Missouri Christmas Tree Farms Abuzz With Activity

(Missourinet) – Missouri Christmas tree farm chain saws are buzzing with activity. It’s the busiest time of the year for Pea Ridge Forest, near Hermann, Missouri. Christmas tree grower Scott Rood says it’s easy for him to argue for a live tree and not just because it’s good business. He welcomes generations of families to the farm each December, to wander the grounds, debate the merits of Scotch pine or white pine, and eventually choose one to take home. He says that experience becomes engrained.

“Because they remember what they did and how they got their tree instead of just pulling it out of a box.

“And choosing the best tree can be very subjective for buyers.” So, what do they have there? “Anywhere from Charlie Brown trees to the absolute most perfect tree in the world in my eyes. So there’s a little bit of everything for everybody.

He says the Scotch pine is most popular, followed by white pine trees. “Scotch is a nice, full, good looking tree. The white pine is also a really good choice. just because they’re a nice tree, and they look good.”

Rood says choosing a fresh tree is an annual tradition for many families.

“It means a lot to a lot of people that they can get the whole family together and just go out into the country and spend an afternoon or a morning looking for that perfect tree arguing over which one’s better.”

And remember In Joplin, you can recycle your natural Christmas tree by dropping it off at designated city locations (Humphrey Park, McIndoe Park, Public Works Center) after decorations are removed, typically from late December through January 31st; trees are then chipped for mulch, or residents can take them for fish habitat. Always check the NewsTalk KZRG and City of Joplin’s website (joplinmo.org) in late December for official dates and locations for the upcoming season.

Happy Tree Hunting!