Fresh firs, sparkling spruce tips and buckets of birch logs – holiday greenery is a multibillion-dollar business blooming in a brief seasonal window. But behind the glittering garlands and picture-perfect porch pots lurks a hidden threat: pests, pathogens and problematic plants that hitchhike across borders, nesting in your next best-selling wreath or tabletop tree.

That’s the thorny truth Dani Sackett, plant health regulatory specialist with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, brought to light during her seminar at the most recent Cultivate Conference. In her presentation “Have a Great Holiday: Keeping Greenery Safe and Clean,” Sackett sounded the seasonal sirens for sellers and growers who want to keep their festive flora both beautiful and biologically safe.

Before diving into the dirt, Sackett shared a snowstorm of staggering stats. “Each year, about 21.5 million cut Christmas trees and 2.2 million poinsettias make it to market,” she said. Add porch pots, potted evergreens, spruce tips, garlands and other greenery goodies to the mix, and you’re looking at a live-goods market worth $1.6 billion annually.

But this evergreen empire operates on an icy tightrope. Most greenery products are grown, sourced, shipped and sold within a mere six- to eight-week sprint. “That kind of volume and velocity creates a perfect storm for pests to sneak in,” Sackett warned.

While customers are shopping for sparkle and scent, sellers should be scouting for the silent saboteurs: insects, invasive vines and fungal foes that can latch onto their inventory like tiny tree-top terrorists.

Sackett spotlighted a rogues’ gallery of holiday hitchhikers:

  • Elongated hemlock scale – These sapsuckers don’t just damage the tree; they can spread to nearby landscape plants.
  • Boxwood blight & box tree moth – A one-two punch that can devastate decorative boxwood used in holiday arrangements.
  • Spotted lanternfly – A notorious plant-hopper known to crash Christmas via cut wood or greenery.
  • Sudden oak death – A soil- and water-borne killer that can ride in on wreaths, branches or potted plants.
  • Round-leaf bittersweet – Often used in wreaths, this invasive vine can establish itself outdoors and overwhelm native species.
  • Spongy moth egg masses – Frequently found on imported birch poles, these sticky clumps hatch caterpillars that can defoliate entire forests.

Even grasses used in arrangements, like pampas grass, may harbor viable seeds. Birds pluck berries and twigs from wreaths and drop them in nearby woods, while inconsistent winter temperatures can wake insects from dormancy.

“Greenery doesn’t come from just one place anymore,” Sackett said. With supply chains stretching across states and continents, even small-time sellers may be unwitting middlemen for environmental invaders. Many retailers work through brokers and wholesalers, further complicating tracking and transparency.

And with rising interest in DIY holiday décor, more retailers are upping their greenery inventory to meet creative demand. “More stock means more sourcing, and more chances to bring in unwanted guests,” Sackett explained.

To fight back, she urged attendees to prioritize proactive purchasing:

  • Work only with reputable vendors who understand and meet inspection requirements.
  • Keep clear records of what you’re buying and where it’s going.
  • Conduct regular inspections of incoming shipments, especially for birch logs, boughs and garlands.
  • Be cautious of international products, particularly as plastic and preserved imports may fall under new tariffs, making live goods more attractive and common.

Once the lights are packed away and the cookies are crumbs, what happens to all that greenery?

“Don’t toss your Christmas trees into backyard woods or compost piles!” Sackett urged. “Let your people know what to do with their leftover stuff at the end of the season.”

Here’s her holiday aftercare checklist:

  • Recycle responsibly – Many municipalities offer curbside tree collection or designated drop-off sites. “Check with your waste hauler, city or county to see what services are offered,” she said.
  • Trash it, don’t stash it – Wreaths and mixed-material décor should go in the trash, not the woods or compost.
  • Burn with caution – As a last resort, greens can be burned, but only after checking and following local ordinances.

Failure to follow these guidelines can spread seeds, insects and spores into ecosystems where they don’t belong, causing lasting damage long after the holidays are over.

One bright bulb in this bundle of concerns? The growing charm of locally sourced greenery.

As tariffs, delays and pest risks dim the glow of imports, American growers, especially those in pest-conscious regions, are shining brighter. “Customers are becoming more aware of what’s in their décor,” Sackett noted. “Local can mean safer, fresher and more sustainable.”

Even better? Local goods can often be inspected more rigorously and marketed with clean-green credibility. “If you’re sourcing from a known farm nearby, you’re in a better position to know what’s on that product and what’s not,” she added.

Ultimately, Sackett’s message was equal parts warning and wisdom: the battle for pest-free boughs isn’t just about what growers and retailers do during the six-week frenzy, it’s about building smart systems year-round.

The good news? Buyers and sellers don’t have to be bug-busters or botanists to make smart, safe choices. With a dash of diligence, a pinch of prevention and a solid set of sourcing practices, businesses can deliver holiday magic without environmental mayhem.

“Let’s protect our trees, our ecosystems and our customers,” Sackett said. “Let’s have a great holiday – and a clean one too.”

Quick Tips for a Clean, Green Holiday

  • Inspect imports – especially birch poles, wreaths and boughs
  • Source smart – prefer local vendors with pest-aware practices
  • Educate your team – train staff to spot signs of pests or disease
  • Spread awareness, not invasives – include disposal tips for customers
  • Document your supply chain – know where your greenery is grown, brokered and sold
  • Stay updated – watch for pest alerts from your state agriculture department
  • Reuse, recycle or retire – don’t let decorations become infestations

With awareness sprouting like a healthy pine seedling and experts like Sackett leading with insight and urgency, the holiday greenery industry is better equipped than ever to balance seasonal sparkle with sustainability. By embracing smarter sourcing, stronger safeguards and thoughtful post-season disposal, businesses can ensure this year’s celebrations are not only merry and bright, but also clean, conscientious and responsibly green for the long haul.

by Enrico Villamaino