Jørn rejoices over a rainy summer: It's a perfect world for Christmas trees.

Jørn Delights in Rainy Summer: Perfect Conditions for Christmas Trees

While summer rain has frustrated swimmers and vacationers, Christmas tree farmers are thrilled with the wet summer.

Christmas trees thrive in the rain - and for the first time in several years, Christmas tree growers have an outlook for higher profits on their trees. (Photo: © Lise Soelberg - DR News)

By Lise Soelberg ([email protected]) Mona Aaberg ([email protected]) 33 minutes ago

You may need to stand a little taller on your toes for Christmas, when you put the star on top of your Christmas tree.

The rainy spring and summer weather causes Christmas trees to grow more than usual.

> "They can certainly enjoy all the rain we've had, says Jørn Bertelsen, a Christmas tree producer in Tvis, West Jutland.

And the rain has left its mark on the trees' growth.

- Everything is growing. You can see it in the longer shoots this year compared to last, says Jørn Bertelsen.

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Rain in Denmark

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July was the rainiest month of the year with 114 millimeters of rain. That's almost double the normal amount of 65.8 millimeters.

April also set a record () and was the wettest April in 150 years with 104 millimeters.

So far, there has been 595 millimeters of rain in the year. We had exactly the same amount of rain in all of 2018.

Source: DMI

And even though the rain has put a damper on the summer, there's nothing catastrophic that isn't good for something.

The new shoots on the branches are more light green and fuller than in previous years and will also add to the appearance of the finished Christmas tree. And that pleases the Christmas Tree Association, Danske Juletræer.

- The growing conditions have been good with plenty of water in the soil, so the trees have grown well and have longer needles and a slightly greener color, but the shoots are also longer, explains Claus Jerram Christensen, director of the Christmas Tree Association Danske Juletræer.

The new shoots on the branches grow 15-20 percent longer than normal. Some are even wider, which we Danes prefer.

Therefore, the extraordinary growth can also present some challenges. Trees risk becoming too large.

- It might be harder to find the slender, neat, regular Christmas tree that many prefer, as they have grown so well this year, says Christmas tree grower Jørn Bertelsen from Tvis.

* The light green shoots are from this year - and they are, according to Jørn Bertelsen, 15-20 percent longer than normal. A Christmas tree is about 12 years old before it is ready to be cut down. (Photo: © Lise Soelberg - DR News)

* To ensure that the trees keep their tall, slender conical shape, they are pruned with saws. (Photo: © Lise Soelberg - DR News)

* The heavy rainfall also causes wildflowers to bloom in the meadows. It suits the small Christmas trees well to be able to stand in the shade and have it easy and comfortable. (Photo: © Lise Soelberg - DR News)

* Even though the summer sky is gray, the Christmas tree sales are looking up, assesses Christmas tree producer Jørn Bertelsen. (Photo: © Lise Soelberg - DR News)

1 / 4 The light green shoots are from this year - and they are, according to Jørn Bertelsen, 15-20 percent longer than normal. A Christmas tree is about 12 years old before it is ready to be cut down. (Photo: © Lise Soelberg - DR News) 1 / 4 To ensure that the trees keep their tall, slender conical shape, they are pruned with saws. (Photo: © Lise Soelberg - DR News) 2 / 4 The heavy rainfall also causes wildflowers to bloom in the meadows. It suits the small Christmas trees well to be able to stand in the shade and have it easy and comfortable. (Photo: © Lise Soelberg - DR News) 3 / 4 Even though the summer sky is gray, the Christmas tree sales are looking up, assesses Christmas tree producer Jørn Bertelsen. (Photo: © Lise Soelberg - DR News) 4 / 4

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Newly Planted Trees Have Had the Best Start

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It's not just this year's Christmas trees that are happy about a rainy year.

> "All the plants we planted in the spring are doing well and standing tall and healthy.

> Jørn Bertelsen, Christmas tree producer, Tvis

The small trees, which were planted from pots to the field this year, are also pleased to be able to put down roots in wet and moist soil.

- All the plants we planted in the spring are doing well and standing tall and healthy. Especially on this light soil we're on here, dry periods can be hard on the small plants, says Jørn Bertelsen.

- It's a perfect world for them. They're just waiting for more fertilizer before they mature, and then they'll look great for next year.

Other years, it has been a challenge to transplant the small Christmas trees from a protected potting soil at the nursery, where they have been cared for and watered regularly, into the field.

- They can easily get transplant shock, and their growth usually slows down. But with more water available in the year, the trees will have a more successful start to their growth, says Claus Jerram Christensen from Danske Juletræer.

Therefore, he is also optimistic about the prospect of seeing finer Christmas trees in ten years.

- A lot can still happen, but overall, it's something to look forward to.

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