Christmas tree growers: people save on trees for the festive season
In view of the rising cost of living, the horticultural association expects that people will also look at their money when it comes to Christmas trees. "We are observing that trees are getting smaller," said Holger Zahn, Managing Director of the long-established Späth'sche Baumschulen in Berlin, on Saturday. The Berlin-Brandenburg Horticultural Association opened the Christmas tree season at its production facilities in Königs Wusterhausen (Dahme-Spreewald district). People want to spend less money on trees in view of their household budgets, said Zahn. At present, sales in the garden sector are falling significantly overall.
Many people are opting for smaller trees in pots because they can replant them, said Lutz Grille, Vice President of the association. However, these trees with root balls should not be left in a warm apartment for more than a week. Otherwise the trees would start to sprout and later die in the cold. Ideally, the tree should remain in a pot on the balcony, said Grille. The high number of single households with little space in their homes is also reinforcing the trend towards small trees.
Preparations for the sale have long since begun on the Christmas tree plantations. The Werderaner Tannenhof (Potsdam-Mittelmark district), for example, opened the season on Friday. There will be no price shock, they said. According to estimates by the Federal Association of Christmas Tree Producers, higher wages and increased transportation costs mean that domestic Christmas trees will be slightly more expensive this year than last. A Nordmann fir can cost 21 to 29 euros per meter. Last year it was one euro less.
In response to rising costs, customers might consider purchasing smaller Christmas trees this year, as suggested by Holger Zahn, Managing Director of Späth'sche Baumschulen. With the trend of smaller trees, more individuals are opting for potted trees that can be replanted later, as mentioned by Lutz Grille, Vice President of the horticultural association.
Source: www.dpa.com
