CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There's nothing like having a real Christmas tree in your home but it's a bummer when all those pine needles end up on your carpet. Now, researchers in North Carolina may have the secret to growing better trees that don't shed as much.
Let's connect the dots.
The secret to growing better Christmas trees was just discovered here in North Carolina. Researchers at NC State University are studying Fraser firs in hopes of helping them shed less.
In fact, there's a whole Christmas Tree Genetics program dedicated to solving this problem. Researchers say they've identified which genes help trees hold on to their needles.
Now they are working on super seeds that could reach growers by 2028. The goal is to have less than 1% of a tree's needles fall off throughout the Christmas season.
And it's not just the needles. Researchers are also working on trees that have a stronger aroma, need less watering, and could even be resistant to climate change.
Wake Up Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at Wake Up Charlotte.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Stitcher || TuneIn || Google Podcasts
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.