Final Spruce Top Corrections Before Harvest | Colorado Blue & Black Hills

Not every tree is managed the same way. As Christmas trees approach harvest size, the goal shifts from building structure to preserving density and creating the best possible tree for this season's customers. In this video, I'm working on Colorado Blue Spruce and Black Hills Spruce that are 6 to 8 feet tall and scheduled to be harvested this year. Unlike younger trees, I'm making only the corrections that improve this year's appearance. Major structural changes no longer make sense because these trees will be decorating someone's home this Christmas. In this video, I demonstrate: • Final top corrections on harvest-ready spruce • Removing multiple leaders only when necessary • Training leaders with the MAX Tapener when it improves the finished tree • Why I avoid heavy pruning this close to harvest • My philosophy for maintaining a natural, full, dense Christmas tree • How I decide what to cut—and just as importantly—what to leave alone One of the biggest mistakes growers can make is overworking harvest trees. At this stage, every cut removes density, so my goal is to make the tree look its best while preserving as much fullness as possible. If you grow Christmas trees, I'd love to hear how your shearing strategy changes as trees approach harvest. ________________________________________ 🧰 Tools & Supplies I Use (Affiliate Links) Using these links helps support the channel at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support! Tool Belt: https://amzn.to/3N99oxp Tool Pouch: https://amzn.to/3KYLcMx ARS Hand Shears: https://amzn.to/3UAHjFW Tape Measure: https://amzn.to/43TfEEw ADC Bands: https://amzn.to/41U7JGd 3/8” x 3’ Bamboo Stakes (Cut in half for tree tops): https://amzn.to/3Oixir4 Refill Staples: https://amzn.to/3tXrWth Tape Refill: https://amzn.to/3OtySqo Tapener: https://amzn.to/3A1OGw3 ½” x 4’ Bamboo Stakes (For staking into the ground): https://amzn.to/442RXr4 If you enjoy learning about Christmas tree production, please like, subscribe, and leave a comment. Your support helps me continue sharing real-world techniques and experiences from our farm. Thanks for watching and supporting the via this Buy Me A Coffee link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TonyStefani