Mail order holidays ~ Christmas made easy at The Rocks

Golden Angle Wreath

The Rocks Estate is in full holiday swing! Yes, we realize it’s still only October, but our online shop is hopping! 

We know many holiday fanatics – like us – want to get started early. So, our online shop is designed to be super shopper-friendly (complete with FREE shipping on all items) to help make your holidays fun and easy – whenever you’re ready to get started on bringing the holidays home.

If you’ve ordered from The Rocks online shop before, you know you can order a Rocks Estate Christmas tree anytime between now and the holidays and pick the date you’d like your fresh, fragrant, farm-grown tree delivered right to your doorstep.

But it’s not just about the trees… At The Rocks online shop, you’ll find a festive selection of holiday wreaths, from classic to cute, along with garland, gifts, and accessories galore! If you’re in the market for a handmade wreath (or a few), check out our new-this-season Whimsical Wreath and Golden Angel Wreath. Another new treat now available online is our very own Rocks Estate maple syrup, made right here at The Rocks and available by the half-pint, pint, or quart.

Our online shop also offers accessories to make keeping your tree fresh and fragrant through the holidays simple, including a longtime customer favorite tree stand (be sure to ask for your tree to be drilled) and our watering spout (makes filling the reservoir a cinch – no more crawling through limbs and gift boxes!). 

Visit The Rocks online shop today – or whenever you’re ready – and get your holidays started!

Oh, Christmas Tree – Shearing & Pruning at The Rocks

Chances are your thoughts are far from the chilly days of winter as you enjoy summer… but at The Rocks Estate, Christmas and Christmas trees are always on our minds!

Trimming the top...

In July and August our staff is busy in the field, basal pruning and shearing our thousands of fir trees by hand. Pruning and shearing help ensure that our trees grow into the lovely symmetrical Christmas trees our customers look for come the holidays.

We start shearing – shaping each tree by trimming its sides, and cutting buds from the top whorl to prevent multiple top branches – the first week of July. With more than 50,000 trees growing in our fields, it takes us all summer, right through to September, to complete this job.  

...and the bottom.

When a tree has been in the field for three years, we also basal prune, cutting the lower branches to a height of 6- to 10-inches from the ground. This allows better air flow around the tree, which helps prevent disease. It also ensures that the lower branches are not broken or twisted and the trees are not shaken when we mow between rows. And, of course, it allows a smooth “handle” for the customer to place the Christmas tree stand come tree trimming time!

With a weather cycle of rain followed by high heat this summer, we’ve also been doing extra mowing around our trees. So, rest assured, we’re looking out year-round for your future Christmas trees and making sure they grow up fragrant and beautiful!

Keeping your Rocks Estate Christmas tree farm fresh

Once you’ve selected your farm fresh Christmas tree from The Rocks Estate, there are a few things you can do to keep it fresh and fragrant through the holidays. When a Christmas tree is cut, more than half its weight is water, so much of keeping your tree happy involves making sure it’s able to take in the water it needs. Here are some tips from The Rocks for keeping your Christmas tree farm fresh!

* Before you set your tree up, cut the bottom ½-inch from the trunk. Then place your Christmas tree in water.

* Make sure your tree stand is the right size for your tree – and that it can hold plenty of water in the reservoir. Christmas tree stands should provide a quart of water per inch of stem diameter. (You’ll find Christmas tree stands, watering spouts, and other great accessories at the farm or The Rocks' online shop.) * Check the water level regularly to ensure the base of the tree is submerged.

* Keep your tree away from heat sources like fireplaces and radiators to prevent excessive drying.

* Use Christmas tree lights that produce only low heat to prevent drying. Lights should be inspected prior to use and replaced if they are worn. And they should always be turned off when you’re leaving the house or going to bed!

* When you’re ready to bid adieu to your Christmas tree after the holidays, check with your local transfer station on recycling options. Christmas trees should never be burned in a wood stove or fireplace, as they create creosote and can lead to a chimney fire.

For more tips on keeping your tree farm fresh, visit the New Hampshire Christmas Tree’s tree care page.