We’ve just hoisted a big (3m long) sign on our new sheds. A 4 person 4 hour effort with a lot of poles to get it up and in position… phew!
2024 Seed harvesting complete - big haul!
Good seed harvest this year with another shed full of fresh seed - we're now sourcing most of our seed from around Australia! Surprising how many interesting varieties there are in backyards, botanic gardens, parks, etc. Only catch is they're usually 20-30m up at the top of the tree. We need a trained monkey/cockatoo!
Packing a seedling box at the Spruced nursery
Spruced crew on Holidays Jan 8th-Feb 12th
Packed and ready! We're off overseas on holidays (and a sneaky plant convention or two) from 08/01/2024 to 12/02/2024. We will be checking emails sporadically and sending any orders out when we get back in mid February.
December Markets and Open Days
This December, we are once again making an appearance at Shire Farmers Markets. We will have a selection of fresh cut and potted trees available.
Shire Farmers Markets are held from 8 am to 1 pm, in the flora street carpark. For more information about Shire Farmers market, check out the website or social media pages.
You can also come and visit us, at our farm open days. Come and select the perfect tree for your Christmas.
Yetholme is about a 2.5 hour drive from Sydney, based between Lithgow and Bathurst. Plan a day out with family and friends pick out a tree and explore what our region has to offer.
For more information about tourism in our region, check out https://www.bathurstregion.com.au and https://lithgow-tourism.com/
Can’t wait to see you all at our markets and open days.
Spruced stall at Mudgee Makers Markets - Saturday 25th November
Come and find us for your fresh cut or potted Christmas tree at the Mudgee Makers Markets this Saturday the 25th - from 8:30am to 12:30pm. We’ll be easy to find at the front gate with our truck!
Pre-order online here: https://www.spruced.net.au/shop or come and take a look at our range on the day.
Melbourne stockist for our Christmas trees organised
After many years and loads of enquiries out of Melbourne for our trees, we’re delighted to announce Real Christmas trees Melbourne will now be stocking 3 of our Christmas tree varieties: Douglas fir, Blue spruce and Norway spruce!
They will be delivering these all over Melbourne and surrounds in December, so reach out to them to secure your tree. Here is a link to their website to pre-order: https://realchristmastrees.melbourne/
New locations to find our trees this December
New locations and stockists added all over Australia! We're excited to be working with so many great partners to help get all our unique range of trees out far and wide
Sydney, Illawarra, Southern Highlands:
- Sequoia Valley Farms is delivering some of our range as well as their own unique trees to greater Sydney, Illawarra and the Southern highlands (see their range map below)
- Come find us at Sutherland Shire Farmers' Market on Saturday Dec 2nd and 9th
- Dural Christmas Tree Farm is featuring some of our rarer potted and fresh cut fir and spruce varieties on top of their own beautiful Radiata pine Shaped trees
Brisbane:
Real Christmas Trees will have our potted and fresh cut trees available from late November!
Mudgee:
We'll have a stall at the Mudgee Farmers' Market November 25th
Dubbo:
Saddler and Co will feature a Christmas themed store and are taking pre-orders on a Christmas tree drop from us in early December
Bathurst/Orange/Oberon/Lithgow/Blue Mountains:
Come and get a tree from us directly on our open days Sunday Dec 3rd and Sunday Dec 10th at our Yetholme farm (15 Macabees Road Yetholme
Melbourne:
We're working on it! New post with details soon
Christmas 2023 - Online orders open!
Live on our online shop now!
Fresh-cut Christmas trees
Potted Christmas trees
Come and collect at our farm open days - 15 Macabees Road, Yetholme:
Sunday Dec 3rd
Sunday Dec 10th
Or at Shire farmers markets, Flora St Sutherland:
Saturday Dec 2nd
Saturday Dec 9th
More dates and locations to come...
Early Bird Discounts are now live for the 2024 seedling pre-orders!
A nice little update from one of our customers
Thanks to Wendy for writing in and letting us know how her seedlings have gone over the past few months. Made out day to see them thriving! We don’t often find out how they go once sent away.
