Burgenland growers lose up to 90% of new Christmas tree plantings

Drought has destroyed an estimated 80 to 90 per cent of new Christmas tree plantings in Burgenland this year, ORF reports. Existing mature trees for the coming Christmas season have not been affected.

The Sauerzapf family planted about 3,000 trees on the Rosalia in March, and almost all dried out. The trees began to grow in spring, but then died after dry conditions and heat set in, Herbert Sauerzapf said.

The Association of Burgenland Christmas Tree Producers says the failed plantings could leave a shortfall in five or six years, when the trees would have been ready for sale. Sauerzapf said that could push prices up.

More watering is not a practical solution, he said, because the trees are planted about 1.2 metres apart and large-scale irrigation is not feasible. Producers also need to conserve resources. Whether more effective watering methods can be developed remains to be seen.