Keeping the green in fresh holiday greenery

When Marilyn and I had our first Christmas together in our trailer, we got a fresh Christmas tree to celebrate with. After all, a forestry student wouldn't dream of having anything but a live Christmas tree to adorn the corner of the living area. We both were pretty excited about putting it up and decorating it.

Since I was a forestry student I had access to a lot of pine clippings. So Marilyn, being the decorator that she is, used those clippings to decorate the top of the TV, the end tables and the center of our dining table. With the addition of few red bows, we were all set for a beautiful Christmas by the second week of December.

Our families lived in Herculaneum and in Cape Girardeau, so we left Columbia, Mo., around the 20th of December to spend a few days with them before we had to return to work and school. As we drove back to Columbia after the holidays, we talked about how we had decorated our own home, and how we wanted to enjoy our own decorations one more day before we took them down.

When we walked into the living room we couldn't believe our eyes. Our beautiful fresh Christmas greens and tree had turned to brown ugly needles and sticks. What a disappointment for the end of our first Christmas.

If you love to decorate your home with fresh Christmas greens and with a freshly cut Christmas tree, there is a solution to the brown needle syndrome at the end of the Christmas season -- Anti-Stress 2000.

Anti-Stress 2000 solution shown Monday at Sunny Hill Gardens & Florist. (Laura Simon)

Evergreen needles have pores that allow moisture to transpire out of the needles. During summer months evergreens draw moisture out of the soil along with nutrients. The excess moisture is then emitted through the pores. This process ensures a continuing supply of nutrients to the growing plant.

Unfortunately for decorators, moisture also moves out of evergreen needles even when the needles are not attached to root systems. The result is the gradual browning of needles. The browning process is quickened in homes because most homes have a much lower relative humidity than you find outside.

If you want to eliminate the browning process or slow it down with freshly cut Christmas trees or with cut greenery, spray the foliage with Anti-Stress 2000. This product plugs up the pores and helps hold moisture in the cuttings. This will reduce the speed at which needles turn brown.

The process is simple. When you purchase your tree, evergreen swag, or wreath, take it home and outside spray the Anti-Stress 2000 on all of the needles. Wait for the spray to dry. This may take a few minutes up to a few hours, depending upon the weather conditions at the time. Once the product is dry take that tree or cuttings inside and weave your decorating magic.

A side benefit of the use of Anti-Stress 2000 is that mold and mildew will not develop as quickly on the foliage, and the aroma of the greenery will be lessened. This is good news for people like my wife who may be somewhat allergic to the aroma of greenery.

Send your gardening and landscape questions to Paul Schnare at P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, MO 63702-0699 or by email to news@semissourian.com.