Arts & Life Columnists Howard Garrett

Howard Garrett

Howard Garrett: Is there a commercial product that keeps cut Christmas trees green?


File 2010/The Associated Press

How about a winter walk next to an illuminated Christmas tree in Gelsenkirchen, Germany?

What is the recipe for the preservation of fresh Christmas trees?

H.G., Fort Worth

Fresh water in the tree stand that stays above the level of the severed trunk is all you need to keep a cut Christmas tree as hydrated as possible.

Would you please comment about the invasive citrus greening disease also known as HLB? It’s the virus affecting so many commercial citrus growers in America.

G.C., Dallas

I think the same program that works for rose rosette might work for citrus greening disease. Trimming damaged growth away and at least trying the Sick Tree Treatment, just as we would for a tree with any other ailment, is worth trying.

Cut away the diseased stems and clean the tool blades immediately using hydrogen peroxide (never bleach). Next, apply the Sick Tree Treatment. Finally, treat with one of the following spray formulas:

To 1 gallon of spray made according to label directions with Garrett Juice Plus concentrate, add 8 ounces of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (available at drug and grocery stores).

To 1 gallon of prepared Garrett Juice Plus spray add 2 ounces of orange oil, a cleaning product found at organic retailers and on many grocers’ shelves.

To 1 gallon of prepared spray add 1 tablespoon of Bio Wash. Spray the plants thoroughly, until the liquid drips off leaves.

My dad bought pecan trees that are producing penny-size pecans. We have two other trees that produce good-size pecans. We bought the underperforming trees from an individual, and they were in plastic buckets. They have been maintained exactly the same.

D.H., Irving

They could just be poorly producing varieties. Also, the roots could have been growing in a circling knot since they were in buckets. If that is the case, they should be lifted and put in big containers to soak in water. Once hydrated, the roots can be unwound and the trees replanted. 

My pear and apple trees used to produce tons of fruit, but for three years, they have produced nothing.

G.H., Dallas

Some fruit trees are having problems, and most fruit trees, in general, are planted too deeply in the ground. Apply the Sick Tree Treatment, detailed on my website, and the trees probably will return to good fruit production.

Have you heard anything from other readers or know information regarding Duet insecticide’s impact on dogs? After the aerial spraying in my area in August, my two young dogs developed incontinence issues. They were inside during application, and we mowed and bagged (instead of composted) about half our acre after the contamination. For several weeks, the dogs have come inside and are sticky, something never experienced before. Is it possible Duet encouraged some kind of fungal growth or other environmental pest, or a disease like organophosphates and other toxins often do?

L.T., Double Oak

Unfortunately, I don’t have much data on this. The testing recently done on honeybees was even inconclusive. One problem is that the chemicals used break down partially and combine with other chemicals so they are hard to identify.

Our main argument is that we know the products are toxic. The manufacturers admit that. We also know that they are ineffective at controlling the problem. They don’t even address the most important source of the pests: the larvae in the sewers, drainage ways and other underground and protected spots where mosquitoes primarily breed.


Online: Download free organic handouts, including the steps in the Sick Tree Treatment, from


Mail: P.O. Box 140650, Dallas, TX 75214

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