Hi, we're considering buying a few acres of land, and there is a grove that has rows of pine trees (over 600) on the property that a previous owner planted. They refer to it as a tree farm, even though the property has not been used as a tree farm (the current owners are not selling trees, and I don't think they ever have). This is in the midwest.
I would prefer open land to rows of pine trees, so i've been considering a couple options: 1) selling them in November/December as Christmas trees ($20-$30 each), but when people cut them down i'll be left with all the stumps in the ground, 2) selling the whole trees with the root ball, etc. ($40-$50 each?)to landscapers, garden centers, or straight to the public (but i'm not interested in starting a business - much too busy), or 3) trying to find the time to run a tree farm and selling trees myself and planting new ones, etc. - although i'm sure there are countless tree farms already.
I also thought about donating some of them each year to places like schools, etc. to use as Christmas trees, earning myself some tax savings.
I would prefer to do something that would get rid of the trees within
3 years or so for future plans, as this grove is on the front/side of the property and prohibits any future building or driveway there.What I wanted to ask here is: 1) if anyone has any advice on all of this before we buy, and/or 2) if anyone knows what type of maintenance is involved with pine trees in keeping them healthy, etc. so I don't end up with 600-700 dead or unhealthy trees a year from now.
I'm trying to find out what type of pine trees they are, and I hope the current owners know that, because I think they were planted before they owned the property.
Most of the trees range in height from 6-8 feet. Some are even taller.
Thanks so much,
- D
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