Award-Winning Balsam Fir Trees

Award-Winning Balsam Fir Trees

A couple of things that sets Crooked Brook Farm apart:

At Crooked Brook Farm, we take pride in offering the quintessential Christmas tree: the balsam fir, known for its dark green, long-lasting needles & ohh, that scent!

1. We are committed to not using herbicides or pesticides in the fields.

2.  We basal prune our trees – clearing the bottom foot of branches.  This is healthy for the growing trees as it introduces airflow at the base of the tree.  And since you won’t have to trim the bottom branches when you get your tree home, it provides you with the exact vision of what a tree will look like in your stand.  We hope you find one that is perfect for you!

3. We exclusively plant the Maine Christmas Tree Association strain of balsam fir.

A couple of things that sets Crooked Brook Farm apart:

At Crooked Brook Farm, we take pride in offering the quintessential Christmas tree: the balsam fir, known for its dark green, long-lasting needles & ohh, that scent!

1. We are committed to not using herbicides or pesticides in the fields.

2.  We basal prune our trees – clearing the bottom foot of branches.  This is healthy for the growing trees as it introduces airflow at the base of the tree.  And since you won’t have to trim the bottom branches when you get your tree home, it provides you with the exact vision of what a tree will look like in your stand.  We hope you find one that is perfect for you!

3. We exclusively plant the Maine Christmas Tree Association strain of balsam fir.

The story behind the superior genetics of the
Maine Christmas Tree Association strain of Balsam fir.

The genetics of this tree can be traced back to work done in 1981 by members of the Maine Christmas Tree Association (MCTA).  Cuttings (scion wood) were taken from balsam fir from all over the northeastern US and Canada, that showed the kinds of desirable traits for a Christmas tree:  Growth, density, color, branch shape, disease and drought resistance. These cuttings were grafted onto Balsam fir transplants (root stock), and two Maine Christmas Tree Association Balsam fir seed orchards were established. The trees reached maturity and began growing cones within several years. Since then, the MCTA has collected these cones and processed them into seed every few years. The seeds are then sent to a partner nursery where they germinate them and produce seedlings within 4 – 5 years.

Fryeburg Fair Reserve Grand Champion 2024

Fryeburg Fair Second Place 2023

The story behind the superior genetics of the
Maine Christmas Tree Association strain of Balsam fir.

The genetics of this tree can be traced back to work done in 1981 by members of the Maine Christmas Tree Association (MCTA).  Cuttings (scion wood) were taken from balsam fir from all over the northeastern US and Canada, that showed the kinds of desirable traits for a Christmas tree:  Growth, density, color, branch shape, disease and drought resistance. These cuttings were grafted onto Balsam fir transplants (root stock), and two Maine Christmas Tree Association Balsam fir seed orchards were established. The trees reached maturity and began growing cones within several years. Since then, the MCTA has collected these cones and processed them into seed every few years. The seeds are then sent to a partner nursery where they germinate them and produce seedlings within 4 – 5 years.

Fryeburg Fair Reserve Grand Champion 2024

Fryeburg Fair Second Place 2023

Caring for Your Tree

Make a Fresh Cut

When a tree is first cut, its trunk begins to seal with sap within a few hours, making it difficult for the tree to absorb water. Cut about ½ to 1 inch off the bottom of the trunk to help the tree absorb water.

Water Daily

A fresh-cut Christmas tree can absorb a a lot of water per day, especially in the first few days. Keeping the tree well-hydrated helps:

Put in Water

Once cut, the tree should be placed in a water-filled stand within 30 minutes to prevent the sap from resealing the base. If delayed, another small cut may be needed.

Proper Disposal of Your Tree

Once the holiday season is over, it’s important to properly dispose of your Christmas tree. Our trees are biodegradable and pesticide-free, so they can be mulched or offered to farms for animal consumption.