Southern Research Station

Title: Greenery - an opportunity for forest landowners

Author: Hammett, A.L.; Chamberlain, J.L.

Date: 2002

Source: Forest Landowner. 61(2): 44-46.

Description: For generations, materials gathered from American forests have been used for holiday decorations and floral arrangements including Christmas wreaths, roping, swags, and sprays. Forest species utilized for these products include Fraser fir, Norway and blue spruce, mountain laurel, boxwood, ivy, grape vine, juniper, Douglas fir, incense cedar, and holly. White pine (common in Central Appalachia) and White Noble Fir (common in the Pacific North West) are commonly used for many greenery products.

The most common holiday greenery products are Christmas wreaths and roping. Wreaths range in diameter from 12 to 48 inches, and roping is generally produced in lengths of 8 to 75 feet and sold in rolls. Other greenery products include swags, garlands, centerpiece arrangements, and loose greenery. The primary raw material is the ends of branches— short tips harvested from lower limbs.

The production of greenery products has excellent income potential for landowners in many regions. Income from just one year of tipping can more than offset planting and other plantation costs. Tipping can provide landowners with income while waiting for timber to grow to merchantable size.

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Citation

Hammett, A.L.; Chamberlain, J.L.  2002.  Greenery - an opportunity for forest landowners.   Forest Landowner. 61(2): 44-46.