Being flexible is encouraged this year during Christmas tree shortage

Calgarians may have to resort to trees besides Fraser firs for Christmas this season as city garden centres experience yet another year of Christmas tree shortages.

Fraser firs are sought after for their durability and fullness compared to more sparse trees such as the Douglas fir. 

"Everybody wants a Fraser fir," says Canadian Christmas Trees Association executive director Shirley Brennan. 

"Fraser fir holds and retains its needles the best, and so that is a little bit harder to find."

Most Christmas trees sold in Canada come from Central Canada and the East Coast, with Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia being some of the dominating provinces in the market. 

But deliveries to Alberta are getting scarcer each year. 

"It doesn't seem to be going away any time soon, we're not seeing any more coming on the market," said Plantation Garden Centre owner Colin Atter.

"It's less and less every year."

In order to meet the demand for real trees, Atter is making an effort to order 100 to 200 more trees for his customers.

In order for trees to be ready for sale, Brennan says so much goes on behind the scenes.

"So it's a 365-day-a-year job," said Brennan.

"It is a labour of love because it takes 10 to 12 years to grow a tree. So for that 10 to 12 years, somebody's maintaining it on a very real time-frame."

While shortages continue, so does the demand for Christmas trees.

"In 2017 in Alberta, for instance, it was a million-dollar industry in Alberta. It dropped a little bit in 2018, but it's held steady at that million-dollar industry until 2021 and it went to $1.2 million," said Brennan.

Costs to consider

With trees ranging from $35 to $150, Atter says there are ways to work around the cost issue and that there is a price for everybody.

"Depends on the premium-ness of the tree, the fullness of the tree and just how they look and the variety," said Atter.

Alternatives such as the Douglas fir from B.C. continue to be more affordable.

Meryl Coombs, the president of Spruce it Up Garden Centre, says the south Calgary garden centre has completely shifted its focus to selling Douglas firs — eliminating the shortage issue.

"We support Western Canadian farmers bringing in trees from Western Canada," said Coombs. "Our most expensive tree is probably half of what a Fraser fir out of Ontario or Quebec or Nova Scotia would be."

The shortages can be attributed to several factors aside from the growing demand. 

Coombs says the cost of shipping trees from the East to the West plays a role.

"Part of it is that more and more farmers are getting out of the business, and the land has become more and more valuable," said Coombs. "Then the freight to bring trees all the way from the East into Western Canada — the cost has gone up drastically."

Go the local route

Some people are resorting to finding trees right in the province.

The Junior Forest Warden's Christmas Tree Lot fundraiser invites Calgarians to cut their own tree while also helping their local forest west of the city.

"Going to a natural area and thinning the trees out is actually beneficial for the forest," said Calgary JFW president Tim Watts.

"Trees will grow in little clumps, and then those trees can't grow to be proper, marketable size without some thinning."

Permits are available for lodgepole pine trees, which are commonly found in B.C. and Alberta. A permit entitles a person to one tree, and they can be acquired by donation at the JFW's tree lot.

Calgarians can start looking for the perfect tree as early as this week.

With several options available for Christmas trees, even during a shortage, Brennan reassures that with an open mind, people can still find a tree for the holidays.

"We certainly want people to enjoy their season, get their tree when they want to, but look outside of the box," said Brennan.