Shearing a Few Trees for Christmas

 by Jeanne Siviski

     Like a lot of woodland owners, we usually select a random, naturally-growing tree for Christmas from our land each year.  But several years back, we also planted some balsam firs to groom on our woodlot in Central Maine for our personal use.   We chose balsam fir, which does not need as much shearing as other trees because it tends to grow symmetrically. According to G.F. Estabrook in Shearing Balsam Christmas Trees, “… fir trees should be able to look you in the eye,” when it’s time to start the shearing process.  Ours are almost the right height.  

     An ideal taper for a tree is approximately 60% -- a five foot tree would need a width or diameter of about three feet.  But shearing does more than just define an outline.  Shearing allows more sunlight to reach internodal branches and stimulates the growth of new foliage.  There’s also more vital nutrients and water to go around for needles, shoots, buds, and the growth of additional, latent buds when parts of the tree are sheared off.  Over time, the stem of the tree becomes less visible as the tree fills in.

     Balsam firs can be sheared at any time of year, except during extremely cold weather.  Mid-July to mid-August when shoots have finished growing is ideal.  Leaders should be pruned back to about 8 to 12 inches, about an inch above a good bud.  Removing buds between that top bud and 3” above the top whorl is recommended to prevent a multiple top.

     In our patch of Christmas trees, a few three foot trees have been damaged.  The original leader broke off and is now crowned with a cluster from the top whorl. In this instance, early pruning, cutting off all but the best leader, will help save a lot of effort down the road.  Some other trees are fuller on one side with very little foliage on the other.  Shearing one side more heavily makes sense, though over shearing can result in shoot loss.  Shearing, while still leaving some new growth on all branches, and repeating the next year, is one solution we can try.

     Over shearing leads to areas with less foliage.    The Southern New England Christmas Tree Growers Manual recommends that, if the tree has a single straight stem of proper length and the branches are within normal taper, “walk right by.”   Luckily, we have a few trees like  that, too.