YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — It’s Christmas every day at Pioneer Trails Tree Farm in Youngstown. Third-generation Tree Farmers, Charles and Amy Perdulla, work year-round to keep up with increasing holiday demand.
What You Need To Know
- Third-generation Tree Farmers, Charles and Amy Perdulla, work year-round at Pioneer Trails Tree Farm
- Amy Perdulla credits Pioneer Trails Tree Farm to her grandfather
- There are many steps to growing a Christmas tree
It can take anywhere from six to 10 years to grow a Christmas tree, depending on the tree variety.
“The trees we’re planting this year should be ready somewhere between 2028 and 2030,” said Charles Perdulla.
Amy Perdulla credits Pioneer Trails Tree Farm to her grandfather.
She said he “started a farm in Ashtabula, Ohio. He had never grown Christmas trees before and the reason he picked the crop was he was from Indiana, Pennsylvania, which is the Christmas tree capitol of the United States. So, just Grandpa on a whim thought, ‘Why not? Let’s try it out.’”
There are many steps to growing a Christmas tree. The Perdullas said it’s important that the trees stay hydrated and grow with a straight trunk.
“We’ll lay out bamboo sticks and tie them over with our crew if they are crooked and need a little help to grow straight,” said Amy Perdulla.
Charles said one of his favorite memories each year is his family choosing their own tree and cutting it down.
“We’ll take a tree that no one else will take for Christmas, like a really ugly, like a really ‘Charlie Brown tree,’ and we’ll turn it into our Christmas tree so it actually gets to be a Christmas tree,” he said.
The Perdullas invite everyone to their farm to select a tree for themselves.
Amy said they will take guests into the tree fields on a wagon. Next, they’ll chose a tree variety and then, “The whole family has to decide on a tree so it’s going to be quite an adventure on its own just to pick one.”
The Perdullas work year-round to make sure that the magic of a live Christmas tree happens in November and December.