Whether you put your Christmas tree up mid-November or are waiting for December 1st, you will want to do everything you can to keep it looking fresh and vibrant for as long as possible. But if you’ve found your tree is dropping its needles almost immediately, this is what you need to do.
Following care tips for a real Christmas tree will certainly help keep the needles on the tree, but if you are still struggling, we’ve asked the experts for their top tips on stopping a Christmas tree from dropping needles quickly.
1. Increase the watering frequency and amount
The most common cause of excessive needle drop is underwatering. Like any plant, if it doesn’t receive enough water, it will drop its leaves in an effort to conserve the little water it has. The amount of water you give your tree will influence how long a real Christmas tree will last.
‘Ideally, a Christmas tree should be watered every day, particularly during the first week, to ensure it lasts the whole season,’ explains Kate Lindley from plant food expert, Baby Bio. ‘An average tree needs 200ml of water a day, depending on the temperature of the room.’
To make watering your Christmas tree easier, consider investing in a tree base with a reservoir, like this one from Amazon. It is impossible to overwater a Christmas tree, so it should always be standing in water – a bit like a cut flower.
However, if you’ve opted for a living potted Christmas tree, these can be overwatered. Investing in a moisture meter, like this from Amazon, will help you keep on top of things.
Avoid online hacks like the boiling water hack when watering Christmas trees.
2. Feed the tree
A small sachet of basic ‘cut flower food’ can be a game-changer in preventing a Christmas tree from dropping needles.
‘The truth is, a cut Christmas tree is essentially a giant cut flower, and it’s incredibly thirsty. People think water is enough, but once the trunk is cut, the sap can seal up, stopping water uptake, which causes needle drop,’ explains Liam Cleary, a Christmas tree expert at the award-winning Old Railway Line Garden Centre. ‘Cut flower food lowers the water’s pH and prevents the buildup of bacteria in the stand, which otherwise clogs the ‘veins’ of the tree. This small tweak gives a newly bought Nordmann Fir the best possible chance of staying lush and green right into January.’
You can purchase cut flower food on Amazon, and it is as simple as emptying the sachet into the reservoir when you first fill it.
‘Alternatively, use a homemade mix of 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of bleach per litre of water,’ advises Liam.
There are also some dedicated plant feeds specifically designed for Christmas trees, like this from Amazon – but they often have a higher price point.
If you have found yourself with lots of pine needles on the floor, it’s important that you don’t vacuum Christmas tree needles, as it can block your vacuum.
3. Placed your tree in the wrong spot
Aesthetics and other pieces of furniture in the room usually guide where you put your Christmas tree for maximum impact. However, you must not overlook the well-being of the tree when choosing its placement.
‘Never place the tree next to a radiator, fireplace, or direct sun. This causes rapid drying and needle drop,’ says Liam Cleary.
If you have to place your tree in front of a radiator, consider turning the radiator down (or off) while the tree is there and be vigilant about watering – check the levels in your base several times a day. This also applies if you want to protect your Christmas tree from underfloor heating.
If you have a fire or multifuel stove, keep your tree as far away as possible, as the heat will not only dry out the tree and cause needles to drop, but also increase the risk of it catching fire. ‘It’s recommended that Christmas trees be placed at least three feet from the side of your fireplace or stove, and at least five feet away from the front — though ten feet is a good distance to aim for to be completely safe,’ says experts from Enviro-Flame.
‘Trees last longest in cooler rooms, away from heat sources such as fires or radiators, which can cause rapid drying and needle drop,’ says Guy Barter from the RHS. ‘Position your tree somewhere cool, keep it watered, and it should look good for around four weeks. A little care really does go a long way.’
4. Raise the humidity levels
During the winter, when the heating is on, the air in our homes is quite dry. Fir trees are not desert plants, so they are ill-suited to these dry, arid environments.
‘In a dry, centrally heated room, periodically mist the needles with a simple spray bottle, focusing on the undersides, to increase local humidity,’ says Liam Cleary.
Alternatively, consider investing in a small humidifier, like this from Amazon, which can be positioned under the tree and keep everything temperate.
5. Prep your tree correctly
When buying a real Christmas tree , it was likely to have been standing out of water for several hours (at least) before you brought it home – this means that the tree will be starting from a point of being dehydrated, something that is then exacerbated by the indoor climate.
‘Once you get the tree home, remove the net as soon as possible,’ says Marcus Eyles, horticultural director at Dobbies Garden Centre. Then you need to do the ‘crucial cut’ which is cutting a few centimetres off the trunk of the tree – this will help the tree absorb water, keeping it fresh.
‘Next, place it in a bucket of water upright against an exterior wall or fence, out of direct sunlight if it is a warm winter’s day, as this will stop it drying out,’ Marcus says.
Leave for at least 24 hours. ‘If you don’t want to display your tree immediately, keep it in a bucket of water in the garden until it’s needed,’ adds RHS Chief Horticulturist Guy Barter.
Which Christmas trees do not drop needles?
All Christmas trees will eventually drop their needles; however, some are better at holding on to their needles than others.
Nordmann fir, like this £32 Nordmann fir pyramid pot-grown Christmas tree from B&Q, is one of the most popular Christmas trees, partly because it doesn’t drop its needles as easily as other varieties like Norway spruce. The RHS also recommends the Blue spruce or Korean fir as trees with good needle-holding qualities.
However, if you are fed up with needles on your floor, it is worth considering one of the best artificial Christmas trees. Many of the varieties available at the moment are very realistic and on sale right now.
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