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The sweet tangy smell of pine has faded, the needles are falling and it's time to put away the holiday decorations. There are many useful ways to recycle your Christmas tree that minimize the waste and mess often associated with dried out Christmas trees. Hopefully, you have kept your tree well-watered and avoided the tempting German tradition of putting real candles on your tree. (It may be beautiful beyond words, but many tree fires have occured with this little bit of history!)

Removing all the decorations and tinsel is your first step. Birds and other wildlife can be injured by tinsel and decorations and wood chippers don't take kindly to strands of forgotten tree lights. Once your tree is bared, wrap it in an old sheet to carry it outside. This will prevent a trail of sap and pine needles from being embedded in your carpet. Once outside, there are many ways you can dispose of your tree. You can use it in your own yard, donate it to environmental groups or leave it for county sanitation to composte.

There are many ways you can put your tree to use in your own yard:

Pine boughs can be cut from the trunk and used to provide protection to more delicate landscaping. Simply lay the boughs over top of shrubs and other plants. As the boughs dry and drop their needles, they provide useful nutrients to the soil. Blueberry bushes and other acid-loving plants will especially benefit from pine bough cover.

Whole trees can be used to provide shelter for birds and other wildlife when left out in the yard. My children and I once got to see chickadees hiding from a hawk that landed in our yard, trying to catch a winter meal. The tree provided the necessary protection and we got to see something truly amazing. It was a great experience and we were surprised at the number and variety of residents we had in our tree.

If you have a creek or pond on your property, Christmas trees can be used to provide underwater structure that many fish will appreciate.

Burning pine trees extensively in your fireplace or wood stove, however, is generally not a good idea due to the accumulation of creosote in your chimney or flue. Regular cleaning is necessary to avoid the risk of a chimney fire.

Christmas trees are great for bird feeders. Pinecones can be stuffed with a mixture of birdseed, suet and peanut butter to attract birds and squirrels.

Trunks and limbs can be used to line walkways and provide accent points.

Your tree can also be used for arts and crafts and landscaping projects. The sap can be troublesome but the final products are a beautiful addition to interior and exterior dcor. Furniture, boxes, plant or textile hangers can all be made from pine branches.

The trunk can be cut into disks which can be used as stepping stones, picture frames, or painting canvases.

If you don't have a yard or the space to set up such a habitat, there are many programs that use Christmas trees.

Garden centers, local arboretums, wildlife or conservation groups often use discarded trees for compost or habitat development.

Pine needles are even used to make an antiviral that fights bird flu.

Areas hard hit by hurricanes and erosion use the trees to rebuild and restore dunes and marshland with tree drops that form natural fences and structure. Other companies and communities use the trees for mulch and fuel.

Most Public Works or Sanitation Departments offer free or low-cost tree pick-up, where they are then used for mulch and compost.

So, put away those decorations and put your tree to good use.

Sources:

http://www.theglob eandmail.com

http://www.christm astree.org

http://www.christmas -trees.org

http://www.christmas lightsanddecorations.com

Learn more about this author, Kate Johnson.
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