Q: I heard that Christmas trees are sprayed with many pounds of chemicals before they are cut.

Is this true?

A: I doubt it.

Christmas tree growers are trying to make a profit – and pesticides cost a lot of money.

Most farmers, and Christmas trees are a crop just like corn or cotton. use a method of controlling pests called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). They scout for pests before spraying and they spray at the exact time the pest is most vulnerable.

This saves money and it minimizes the amount of chemical used.

This report from North Carolina summarizes how pesticides are used on Christmas tree farms.

It was reassuring for me to read it.

Christmas Tree Production and the Environment