Christmas tree growers: Drought not seriously hurting crop
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Holiday lights on the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in New York City (Reuters)
New England Christmas tree growers say the region's drought is having only minor effects on their crop.
New Hampshire-Vermont Christmas Tree Association Executive Director Jim Horst says some seedlings planted in the spring didn't survive because they didn't have deep, established roots.
Jamie Jones, a sixth-generation farmer in Shelton, Connecticut, says his farm did hand-watering this year to save some younger trees, but full-size trees are in great shape and will be ready for the holidays.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He says some extra-large trees also may have some problems. The oldest and youngest trees are most vulnerable to heat.
The city of New Haven was forced to harvest a 65-foot tree from a municipal golf course after a donated tree for the city green was found to be too dry.