Abstract
Weeds interfere with Christmas tree growth at any time and at any stage of production. Growers mostly rely on mechanical mowing and applications of herbicides for weed control in their fields. However, herbicides can be phytotoxic to non-target plants, can cause environment-related issues, and their repeated application can even cause herbicide-resistant weeds. The main objective of this manuscript is to provide a review of non-chemical weed control strategies in Christmas tree production and identify areas where current practices could potentially be improved or in which further research is required. Preventing the introduction of weed seeds requires controlling weeds along farm roads, maintaining clean equipment, and eliminating new weeds before they start seeding. Mowing helps to reduce the number of seeds produced by the weeds and can significantly reduce competition with trees. Shropshire sheep are well suited for grazing Christmas tree plantations as they prefer grazing on grasses and weeds rather than on coniferous trees. Weeds can also be controlled around Christmas trees by mulching. Organic mulch can improve soil moisture, maintain soil temperatures, enhance root establishment and transplant survival, and improve plant establishment and overall growth. Incorporating cover crops into Christmas tree plantations may improve tree growth, quality, and soil fertility and can supplement conventional nitrogen fertilizers. However, if cover crops are not properly managed, they can be highly competitive with the trees. Flaming can cause suppression of many annual weed species but is less effective on larger weeds and needs to be applied with caution. Several insects have been used as biological agents to control selective weed species. However, further research is required to focus on several potential biological agents, different types and depths of mulches, on cover crops types and their competition with different species of Christmas trees and their effects on seedling survival and growth.
Highlights
According to the author of Reference [1], there are about 141,640 hectares in production for growing Christmas trees on about 15,000 farms across the United States
Most of the research on inorganic mulches has focused on black plastic sheet for weed control in Christmas tree production and very little or no research has been conducted with gravel, fabrics, lava rocks and other inorganic mulches
Dutch white clover and perennial ryegrass were grown in a newly established Fraser fir plantation using two cover crop management practices [no banding (NB) or banding (B)] by creating a 61 cm wide bare zone centered on the tree rows and a conventionally-managed system (CONV) was used as a control
Summary
According to the author of Reference [1], there are about 141,640 hectares in production for growing Christmas trees on about 15,000 farms across the United States. In later stages of rotation, when trees are larger, weeds interfere with production practices such as pruning and spraying pesticides [6] and can even shade lower branches of trees [13] Broadleaves weeds such as field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.), horseweed [Erigeron canadensis (L.) Cronquist], common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) and giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida L.), wild carrot (Daucus carota L.), hoary alyssum [Berteroa incana (L.) DC.], and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth)—as well as seedheads of grasses such as giant foxtail (Setaria faberi Herrm.), witchgrass (Panicum capillare L.), large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop], and fall panicum (Panicum dichotoliflorum Michx) can grow into the tree branches and can be difficult to remove. The purpose of this manuscript is to provide a review on nonchemical weed control strategies in Christmas tree production and identify areas where current practices could potentially be improved or in which further research is required
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