After the Holidays: What to Do With Your Tree

We talked last week about choosing between a real and an artificial tree. If you chose the latter, then at some point after Christmas, all you’ll have to do is take off the ornaments and disassemble your tree, putting it in its box to store until next year. If you decided on a real tree, though, you need to figure out what you’re going to do with it! The majority of people put their real trees outside, either at the curb for the sanitation workers to pick up, or in a wooded or overgrown area of their property, to let nature take its course. If you’re trying to think of something a little more unique to do with your old Christmas tree, though, here are some ideas:

• Use it in your garden

  Your tree is made up of organic material which is perfect for use in the garden. For now, you can strip off the boughs and use them to cover your perennial plants. They will reduce the amount of snow and frost that accumulates near the roots and will help keep the ground slightly warmer. You can also use a woodchipper to chip up the trunk, making woodchips to use for mulch once the snow melts. (Add the pine needles to the mulch as well, if you like.) If you don’t have a woodchipper, you can cut the trunk into “slices” and use the round pieces to edge your garden, creating a scalloped border.

• Feed and house the wildlife

  During the winter, the birds and squirrels have it a bit tougher than they do in the summer when it comes time to look for food. Decorate your tree with critter-friendly snacks and place it outside, either propped up against another tree or still in its holder. Some examples of treats that you could add include sliced oranges, cranberries, popcorn and pinecones dipped in peanut butter (and rolled in birdseed, if you like). You can string them using twine or yarn; the birds might take the string afterwards to line their nests with as the winter comes to an end. If you leave the tree outside, you’re also providing a place for little animals like chipmunks to hide from predators and create nests and homes.

• Compost the tree

  Do you have a compost bin already? You can add pieces of your Christmas tree to the layers. Be sure to remove all tinsel before putting it in the bin. Your city or town might have a composting or recycling program for Christmas trees, too; call the sanitation department and ask! If you don’t have a compost bin and your area does not offer this, call your local community center or even the department of parks and recreation to find out if there is an agency in your area who might take it for composting.

One of the advantages to having a real tree are the environmental benefits. Make sure that you continue your commitment to being “green” by finding an eco-friendly way to dispose of your Christmas tree this year!