A warming climate is affecting our Christmas trees, too
Newsy
A hotter environment can make it harder for Christmas fir trees to deal with pests and infection, experts say.
Decking a live fir tree with lights and ornaments is an old Christmas tradition. But like any other crop, Christmas trees are already having to deal with the effects of a changing climate — and those effects may get more obvious in the years ahead.
A warming planet can make it tougher for fir trees to grow. It can give pests and diseases a more optimal environment in which to spread, and it can also affect the temperature and water content of the soil.
Scientists worry that warmer, wetter soil may more easily harbor certain fungal species that infect fir trees. Evergreens have died in Washington and Oregon in surprising numbers in recent years thanks to fungal outbreaks.
Recent research has also shown that new extremes of heat in soil are sometimes occurring more rapidly than extreme air temperatures.
The effects and risks of this warming aren't always immediately apparent, but Christmas trees can take 8 to 10 years to reach salable size. Experts think a decade of warming and its effects might eventually make certain trees harder to grow.
