If you haven’t already, it’s time to start thinking about putting up the Christmas tree. According to the National Christmas Tree Association 25 to 30-million real Christmas trees are sold each year.

For every real Christmas tree cut down each year, up to 3 saplings are planted each spring to replace it.

Depending on the type of tree, it can take up to 15 years to grow a Christmas tree to a height of between 6 and 7 feet. Some trees grow quicker and they’re ready in as little as 4 years, but the average growing time is 7 years.

At any given time, there are about 350-million Christmas trees being grown on 15-thousand tree farms in the United States. It’s an industry that provides 100-thousand full or part time jobs.

Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states with Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin the top 5 tree producing states. New York comes in 7th on the list.

The trees favored for use as Christmas trees are balsam fir, Douglas fir, Fraser fir, Noble fir, Scotch, Virginia and white pine.

And once you’re finished with the tree there are more than 4-thousand Christmas tree recycling programs around the country. Locally you can find programs that’ll recycle your tree and give you the mulch to spread in your garden. Most sellers of Christmas trees will know where and when those recycling programs are, so ask when you buy your tree.

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