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!

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.

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

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.

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.

Machines ready to go

Already full after the rain

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.