Will Kentucky’s drought have impact on Christmas trees? 

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Farmers all over the state are suffering from the recent drought, which may lead some to wonder if that will affect the year’s Christmas tree crop.

The answer isn’t a simple yes or no.

David Hartman, owner of Hartman Tree Farm in Bowling Green, said this year’s crop is still going strong, but the drought could cause damage to trees not cut down this year.

“The effects hold over until the next year and you start to see more damage to the trees as kind of a residual effect,” said Hartman.

Although he said trees are fairly resistant to drought due to their extensive root system, he still has a little trick he has learned to help trees cope with dry weather.

“I’ve always let the grass and the weeds grow up around them and that shades the soil and helps to hold the moisture. I’ve found that if I mow everything real short the moisture in the soil evaporates,” said Hartman.

Hartman said he sells any and all trees of any size for $35.

His pick-and-cut trees will be for sale every weekend starting after Thanksgiving.