Growing holiday trees takes time and effort. Credit: Pavel Iarunichev/©GettyImages

We have all heard that the month of December is “the most wonderful time of the year”, according to a familiar song. December is associated with generosity, kindness and is a time to gather with family and friends to celebrate the holidays.

As we prepare for this special time of year, there is one staple that many will have in their homes: a Christmas tree. Christmas trees are an important part of the holiday season and, while artificial trees are available for purchase, close to a quarter of the Christmas trees displayed in U.S. households are real ones.

To many, Christmas trees represent love; however, what most people do not know is that to grow a Christmas tree, it takes time and it is truly a labor of love.