Did you know that in 2018, approximately 32.8 million Americans bought a live Christmas Tree for the holiday season? While it certainly is a more environmentally friendly option than an artificial tree, the live trees can leave a negative environmental impact if they aren’t disposed of properly. If they end up in a landfill, the lack of oxygen in such a cramped space make it almost impossible to decompose, and when it finally does, the tree will release methane into the atmosphere. Not a holly jolly happy ending for your beautiful Christmas tree!

My husband used to own a recycling company, so he is fairly obsessed with a “no waste” philosophy. He really has a problem with all the wastefulness of Christmas trees — they are cut down, enjoyed for a month, and then thrown out. It’s hard to argue with that.

His suggestion was to buy a live, potted tabletop tree every year, and then replant it in our backyard. That sounds great, except we only have one acre, and half of that is for our urban farm, so we don’t really have the space to start a Christmas tree farm. This was causing problems between us until I got smart and showed him how we could recycle the tree — and now he’s on board with everything!

1. Check with your city’s tree recycling program – Most cities and towns have options for putting your tree on the curb (sans decorations) and they will pick it up and bring it to a recycling center. Our city also has a program that encourages people to drop their Christmas trees off at a specific location in one of our metropolitan parks, and they will chip them all down to turn it into free mulch for residents. Score!

2. Turn your tree into a bird playhouse. Or restaurant. Remove all the decorations and take the tree outside into your yard. Add animal-safe edibles like popcorn strings, birdseed ornaments, and small bird feeders and waterers, and you’ve given the wildlife in your area something to look forward to. At the end of the winter, the tree will be easy to break or cut into smaller pieces for curbside recycling or your compost pile.

See Also: 5 TIPS TO TAKE CARE OF POTTED PLANTS THROUGHOUT WINTER

3. Place it in a pond to create an aquatic habitat. This can be a great idea provided all the ornaments and decorative elements are removed, and the tree has not been treated with anything that could leach into the water. You’ll also want to get approval from your local authorities so they realize what you’re trying to accomplish.

4. Note: We don’t recommend using your cut-up Christmas tree as firewood. Many trees will not be properly seasoned, creating dangerous “pops” of sparks or fire.

See Also: JANUARY GARDEN GOAL DIGGER

Share The Garden Love