Twas the drought before Christmas! Tree growers say dry conditions over the summer mean they could drop their needles and be bare by the big day
Christmas trees could go bare and lose all their needles before December 25 - as growers complain of the driest summer since 1977.
Severe drought conditions are said to have caused 'stress' to the festive firs, with buyers advised to only pick out the freshest from the batch.
Brits have also been told to place their trees in water, keeping them away from radiators and other heat sources.
One grower warned: 'I'm sorry to say it could be a bare Christmas Day for some this year.
'Drought conditions were bad this summer with spruce, firs and pines all suffering significant stress due to the dry conditions.
'If trees are cut and placed in a homes with central heating then many could drop their needles and be almost bare by Christmas.'
A lack of rain during key growing months - amid what growers have described as the driest summer since 1976 and 1977 - is said to have caused the trees to lose their ability to retain moisture, crucial for keeping them fresh once they are cut and brought indoors.
Walter Beard, whose family have grown Christmas trees for over 50 years at Leigh Sinton Farm near Malvern, said buyers should also consider keeping their trees outside before they want to put them up.
Christmas trees could go bare and lose all their needs before December 25 - as growers complain of the driest summer since 1977 (file image)
Severe drought conditions are said to have caused 'stress' to the festive firs, with buyers advised to only pick out the freshest from the batch (file image)
He added: 'Trees were put under stress due to the severe dry weather in the late spring and summer.
'Luckily we had quite a bit of rain in September and October which has saved many of the trees.
'Needle fall could still be a problem. My advice would be to buy a freshly cut mature tree and and place them in water, as you would with a bunch of flowers.'
Christmas tree farmers around the country are adapting to a changing climate by installing irrigation systems and experimenting with planting trees in the autumn, rather than spring, to give them more time to grow roots before dry weather hits.
Researchers are also working to breed tougher varieties of Christmas trees that can withstand weather extremes.
It takes an average of eight to 12 years for a Christmas tree to reach maturity.
A spokesman for the British Christmas Tree Growers' Association said: 'The prolonged hot and dry weather at the start of this year did put significant stress on newly planted trees but mature harvest-age trees are able to cope with weather challenges.
'Many BCTGA Christmas tree growers are adapting to this dry spring weather pattern seen in recent years by moving their planting from Spring to Autumn which gives young trees time to establish themselves over the winter months, and it's proving successful.'