Roots grow first
There's a lot happening underground even if it seems that not much is going on up top! Here is a 2.5yr old Noble Fir freshly pulled from the seed bed… Sometimes conifers just creep along for a few years - under the surface they’re growing this. Once established they suddenly take off
Winter Pre-ordered seedlings nearly ready to go
Everyone who pre-ordered seedling by the 1st of December 2022 can expect their seedlings to be coming in the next few weeks after they have grown up beautifully in the greenhouse. We’re moving them out to harden off this week ready for dispatch at the end of June, and will reach out to organise shipping shortly.
Blue spruce Spring growth flush - timelapse
A year’s growth in a blue spruce - they’re not known for their speed!
For those you who (like us) love to nerd out about Christmas tree facts and History
For those who (like us) love to nerd out on Christmas tree facts/history:
https://theconversation.com/a-story-of-legends-families...
And an academic's take on cut tree selection and optimal care:
https://theconversation.com/christmas-trees-can-stay...
And an American take on the 5 most popular varieties of Xmas tree:
https://www.farmersalmanac.com/popular-christmas-tree...
Floods and the Christmas tree shortage
We're making an appearance on ABC Landline this Sunday 13th talking about the floods and Christmas tree shortages this year.
Good morning from snowy Black Springs
Winter 2022 Update
We hope wherever you are in Australia, you are staying warm and dry. Many of our fellow growers in NSW and QLD have been affected by this weather. With rain, comes an increased risk of Root Rot (Phytophthora) this is one of many fungal root pathogens which is spread through water. Whilst pine and spruce tend to be a little more tolerant to rot compared to their Fir counterparts, site planning and preparation can go a long way for tree crop health.
We recently completed work on field drainage and repairs to a dam. On the flip side, the dam renovation provides extra water security for the next dry season. If you are seeing yellowing needles, toppling trees or dieback, especially after prolonged waterlogged soil conditions your trees are likely suffering from root rot. In NSW, the best way to diagnose rot root is to contact your local DPI office and request a sampling kit.
Root rot progresses faster in warmer weather, so act now (winter) to prevent tree losses.
Here is our quick checklist for root rot prevention:
Mound tree rows
Favour well-drained soils and avoid heavy clay soils
Dig drain trenches/Spoon drains
Avoid planting in wet areas e.g. gullies and river flats.
Assess soil and root health. A high phosphorus fertiliser can boost root health if found to be deficient in soil (DPI can assist with a soil test).
Avoid irrigating from waterways where runoff from plantations of conifers may have contaminated the water source or filter/treat water if possible.
Work is also underway on our nursery extension – perhaps this is just an excuse for the boys to play with machines? We are making space for a whole new selection of tree varieties from all over the world. Watch this space as they will start to make an appearance on the website soon.
The majority of the 2022 Pre-Orders have now been shipped. We appreciate everyone's patience and understanding during this busy time.
A special thanks to our LPO, as this season, we beat our personal best for orders shipped in one day as well as filled up the dispatch room.
Head to our online shop before December 1st 2022 to save 10% on the 2023 winter Pre-Orders.
For many, the winter season is a quiet time, but not for the Spruced team.
Our winter jobs are:
Planting tube stock in the field
Assessing soil and field tree health
Sowing seeds (including some new and exciting varieties such as Grand fir, Korean fir, Oriental spruce, Red spruce, White spruce and Himalayan spruce)
Processing seed harvest and testing germination
Nursery stocktake
Machinery maintenance (including un-bogging)
Road building and improving site access
Did you know
A mixture of egg whites and sand can be used as an effective seedling anti-browsing treatment against pests.
That’s a lot of eggs – luckily we have a lot of chooks on our farm.
Contact Us
Is there something you are interested in but we don't have? Contact us
Happy growing!
Price changes April 1st 2022
Hello all - we have changed our displayed pricing structure to include GST. We have also had to raise our prices 5% in line with all of our suppliers raising their prices over 10-20% over the past couple of years. We are doing our best to absorb the price rises and keep ours down; but with fertiliser, potting mix, fuel, pots, and machinery prices (to name a few) now rising in excess of 20-50%, we have had to adjust our prices a little too.
It's cone harvesting season again - got our eyes on this suburban Fir tree
Reckon this Fir tree in Orange is fair game? Look at all those cones! Hoping the owners will let us climb it in exchange for a six-pack of beer.