Useful Ways to Recycle Christmas Trees

After the Christmas holiday season is over, people who bought a real Christmas tree usually drag it to the curb for recycling, dump it in the woods, or throw it away. Although curbside recycling Christmas trees is good for the environment, Christmas trees can be useful reused and recycled around the yard.

Remove and recycle the branches using clippers or a machete and place on flower beds. The recycled branches provide winter protection while allowing enough ventilation so the garden doesn't suffocate. The trunk can be dried and burned as firewood or used in spring as a plant support.

A recycled Christmas tree provides habitat and shelter for wildlife. The recycled Christmas tree can be left to decompose naturally in the woods and will provide winter shelter for birds and small wildlife.

Stand up the Christmas tree in the yard within sight from a window and decorate the recycled Christmas tree with strings of popcorn and ornaments. The idea is to feed the birds, so ornaments can be pieces of wood or cones covered with peanut butter or suet, bird food ornaments, etc. Bird seed can be mixed with or stuck to the peanut butter. Miniature bird feeders for holding seed can be constructed and hung from the recycled Christmas tree. Keep in mind that in most cases, you will probably be feeding the squirrels as well.

The Christmas tree can be thrown into a fish pond, lake, river, or stream. The fish will enjoy the shelter the tree offers.

If you have a wood chipper, recycle your Christmas tree to mulch. Mulch can be used to stop erosion and prevent weeds. The Christmas tree mulch can also be allowed to rot in the compost pile to eventually provide nutrients for the garden.

A dried Christmas tree can be used as kindling for the fireplace or in a bonfire. Make sure that the tree has dried out significantly as burning wet wood and fresh needles cause undesirable amounts of smoke.

By employing these ideas, your Christmas tree purchase will be of value for more than the holiday season and will also benefit the environment and wildlife.

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