10 of 15

Write now Article Tools

Christmas is over and you have welcomed in the New Year. It is time to take down the decorations and put them away until next time. You've removed all the ornaments, lights and tinsel from the Christmas tree and carefully packed them away. But what are you to do with the tree itself?

Most waste disposal companies frown on picking up the tree with the usual curbside refuse collection but may offer an alternative solution. Some companies will have a special pick up for trees two weeks after Christmas Day. You will have to confirm with your local waste disposal service.

Check to see if your local municipality has a collection location that you can bring the tree to for chipping and mulching. This will cut down on the amount of bulk that goes into the landfills and provides a great soil amendment. Often you can take some of the mulched trees for your home garden.

If you have a relatively large backyard, you can allow the tree to weather and dry. Once it has become sufficiently dried out you can break it up or chip it for use in your garden. If you would prefer, you can break down the branches into small enough pieces to fit in your waste disposal container.

You can always prop the dried tree up and allow the bird population to use it as a roosting place. You may have to entice the feathered friends over with bird seed or suet before they take to this new shelter.

If you have a pond large enough to be home to fish (not necessarily coi) your dried out tree may be used as a shelter for them. Sunken trees act as natural hiding places for the smaller fish to escape from potential predators.

Depending on where you live, old Christmas trees can be used in a variety of ways. On the Gulf coast, trees will often be used on sandy shores and coastal wetlands as erosion control. The brutal hurricanes continually steal away the soil and sand from the shore. One example is Jefferson Parish in Louisiana. They started using Christmas Trees in 1986 as a natural tree fence to fight against the wearing away of the soil.

Something you should not do with your Christmas tree is cut it up and burn it in your fireplace. Evergreen trees are a very oily wood as they contain natural turpentine. This highly flammable substance creates heavy creosote in the chimney flue and can ultimately catch fire.

Another consideration is to buy a living tree and plant it in your backyard after the season is over. It is a beautiful reminder of the holiday past and will continue to give you pleasure in the coming years.

Learn more about this author, CD Gozzi.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about How to properly dispose of a tree after Christmas?
We want to hear your view. Write now!