weeks of June were kind of cool, and then it got hot and dry and day after day of 90–95-degree heat with no rainI lost a tremendous amount of my first-year seedlings," said Koontz.

While he said that the rain from Hurricane Milton provided some much-needed moisture for his trees, the conditions on his farm are still dry.

He explained, "The climate has changed and where we're getting these more aggressive storms and we're getting warmer weather in the wintertime here and it does affect the trees."

He said that while there are still plenty of Christmas trees available this year, the problems from the summer's dryness have barely started. He says this may force him and other farmers to try different techniques.

"It doesn't put me behind right now, but three and four years from now it might create a shortage depending on if we would have a second dry summer that would really hurt. I am set up to do some irrigating, but that's very time consuming and very labor intensive," he said.

Koontz said he has some advice, if you're planning on getting a live tree this year.

"I've been telling the folks as they come and get a Christmas tree that as soon as they get home, even if you're not going to put it up, get it in water. Get it in water immediately. Keep it away from heat and you'll be amazed how long they will last," Koontz said.

He added that he's hopeful for better summer conditions next year.