Shortly after the chaos of the holidays comes the mad dash to get the Christmas tree and falling needles out of the house. But the endless stream of discarded, oranging trees waiting for curbside collection is a depressing sight. When the time comes, why not try some of these ‘green’ alternatives for disposal, courtesy of the National Christmas Tree Association?
- Mulch: Real Christmas trees are biodegradable, which means they can easily turn into something useful for the garden. Public programs that chip and shred trees into mulch are becoming more common. Check with your public works department to see if it’s offered in your area. Alternatively, remove the branches yourself and mulch the tree for your personal use.
- Soil erosion: Christmas trees are effective sand and soil erosion barriers, especially on the shorelines of lakes and rivers.
- Fish shelters: After the holidays are over, dead trees can be dropped into private fish ponds to serve as a refuge and feeding area for fish over the winter.
- Bird feeders: Placing the Christmas tree in the backyard will undoubtedly attract birds to the area, especially if some popcorn is resting on the branches. The birds can also use the tree for shelter when the next storm blows in.
- Buy a living tree: If you live in a mild climate, keep this idea locked and loaded for next year: purchase a living, rooted tree, and plant it in the yard immediately after Christmas. Be sure to dig the hole in the late fall when the soil is still soft. Enjoy the memories of the holiday season for many years to come!
Cutting down on waste after the holidays is something we should all strive for; how we get rid of the Christmas tree is no exception!
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