What do you do with your Christmas tree after the holiday season? While some towns pick up discarded trees and bring them to a mulcher, many others don't provide that service. Here are five tips for how to handle that dry, needle-shedding decorative evergreen — or even real wreaths that are no longer festive.
Of course be sure all decorations have been removed first.
Place it along the tree line or in a back corner of your property. It will make a nice shelter for birds during the coldest months of the year.
Stand it up in a snowbank, and build a snowman on a slight angle behind it, so it looks like the snowman is peering around the tree to see cars and people passing by.
Lean it against a fence or prop it up some other way and hang bird feeders or suet cakes off the branches. The birds will absolutely love the combination of food and shelter set out for them, and you can select the best location for a clear view from your warm house while sipping a cup of hot chocolate.
Lop the branches off and cut the trunk into sections approximately 18 inches long and set aside until spring. The tree should be dried out enough by then to add to your backyard campfire. While evergreens don't generally burn for very long, they can get going pretty quickly, and may help as starting logs for other wood. One caution: DO NOT BURN IN FIREPLACES. The sap in Christmas trees can create dangerous levels of creosote in chimneys, so this is only an outdoor campfire option.
Cut off the top 2-3 feet and set aside. After a fresh snowfall, drag that through the snow to make some really cool designs that will leave your neighbors in awe (and likely wondering how in the world you did it). FYI .. there may be tell-tale needles left along the path.
Enjoy the rest of the holiday season!
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