Elizabeth Lamb

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Elizabeth Lamb is an ornamentals specialist and senior extension associate with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s New York State Integrated Pest Management program. She notes that while newly planted trees may have had issues with the drought this fall, those being cut for this year should be fine. However, watering your tree often is crucial this year.

Lamb says:

“Full grown trees can survive the drought. However, it is really important for people to rehydrate their tree and keep it well watered this year.

“Trees need a fresh cut on the tree base – some growers will do this and the time it takes to get the tree home is usually not too long after cutting. Use a stand that holds a lot of water and put it in water as soon as you get it home.

“Check the water level frequently – even multiple times a day, especially the first few days when the tree may be using more water than usual. Make sure the water level does not go below the base of the tree, which may not be the absolute bottom of the tree stand.

“Another thing to consider as people worry about needle retention is the warm temperatures this fall. Most trees that people will be cutting themselves have gone through several frosts or freezes, which helps. If the tree is already cut, you might check to see how long it has been cut. The fresher the better for helping needles stay on.”

Daniel Weitoish

Arborist at Cornell Botanic Gardens

Daniel Weitoish, arboriculture supervisor at Cornell Botanic Gardens, says this is also a good time to think about the health and well-being of evergreens in your landscaping.

Weitoish says:

"Every holiday season we're faced with a dilemma; do we pick a spruce, a pine, or a fir for our holiday trees? 

“Each has their own merits (e.g. some smell better while others are more resilient to heavy ornaments). After you've secured the perfect holiday tree for your home, take some time and check in on those in your outdoor landscapes. Many of us are finding that spruce trees are suffering due to a combination of environmental stressors and multiple fungal diseases. If climate resilience and a long happy life are priorities for trees in your landscape, consider planting a fir or a pine next spring.”