Operators of the many tree farms around the GTA said the rush is on and they may run out of stock well before Christmas.
“I expect hundreds to go in the next two weeks, which is early,” said Dan MacPherson, of MacPherson Christmas Tree Farm in Whitchurch-Stouffville. “I usually go all the way right up until Christmas.”
He said supply in British Columbia has been hit especially hard this season as the province has suffered a series of wildfires, extreme heat surges and flooding attributed to climate change.
Growing Christmas trees is not a quick process. Trees can take anywhere from three to 10 years to grow in optimal conditions.
Experts say it will become harder to keep up with demand, especially in parts of the country experiencing poor growing conditions due to climate change and weather events.
Muhammad Altaf Arain, director of McMaster University’s Centre for Climate Change in Hamilton, said climate change will impact the growing season.
“In warmer temperatures, growing will [take] longer,” said the professor, who is also with the School of Geography and Earth Sciences. “We are already seeing the evidence. A longer growing season would be good for plants and trees in colder regions if there are … no droughts or nutrients available.
“However, over long time periods, warmer temperatures are not good for the growth of conifer tree species,” he said.
MacPherson said Ontario is lucky and “unlike B.C., dealing with awful events, we are doing okay.”
Fraser fir, Scotch pine and white spruce are among the most sought-after trees each holiday season. The value of Christmas tree sales in Canada was $91.2 million in 2017, according to StatCan.
The demand has increased during the pandemic with families and friends looking for ways to celebrate, such as picking out a live holiday tree and decorating it together.
Brad Clements of Clembrook Farms in Milton, Ont., said customers still have many options to choose from, but might not get the type of tree they want.
“If people are flexible in what they are looking for, they will be able to find a great option still,” Clements said.
IKEA is traditionally a popular spot for many to pick up a tree, but supply chain issues have prompted the company to write off this Christmas season altogether.
“We know live trees have been a much-loved tradition for IKEA and our customers over many years and we sincerely apologize,” IKEA said in a statement posted to its website.
With record-breaking storms and heat waves ruining crops, the frantic hunt for a Christmas tree with the possibility of not finding one may become a new annual tradition.