Cultivation is another weed control tool which can be used but avoid root damage. To produce quality trees, it is essential to begin shaping Virginia and Afghan pines in the second year of production. Most shaping is done by hand with pruning shears and a special Christmas tree shearing knife. Trees are sheared in late April and again in mid-July. In Southeast and South Central Texas, additional shearings are needed because of the trees' rapid growth.
Lateral branches are sheared and the terminal shoot is pruned.
Marketing Most Christmas trees are marketed when they are at least 6 feet in height. By selling on a wholesale basis, a grower sells a bulk amount of trees at a lower price per tree, but it does not require dealing directly with the public. Wholesale only high-quality trees and concentrate on building future clientele. Retail lots are not usually successful in towns under 10,000 in population. Factors to consider in managing a retail lot include competent sales people, location, licensing, insurance, vandalism, theft and above all, care of the tree to keep the product from drying out.