After Christmas, taking down the tree signifies the end of the holidays, and the start of the long wait until spring time.
For those of us who have real Christmas trees, there's plenty of purpose left for them, even after all the presents have been unwrapped.
Most cities or towns have Christmas tree drop off locations where you can recycle your tree. Don't just leave it on the curb!
You can also cut it up and put it in your yard waste container or use as compost.
Check with your local community to see if they offer tree mulching. You can get your tree ground up and use the mulch around your yard and garden!
The National Christmas Tree Association also recommends the following as options to reuse your Christmas tree for the environment.
Soil erosion barriers: Some communities use Christmas trees to make effective sand and soil erosion barriers, especially for lake and river shoreline stabilization and river delta sedimentation management.
Fish feeders: Sunk into private fish ponds, trees make an excellent refuge and feeding area for fish.
Bird feeders: Place the Christmas tree in the garden or backyard and use it as a bird feeder and sanctuary. Fresh orange slices or strung popcorn will attract the birds and they can sit in the branches for shelter. (Make sure all decorations, hooks, garland and tinsel strands are removed). Eventually (within a year) the branches will become brittle and you can break the tree apart by hand or chip it in a chipper.
Fish feeders: Sunk into private fish ponds, trees make an excellent refuge and feeding area for fish.
Bird feeders: Place the Christmas tree in the garden or backyard and use it as a bird feeder and sanctuary. Fresh orange slices or strung popcorn will attract the birds and they can sit in the branches for shelter. (Make sure all decorations, hooks, garland and tinsel strands are removed). Eventually (within a year) the branches will become brittle and you can break the tree apart by hand or chip it in a chipper.
But, remember, don't burn the dry tree in your fireplace or wood stove! Keep watering it while it's in your home, too, so it does not become a fire hazard.
Pro tips:
- Sweep up Christmas tree needles. Vacuuming them up can clog your machine.
- Before you set up your tree, place a Christmas tree bag (available at hardware stores), or a trash bag over the stand. You can cover it up with your tree skirt. Then, before taking the tree out of your home post-christmas, roll the trash bag up over the tree to eliminate as many loose needles as possible.
For information on how to start and promote a recycling program in your area, please contact the National Christmas Tree Association at (800) 975-5920 or send an email to info@realchristmastrees.org