Now that Christmas is over what are you going to do with your live Christmas tree? Those fallen needles are starting to stick in your socks. Ouch!
But…you did pay over $100 for that tree. It seems like such a waste to just toss it to the curb.
Maybe you are one of the lucky ones. One of those people who live in a place where the municipality takes the trees and turns them into mulch for the town or village.
Fine. Nothing wrong with that. At least the tree gets used.
But maybe you’re open to a few other options. If so, this post is dedicated to you!
Here are seven creative ways to recycle that tree that are off the beaten path.
Read more: Seven ways to recycle that live Christmas Tree!
1.) Make your own mulch
If the town or village can do it so can you! Shred or chip that tree and make mulch for the shrubs, bushes and trees in your yard.
Or, put the wood chips around perennials to retain moisture during the harsh winter. January and February are rough on plants!
Your chopped up tree turned to wood chips is ideal for your garden paths, both the veggie and flower beds.
It breaks down so nicely over the year. Cheap and easy way to suppress weeds on your garden paths.
And don’t forget that plants that like an acidic environment like blueberries, azaleas, hydrangeas and rhododendrons will love your pine mulch.
2.) Crafts for both adults and kids
If you didn’t get a chance to make a wreath for Christmas why not make an evergreen wreath for a pop of green for January?
Your leftover Christmas tree is perfect to use for practice. And there’s no pressure, if the wreath doesn’t work out perfectly you’ll learn from your mistakes and be ready for next year.
Pine needle potpourri? Nothing could be a more welcome addition to your air freshener than scented pine.
And why not take those needles and stick them in sachets for a festive pine sachet? Stick the sachets under your pillow for a dreamy nights sleep.
Nothing could be more natural and safe. No worry about harmful chemicals in your home.
Big bonus if you selected a concolor tree that has that district, citrusy scent reminiscent of oranges and tangerines. Such a pleasant smell that should extend beyond the Christmas season!
3.) Firewood
Never burn pine inside a wood stove because its high resin content creates excessive, highly flammable creosote, increasing chimney fire risk.
Besides, it tends to pop creating more sparks compared to hardwoods like oak. Even if you clean your chimney often, the sap buildup makes hardwoods a better choice indoors.
But this doesn’t mean you can’t use the wood from your Christmas tree in your outdoor fit pit.
The trunk and branches can be chopped up and tossed into your fit pit to roast those winter marshmallows.
Outdoors, no one seems to mind the sparks and popping from popping pine; it makes the experience more fun! This way you can save the hardwoods for indoor use.
4.) Shelter & food for birds and other wildlife
Your old Christmas tree can be recycled to become a protective habitat that helps birds.
Placed outside next to a fence or outbuilding a recycled tree blocks wind and provides safety and shelter, a place to hide and roost at night.
If you toss your recycled tree into your brush pile with your sticks, leaves and twigs, it becomes a home to any small animal. Even the deer will be grateful!
A good brush pile has logs or large branches crisscrossed at the base, with finer material on top, so that smaller animals can scoot underneath to flee predators and find warmth.
Deer are struggling to find nutrition this time of year and it’s the right kind of food for their digestive system.
If you don’t want the deer eating your landscape shrubs, your recycled Christmas tree gives them something else to nibble on.
5.) Bird feeding station
When you lean that recycled tree against the side of your house, an outbuilding or a fence, it will reinvent itself into a wind-blocking, feeder-protector.
A huge win for the birds in your yard during winter!
Buy or make your own treats and hang them on the old tree. It’s fun watching the birds slowly discover them. My daughter even saw some blue jays the other day!
Squirrels and chipmunks may also arrive- and we let them catch a break. Winter is tough for them, too.
Most birds will swoon with delight over homemade suet to fatten them up during the harsh winter.
Don’t forget the water! It’s kind to leave a dish of water under the tree. Oftentimes. finding fresh water (not frozen) is just as hard for the birds as seeking food in the winter.
6.) Plant trellises
Need a few extra trellises? Even for your indoor plants?
I agree! My fiddle leaf plant is over 6 feet tall and requires a better stake to hold it up. It’s that heavy.
So I can cut a few branches to use to prop up my precious plant before it plops over. And it costs me nothing!
When I’m done, I can toss them into my brush pile or fire pit.
7.) Fish habitat
If all else fails and you have a pond or a friend with a pond then I have a unique solution for you.
Chuck your recycled tree into the pond. Sure, the tree will sink and then the fish will have a nice place to hide from predators and get some extra protection.
Not only fish, but frogs and insects will appreciate the shelter, extra food source and shade. When that tree hits the bottom of the pond, you’ve provided long-term cover for wildlife.
The fish will enjoy a new place to explore as well! Support the food web and pond biodiversity while you recycle that tree at the same time. We all win!
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