A Christmas tree-dition

The soft hum of carols, the echo of children’s laughter and the waft of the unmistakable Monterey pine tree scent let visitors know it’s Christmas time.

Established from humble beginnings in 1955, the business has been owned and run by Wes and Melanie Saundry and their family for the past decade.

In total, Wes has worked at the Christmas Tree Farm for 30 years and despite having to juggle it with another full-time job, has not lost any of his enthusiasm for the business.

“I love it. It’s a real passion and I’ve been involved in tree cutting and artistry for years,” he said.

Wes said as well as a financial investment in the farm, there was an emotional investment in ensuring families got the perfect tree for Christmas.

This led the family to establish a new 10-hectare paddock of Monterey pines across the road from the original 9ha farm.

“We have always been a very family-orientated farm and loyal to the locals,” he said.

“They’ve always supported the farm and we’ve got about 2000 families that always come up and a lot of them have been coming for 35 or 50 years.

“Their children want the same as they grew up with so the demand even in the families has grown.

“That’s why I started the other farm.”

The new section of trees almost didn’t come to pass. Wes was told by accountants they’d go broke – which they nearly did – but family spirit ensured the farm would continue.

“My brother had to come and save us,” he said.

“I’ve got a son who also loves it so he’s going to get into it.

“I wanted to increase the size of the farm because it’ll be in the family for another generation.”

During the busy period leading up to Christmas, Wes’ brother Alex and his wife Sue, Melanie’s parents Carol and Ken Barnes, and the couple’s children Henry, Rupert and Lucy all pitch in to help people take a tree home.

About 2000 trees will be sold this year, with years of care, attention and love given to each one.

Each tree needs about two square metres of land to grow and it takes up to seven years for a tree to be ready to be taken home.

The early growth of the Monterey pine is quite slow, with growth taking off after the three-year mark once a root system has been established.

Wes said they grew Monterey pines because they were more water efficient than another common Christmas tree variety – the Blue Spruce.

Rainfall from mid-December to March is crucial for seedlings, which can quickly die if they don’t receive enough water.

Wes and the family plant, mulch, spray for weeds, prune, shape and cut all their trees by hand, ensuring they can regrow.

“The trees are sustainable. I cut and regrow off the stumps, whereas other farms just plant out and then rip,” he said.

Regrowing off stumps means only a certain number of trees can be sold each year, with 2.1-metre to 2.4m trees the most popular.

Trees for sale range from 1.5-6m tall and Wes estimated it cost him $50 on average to produce a 1.5m tree, with water the major expense.

“When people see prices of $70 or more they think ‘that’s a lot of money’ but it’s nothing really in the big picture,” he said.

Despite the massive workload involved with running the farm and the hectic Christmas period helping other families have a merry time, Wes said he and the family still love this time of year. 

“We do all the same things as everyone else,” he said.

“We come and get our tree. We have a tradition where each person has a turn of picking, and we always carry our tree out.

“It’s me at the helm. The oldest always to the stump and the youngest at the back.”

With 1000 trees on each hectare of the Christmas Tree Farm at Chandler’s Hill, there is great variation, but what makes for the perfect tree?

“There is so many different views on the perfect tree,” owner Wes Saundry says.

“Some people like their tree to be out and hardly shaped. Others like it as dense and as thick as possible.

“I actually like a tree that’s got a few holes, and bits and pieces in it, and stiff branches so I can put decorations on.”

Wes said the size of a suitable tree shouldn't be determined by ceiling height, but by the area of the room it will go in.

“If you had a 9 metre by 6m room and the area for the tree was 1.5m x 1.5m I’d put in the perfect 2.1m tree.”

Everybody wants a 2.1-2.4m tree and these are the first to sell out, according to Wes, but he adds a tree “is only as good as the decorator”.

Wes said some trees lasted for several weeks after cutting, while others might only last days.

Placing them out of direct sunlight and topping up their pot with fresh water are his tips for prolonging the health of a real tree, which he says is leaps ahead of a fake tree.

“A real tree has the smell and the look, and I think it’s getting back to Christmas as it was.”

Many families will be wishing for the Saundry family tradition to continue for many years to come.