Record Rainfall Has Mixed Effects On Christmas Tree Crop
SEWELL, NJ (CBS) - So with all the rain we got this summer, is that affecting the Christmas tree crop? Depends on where you go and how the farmer handled it all.
Dennis Crilly brought his young son to Exley's Christmas Tree Farm in Sewell, an annual family tradition, and found the perfect nine-footer for the living room.
"I thought it was thicker than usual, yeah. I guess it was because of all the rain."
He's kind of right. Bill Exley, son of the owner, says some farms were hurt by too much rain, but not his. See, they plan ahead to insure proper drainage.
"We actually do what's called a ridge around our trees when we plant them as a young tree, so they're actually built up on a little bit of a mound. So, that helps to keep them from getting too much water."
Not so for some other farms. "Most of our crop that's for sale this year is nice and green and ready to go, but in some areas, we've seen farms that have experienced yellowness on the trees because of too much water."
Oh, and don't worry about pine needles looking dry deep inside the tree. That comes with the frost and it's normal.
Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio 1060
