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Is your Tannenbaum looking like a bomb site with needles all over your floor? Is your Christmas tree sagging like a weeping willow? If Christmas is past, then it's time to consider a new way for your tree to make its exit recycling! Rather than setting your needle dropping, dead tree at the curb alongside all your neighbors' trees, consider a new avenue of recycling. Let your tree benefit others through the following choices.

Fish Habitat

My childhood Christmas trees were always placed under our dock on Lake Springfield in Illinois. Just after Christmas, I hated to see the once glorious tree lowered into the water, but in the summer, the fishing was great due to the presence of trees which provided spawning habitats and hiding places away from larger fish. This simple step of recycling made the tree's usefulness last one or two more seasons. If you live on a lake or body of water, check with officials to see if this is still a legal option in your area.

Mulching

Your Yule season will see more usefulness from your tree if you consider mulching it. The mulch will prevent weeds from springing up in your vegetable and flower beds. This Christmas mulch will also retain moisture for your spring garden beds. It will also carry with it a great aroma for your yard.

Walking Stick

If you own a power saw, think about sawing off all the branches and creating a walking stick out of your Christmas tree's trunk.

Partial Recycle

Still not convinced about recycling your Christmas tree? Consider a partial recycle by taking a saw and cutting off the base of the trunk at a two inch mark. This little tree "disk" becomes a great memento of the holiday season. Burn or carve the year onto the face of the disk. Some people keep these as coasters for future use or hang in their garages. Over the years these little coasters can become quite a conversation starter.

Thinking Ahead

If recycling your tree is a bothersome chore, but you still want to benefit the ecosystem, plan to purchase a live tree for next Christmas. This can be planted after the holiday season. Some people have created strong windbreaks in their yards over the years by planting a live tree each year after the holidays. Remember to keep your tree watered in the planter until the winter freezes are past.

No matter what method you choose, you will feel good knowing that you took an action to benefit nature by disposing of your tree in an ecologically sound way. Now, what to do with that turkey carcass?

Learn more about this author, Jan Vroegin.
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