Q. What is the best Christmas Tree?
A. Fraser Fir grown in Northwest North Carolina and Southwest Virginia.
Q. Are Fraser Fir trees better compared to other types?
A. Yes, Fraser Fir are better because of needle texture, color, and needle retention.
Q. What do the grades mean?
A. Christmas Trees are graded for taper, uniformity, color, and size among other characteristics.
Q. When are the trees I ordered cut?
A. Christmas Trees are cut as close to ship date as possible for maximum freshness.
Q. How are Christmas Trees shipped / how many trees fit on a truck?
A. Most Christmas Trees are shipped in semi-trailers, depending on area of the country, the trailers may or may not be refrigerate. The number shipped on a truck can vary depending on the size tree. A semi load of 6-7 ft. trees would be approximately 700 trees.
Q. Where are we located / where do Frasers grow
A. Shatley Farms main office is located in Jefferson, NC. Ashe County North Carolina, the county that produces more Christmas Trees than any other county in the United States.
Q. When do you start taking orders?
A. Shatley Farms starts taking orders in January.
Q. How can I recycle my Christmas Tree?
A. In many cases, trees are placed in lakes for fish habitat, used as mulch in your lawn or composted. Most areas have a program to pick up and properly use Christmas Trees after the holiday season.
Q. Does adding aspirin or sugar to the Christmas tree water really help?
A. There is no evidence that this improves the uptake of water. A fresh cut on the trunk and maintaining adequate water in the stand at all times is all that is needed.
Q. What do you do on the land once you cut the Christmas Tree?
A. In most cases, the land is replanted in Christmas Trees. Or, following removal of the trees the land may be used for any other crop or purpose that is needed.
Q. How do I get the Christmas Tree sap off my skin or clothes after carrying it in my house?
A. Ammonia seem to work best. Always follow instructions on the label.
Q. How to decide how big a stand I need to buy for my fresh cut Christmas tree?
A. Typically, the packaging for the stand will define what size tree the stand will hold. It is better for the stand to be a bit larger than required rather than smaller in order for the tree to be more stable.
Q. Are Christmas Trees poisonous to my cat or dog if they try to eat it?
A. Real Fraser Fir Christmas trees are not toxic to cats. Are Christmas Trees Toxic To Cats - Cat-World
Q. How do you store the Christmas Trees after they are cut, and before they are shipped?
A. Cut trees are stored laying horizontally in stacks, covered with shade cloth to reduce moisture loss and to prevent sunburn. It is normal for trees to lose some moisture after cutting but the tree can be fully re-hydrated before being placed in your home. The best way to do this is to put a fresh cut on the trunk and stand the tree up in the shade in a container of water that will cover the first few inches of the trunk. Twenty four hours should be sufficient to re-hydrate the tree. Once the tree is brought inside, keep water in the stand at all times.
Q. Do you accept Master Card or Visa?
A. Shatley Farms does not take Master Card or Visa. We sell into the Wholesale Christmas Tree Market Channel and most orders are above the limits of many credit cards.
Q. How old is a 6-7’ Christmas Tree when harvested?
A. It takes approximately 11-12 years to grow a Fraser Fir Christmas Tree from seed.
Q. How much maintenance is involved in growing a Christmas tree?
A. There is a lot of maintenance involved over the entire growing cycle. It is estimated that each tree will receive maintenance approximately 100 times over the life of the tree.
Q. How does the process get started? Do you grow your own seedlings?
A. The process starts with seed and they can be grown in seedbeds in natural climate or they can be grown in greenhouses which is a controlled environment.
Q. Why is a Fraser Fir Christmas tree better than an artificial tree?
A. A Real Fraser Fir Christmas Tree is a natural product of our environment which is more environmentally friendly, it is a renewable product, it does not require the use of steel and plastic (PVC) to manufacture, it is grown in the United States and in most cases is grown by local growers. The product has a natural look with soft needles, and a rich aroma. Artificial trees look fake and are less desirable. Using an artificial plastic tree at Christmas is like buying artificial plastic roses for Valentine’s Day. Plastic is just not the same as the natural product, a “Real Christmas Tree”.
