Ridgeville, S.C. (AP) - This weekend is traditionally the busiest for those searching for Christmas trees. Last year, Americans bought 28.6 million Christmas trees. The National Christmas Tree Association says that number is expected to increase to about 30 million this year. Kim Yerich runs the Lebanon Christmas Tree Farm about 35 miles northwest of Charleston. Yerich says artificial tress are very popular among older people, but that youngsters are coming out more looking for live trees.
About 30 percent of buyers get their trees at one of the 22,000 tree farms nationwide like Lebanon. This year’s drought has hurt Yerich’s crop — but not this year’s. The damage for too little rain will be felt in about four years.