Why is my Christmas tree dropping needles?

2 min read

The five usual reasons a real Christmas tree sheds its needles early, and what you can still do about it.

Some needle fall is normal. Every tree sheds a few older needles from the inside when it is shaken or first unwrapped. Steady shedding from the outer branches means the tree is drying out. These are the usual causes, most likely first.

1. It has run out of water

If the reservoir empties even once, the base of the trunk seals with sap and the tree stops drinking, even after you refill it. This is the most common cause by a distance.

What to do: if you can manage it, take the tree down, saw a thin slice off the base and put it straight back into water. If that is not practical, keep the stand full anyway; some uptake is better than none.

2. The trunk was never recut

A tree cut days or weeks earlier has a sealed base. Without a fresh cut before it goes in the stand, it may never take up water at all.

What to do: the same as above.

3. It is too warm

A tree beside a radiator or in a sunny window loses moisture faster than it can replace it.

What to do: turn down the nearest radiator or move the tree. Even a metre makes a difference.

4. It is a species that sheds

Norway spruce drops its needles sooner than firs and pines, however well you care for it. After two to three weeks indoors, some shedding is expected.

What to do: keep it watered and cool, and put a tree skirt or sheet underneath to make clearing up easier. Next year, buy a spruce later in December or choose a Nordmann fir. See Nordmann fir or Norway spruce.

5. It has simply been up a long time

Any cut tree has a limit. A Nordmann that went up in late November will be tiring by early January.

Clearing up

Sweep hard floors with a soft brush. On carpet, pick up the bulk with a dustpan first: needles in quantity can block a vacuum hose. When the tree comes down, wrap it in an old sheet before carrying it out to keep the trail of needles off the stairs.