Ohio State Canaan fir. Photo: CFAES
WOOSTER, Ohio — What’s in a Christmas tree?
For researchers at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), it’s decades of exploration and study, tree breeding, and a deep commitment to growing the perfect conifer. This holiday season, their hard work is taking root in a new initiative: the Ohio State CFAES Demonstration Christmas Tree Farm on the CFAES Wooster campus.
While the farm is still in the works, excitement is already growing.
Spanning 6.5 acres at Secrest Arboretum, this new farm will serve as an educational hub for Ohio’s Christmas tree growers. The project will focus on helping new and experienced growers alike learn best practices for tree farming, from planting to pruning. It’s a place where hands-on training will meet decades of research, and an opportunity to carry forward the legacy of Ohio State’s Christmas tree research.
“This farm will be a place where new growers can learn and practice everything they need to know, from layout and planting to shearing and harvesting. And it’s not just about growing trees; it’s about growing skills. We want growers to feel confident when they step onto their own farms,” said Jake Nicholson, nontimber forest product specialist in CFAES School of Environment and Natural Resources and the lead of the new project.
A legacy of innovation
The story of Ohio State’s work with Christmas trees dates to the early 1970s, when CFAES researcher Jim Brown began experimenting with breeding trees that could thrive in Ohio’s heavy clay soils. His work led to the creation of the Ohio State Canaan fir, now the state’s most popular variety.
Brown’s efforts not only helped Ohio growers produce high-quality trees, but also fostered a trusted relationship between CFAES and the Ohio Christmas Tree Association.
“Dr. Brown’s legacy is still alive in every tree that grows here at CFAES,” says Nicholson. “His research gave Ohio’s growers a new tree they could grow in their own soil that could better compete with imported varieties, and it established a lasting partnership between the university and the Christmas tree industry. Thanks to his groundwork, we’re able to launch this demonstration farm, which will have a lasting impact on Ohio’s growers and the public.”
A place to learn, grow, and trim
The Ohio State CFAES Demonstration Christmas Tree Farm will provide a unique educational resource, with programming aimed at giving Ohio’s Christmas tree growers the tools and confidence to succeed.
“We’ll be teaching every step of the growing process: site selection, pest control, trimming, and more,” says Nicholson. “This farm is a place where growers can learn and refine their techniques on trees that won’t ever have to go to market.”
The farm will also be a public-facing resource, offering visitors the chance to learn about the Christmas tree industry and CFAES’ long-standing research.
“There will be interpretive signage throughout the site, helping visitors understand the importance of real trees and the rich history of research here at CFAES,” Nicholson adds.
Looking to the future of Ohio Christmas trees
While the Ohio State Canaan fir has already made a mark on Ohio’s Christmas tree industry, Nicholson and his team are excited about the future.
“We’re always looking for ways to improve the cultivation of Christmas tree varieties like the Canaan fir,” Nicholson says. “The demonstration farm will allow us to explore new techniques to improve growth, form, and efficiency for growers, and we’re also looking at new ways Canaan fir could be used, such as for landscaping or yard trees.”
The new farm will not only be an asset for tree growers but will also serve as a space for future outreach on broader agricultural and environmental topics, in collaboration with other CFAES units.
“The farm will support not just extension for Christmas tree growers, but will also be available for students to engage in hands-on learning about soil testing, pest management, and more,” Nicholson explains.
For more information on the project and the farm’s development, visit Secrest Arboretum and the CFAES Wooster campus.
Jake Nickolson
330-263-8043 Office
nicholson.201@osu.edu