Virginia Christmas tree farmers experience drought, shortage this season

Christmas trees sales begin this weekend across Virginia

BLUE RIDGE, Va. – On Friday, Ingemont Farms in Blue Ridge will be ready to sell Christmas trees to customers.

“We start the tree season tomorrow. We'll be open from 11 to dark tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday and every weekend from then until Christmas,” Geoff Trevilan, owner of Ingemont Farms, said.

A recent drought has left some Christmas tree farmers hanging dry. 

"Yeah, that was planted March a year ago, that's a two-year tree, which died because of the drought," Trevilan said.

The trees Geoff Trevilan planted last year should have been ready for sale around this time, but because weren't of the lack of rain over the summer. He had to cut down 25 to 30 trees. He says that's about a $200 loss. 

"We had some spring losses because of the drought. So in seven or eight years, that's going to affect the total number of trees that we have, hopefully. We did a fall planning, which should catch up,” Trevilan said. 

Trevilan and other farmers across Central Virginia are also seeing a shortage of popular types of trees. 

"In recent years, it's been the Fraser Firs and the Canaan Valley Firs, which we sold out of last year. But we do have a really good stand of white pines," Trevilan said. 

Trevilan's trees range from $25 to $35, depending on the type of tree. He says because he had to double plant this year, customers may see an increase in price.

"So, ultimately, I have to pass that cost onto the customers, and hopefully have a good year and spring next year, and that will make up for it. But I'll still have some losses from this year,” Trevilan said. 
Â