Christmas Trees 2010: Abnormal Dropping Needles Explained

If you happened to notice an unusual amount of needles dropping off your Christmas tree this past year, you’re not alone. We had several calls about trees defoliating prematurely. Typically we do not get any complaints because we cut our trees very late in the season, specifically to ensure a fresh, long-lasting tree. When we researched the problem we discovered the needle drop related exclusively to Christmas trees raised and harvested in Nova Scotia – not just the trees that we grow at Mahoney’s Tree Farm, but all Nova Scotia trees. So we contacted the Nova Scotia Christmas Tree Association to learn why. Here is their response:

Dear Mahoney’s,

I am so sorry to hear that Nova Scotia trees gave you shed problems in 2010. Overall, it was a tough year as it was extremely warm and wet. Most people think wet weather is good for cut Christmas trees, but it is not, as wet weather means high humidity. This causes needle stomates (the breathing pores) to open up, allowing water to more readily exit the trees.  Further, it was an abnormally warm year, and tree metabolism is higher as the temperatures are higher, meaning that the rate of respiration and subsequent moisture loss is even higher. The cut trees cannot replace this moisture on their own. Long story short – it was an especially tough year because it was warm and wet.  Cool and dry is actually better.

Sincerely,

Matt Wright
Executive Director
Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia

We’d like to add our apology to anyone who experienced a prematurely dry Christmas tree. We pride ourselves in the freshness of our late-cut Christmas trees and will continue to work with the Nova Scotia Tree Council to ensure that when you buy a Christmas tree from Mahoney’s it is the longest lasting tree available. Best wishes for the New Year. 

Bill Heptig, Tree & Shrub Manager, Mahoney’s Garden Centers