Trees That Keep On Giving: Repurpose Your Christmas Tree

Along with the joy of picking out a tree that’s perfect for your family, choosing a real Christmas tree brings other benefits that “keep on giving” — for our local businesses and for the natural world.

According to The Arbor Day Foundation, Americans buy 25-30 million real Christmas trees every year. Most of these Christmas trees are grown on farms, and every time one is cut down, a new one is planted. Christmas tree farms provide employment and help keep communities healthy. The farms also help the environment, cleaning the air and water, removing carbon from the atmosphere, and stabilizing the soil.

Choosing a freshly cut Christmas tree and then finding creative ways to enjoy it long after the ornaments are packed away is one way to bring your family closer to nature. To get your imagination started, the Arbor Day Foundation has some suggestions to make sure that special tree will still provide a bit of happiness when the new year comes around. The following are different ways to repurpose your Christmas tree this season.

Photo by Greg Rosenke, Unsplash

Build a bonfire

Because most evergreens are heavy sap trees, they work best for firewood when used outdoors. Evergreens tend to burn hot and fast, making them ideal for bonfires, but not for the fireplace. Before burning, store your tree for a few months to allow the sap to dry out. And always be sure to check with your local officials about burn permits and safety measures.

Gather Ashes for your Garden

After you’ve burned your tree, gather the ashes and spread them in your garden or mix them into compost. Wood ash contains potassium, lime, and other nutrients that help plants thrive. The ashes also help keep insects away.

Keep your yard healthy with mulch

Whether it’s with wood chips or needles, mulch is a great way to keep your yard trees and shrubs healthy and moist during the cold winter season. Pine needles are full of nutrients that enhance the PH of your soil if it’s more alkaline and allow your soil to breathe without becoming dense and compacted. For the needles, douse them with water before mixing into your compost pile.

Create a bird sanctuary

You can strip the needles first to keep it neat, then hang bird feeders to attract birds and watch your tree evolve into a bird sanctuary.

Make a fish reserve

When trees are dropped and left in water, they become a thriving reserve for fish. As time passes, algae start to form on the tree, feeding fish and protecting them from predators. Check with local officials and see if you can drop your tree in a nearby lake or pond.

Protect your plants

Cut off the branches and lay them on your garden bed to protect your plants from winter freezes and spring thaws. Doing this gives your plants a steady temperature for the cold months. The limbs also work well as a garden edge.

Use needles for fresheners

If the needles on your tree are still green, strip the tree and store the needles in paper bags or sachets to use as fresheners. The needles will retain their scent and freshen your home year-round.

Make wood coasters

You don’t have to be a craftsman to cut the trunk into one-inch wood coasters. They’re attractive, practical, and protect your wood tables. Let the tree completely dry before cutting and varnish the coasters before use.