Q. How to properly care for my tree to keep it fresh through the Christmas season?
A. Buy your tree early so you can properly care for it and know that it is fresh. Ask your retailer to place a fresh cut on the trunk, once you get the tree home, stand the tree up in a container of water with a few inches of the trunk covered with water. Keep the tree out of direct sunlight. Once you are ready to put your tree up, another fresh cut on the trunk would be preferable. Once the tree is up keep water in the stand at all times and away from heat sources if possible.
Q. What are the colored ribbons on Christmas Trees?
A. The ribbons are used to designate height and in some cases, they provide traceability as to the farm they were grown on or the person who graded the tree.
Q. Why are the mountains a good place to grow a Fraser fir?
A. Fraser fir grow best at elevations above 3000 feet and like moist soil and cold winters. The Blue Ridge Mountain chain Of North Carolina provides the ideal climate.
Q. How long does a Christmas Tree live after it is cut?
A. Fraser Fir will remain fresh and fully hydrated for weeks or months if they are cared for properly.
Q. How many types of Christmas Trees are there?
A. There are many species of evergreens used for Christmas Trees. The primary species in the United States are Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, Douglas Fir and Noble Fir.
Q. What happens to the stumps after the trees are cut?
A. Most growers in North Carolina leave the stumps and plant the next rotation of trees beside the old stump.
Q. Why won’t a Fraser grow in my backyard?
A. Fraser Fir require cool moist climates with well-drained soil. Most areas of the country do not have conditions suitable for Fraser Fir.
Q. How much water does it need?
A. Keep the bowl of the stand filled and let the tree take up as much water as possible.
Q. Why is Fraser fir the “Best Christmas Tree and called the Cadillac of Christmas Trees”?
A. The Fraser Fir has soft needles, a deep green color, a nice aroma and their needle retention is excellent.
Q. Where are most Christmas Trees Grown?
A. The vast majority of Christmas Trees are grown in Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Washington, New York and Virginia.
Q. Why is the Blue Ridge Mountain Range the best place to grow Fraser Fir?
A. The climate in the Blue Ridge Mountain has plentiful rainfall, cool summers and cold winters. Many areas of the region also have loamy soils, which are needed to prevent root disease.
Q. What is the difference between a Fraser Fir and a Balsam Fir Christmas Tree?
A. There is very little difference visually. However, there is a very significant difference in needle retention with Fraser Fir having far superior needle retention. Balsam Fir also bud earlier in the spring and are more likely to incur frost damage, which kill the new growth.
Q. When should I buy my Christmas Tree?
A. As soon as they are available at your local retailer. You can care for your tree better than the retailer can.
Q. How should I store my Christmas Tree until it is brought in the house?
A. Buy your tree as early as they are available at your local retailer. Unbale the tree and Place it in a container of water with the bottom few inches of the trunk covered and sitting in a shaded area until you are ready to bring the tree inside your home.
Q. How do I keep my Christmas Tree fresh and hydrated?
A. Put a fresh cut on the trunk before putting the tree up and keep water in the stand at all times.
Q. Should the trunk of a Christmas Tree have a fresh cut before putting it in a stand?
A. Yes, a minimum of a half inch should be cut off the trunk before placing it in a stand.
Q. Can I buy Wholesale Christmas Trees from Shatley Farms?
A. Yes, Shatley Farms sells into the Wholesale Christmas Tree market channel providing trees to many major retailer as well as independent retailers.
Q. What Christmas Tree species are sold by Shatley Farms?
A. Shatley Farms sells primarily Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, Douglas Fir and Noble Fir.
Q. What retail outlets sell Shatley Farms Christmas Trees?
A. Shatley Farms sells to most major retailers as well as many independent retailers nationally.
Q. How do I get a quote for Shatley Farms Christmas Trees?
A. You can request a quote from our web site at Shatleyfarms.com/request-quote or call our toll free number.
Q. Will Shatley Farms handle shipping my order?
A. Yes, if requested Shatley Farms will arrange shipping to your location in dry vans or refrigerated trailers as requested.
Q. Should I buy a Shatley Farms Real Christmas Tree grown in America, or should I buy a plastic tree from China?
A. A Real Fraser Fir Grown by Shatley farms in North Carolina is “The Natural Choice” and is always preferable to an artificial tree.
