12/02/2025
Good information on needle retention.
Dr Richard Cowles, of the Connecticut Agricultural Research Station, has actually embarked upon the study of needle retention on cut Christmas trees. While his research is still a "work in progress", and encompasses significant levels of tree metabolism study, Rich is able to offer some timely advice that will assist all of us to better help our natural Christmas trees this season.
ONE - clean stand / no harsh chemicals
Sanitize your stand. A light bleach wash would suffice, BUT, be sure to rinse the stand and cleanse if of all soap or bleach. Already you should be recognizing that adding bleaches or other caustic agents to your tree stand is not a good idea.
TWO - quality water
Use good quality water. Light chlorine levels, if present in municipal water supplies, will not be an issue. If using water from your well and you have a salt based conditioner, try to avoid drawing water for your tree stand directly after the system has rechargesd itself. Keep your water as clean and pure as possible.
Forget the sugars, soft drinks, etc. No point in cleaning the stand to prevent fungi and bacteria from clogging the trees bark and then adding food for such organisms.
THREE - a fresh cut at the base of the trunk is important
I think we have all heard "make a fresh cut" at the bottom of the trunk prior to placing the tree in the stand. The conducive tissue ("xylem") in the outer bark ("cambium") carries water from the roots to the top of the tree. The cut tree is still living, still respiring. Therefore some water will be leaving the tree through the needles, and will actively be drawn from the xylem. Once in a stand with water, the tree can draw more water. BUT prior to having water available the drawn water up the bark will produce a cavity in the conductive tissue at the bottom Make a fresh cut, allowing water to more easily find it's way up the bark.
FOUR - use aspririn to improve needle retention on your tree.
Dr Cowles has now proven that aspirin can delay needle loss in cut Christmas trees. THE AMOUNT IS CRITICAL.
A low dose (children's) aspirin should be 81 mg. Cut such an aspirin in half, as the proper amount bof aspririn to use in your tree stand water is 40 milligrams in 2 US gallons of water. A US gallon is equal to 3.785 liters orf water, so 2 US gallons is about 7.5 litres. Use this amount of aspirin when you fill your tree stand for the first time. If your stand cannot hold 2 US gallons, keep adding the aspirin/water mix to your stand until the properly diluted 40 milligrams of aspirin has been added to the cut tree.
VERY IMPORTANT - do not over apply the aspirin
After you have added the 40 mg of aspirin dissolved in 2 US gallons to your stand, go back to good, clean water. Like everthing in life, including many essential vitamins, the proper amount is critical for health, in this case the health of the Christmas tree needles. Aspirin as a preservative for Christmas trees was disgarded in the past when the levels of aspirin were far too high and became disruptive, damaging to apropriate tree metabolism. DO NOT ign ore the dilution ratio - it is the most effective for proper absorption by the tree.
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT ?
Dr Cowles has determined that the aspirin effect improves over time in the cut tree. His research has shown "... only 25% needle loss reduction relative to control trees in the first week, 75% reduction by week 4."
WHAT ABOUT COMMERCIAL TREE PRESERVATIVES ?
Some, not all, have actuall.y been tested to be detrimental. So be careful. And, the cost of a half aspirin is quite attractive.
FUTURE
Dr Cowles is working on other needle loss prevention compunds that are showing even better protection and improvement. But everything must be thoroughly tested. This work continues,
and is supported by the REAL CHRISTMAS TREE BOARD, an organization funded by a Norfth Anerican levy on Christmas trees produced, and is augmented by US and Canadian research funding.
