YORK COUNTY, Pa. — At McCurdy’s Tree Farm in Monaghan Township, there are hundreds of trees ready to be chopped down for Christmas.
Even with a lack of rain this fall, owner Mark McCurdy says they’re in good shape.
“They’re probably a little stressed but as far as the way they look and are growing, we had a good year," said McCurdy.
He says some varieties do better in dry weather like the Douglas firs.
Root mass and soil play a role too.
“The older trees have a little bit more fibrous root that has developed over time and can take the longer periods of drought," said McCurdy.
While this year's trees are good, the ones which would have been for sale several years down the line are a different story.
“We planted close to 8,000 this year and we had about 5,000 that didn’t make it because it was too hot and too dry for too long," McCurdy said.
Those trees would have been ready in eight to 10 years but now the farm has to make up the loss.
“Next year we’ll probably plant a little heavier in the spring," said McCurdy. "You can push a little with good wet years we have and we could push with fertilizer and if the water was good from the rain you could gain some of that back.”
But as for this holiday season, McCurdy says they are ready to go.
“As dry as it’s been, it’s hurt the younger trees, the new plants, the older trees seem to be very resilient and in very good shape for the upcoming Christmas season, so don’t let that hold you back," he said.