What To Do With Christmas Tree – 9 Genius Ways To Enrich Your Garden

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

The festive season has drawn to a close, the beautiful ornaments are carefully packed away, but that once-majestic Christmas tree is now shedding needles all over your living room. I know the feeling—the temptation to just drag it to the curb and be done with it is strong, isn’t it?

But as a fellow gardener, I’m here to let you in on a little secret. Your old tree isn’t trash; it’s a treasure trove of resources just waiting to benefit your garden. I promise to show you exactly what to do with christmas tree remains to give it a second, even more beautiful, life that supports your soil, plants, and local wildlife.

In this complete what to do with christmas tree guide, we’ll walk through sustainable and eco-friendly options, from creating nutrient-rich mulch and compost to building cozy habitats for birds. We’ll cover the best practices, tackle common problems, and give you plenty of inspiration to turn post-holiday cleanup into a rewarding garden project.

Before You Begin: Prepping Your Tree for a Second Life

Before we dive into all the wonderful ways to repurpose your tree, a little prep work is essential. Taking a few minutes now will ensure a safe and successful project. Think of this as the first step in your what to do with christmas tree care guide for its new journey.

Step 1: Remove Every Last Decoration

This might seem obvious, but it’s the most critical step. Go over your tree with a fine-toothed comb and remove absolutely everything that isn’t natural.

  • Ornaments and Hooks: Check deep within the branches for any forgotten ornaments or sharp metal hooks.
  • Lights: Carefully unwind all light strings.
  • Tinsel and Garland: Tinsel is particularly pesky and harmful to wildlife and your soil. Be meticulous in removing every strand.
  • The Stand: Don’t forget to remove the tree from its stand, which often requires a bit of muscle!

Step 2: Check for Chemical Treatments

Many commercially sold trees are treated with things you don’t want in your organic garden. It’s one of the most important what to do with christmas tree best practices to consider.

If your tree was treated with chemical colorants, fire retardants, or fake snow “flocking,” you should not use it for mulch or compost. These chemicals can leach into your soil. In this case, your best options are creating a standalone wildlife habitat away from your veggie patch or checking your local municipal recycling program.

Step 3: Gather Your Safety Gear and Tools

Working with a dry, brittle tree requires a bit of protection. Here’s what I recommend having on hand:

  • Sturdy Gloves: To protect your hands from sharp needles and sticky sap.
  • Safety Glasses: To protect your eyes from flying wood chips and debris.
  • Long Sleeves: To prevent scratches on your arms.
  • Loppers or Pruning Saw: For cutting off branches.
  • Handsaw or Chainsaw: For cutting the trunk into manageable pieces.

The Gardener’s Gold: Turning Your Tree into Mulch

One of the absolute best things you can do with your old Christmas tree is turn it into mulch. Evergreen mulch, often called pine straw, is a fantastic resource for your garden beds, and understanding the benefits of what to do with christmas tree this way is a game-changer.

Why Pine Makes Great Mulch

There’s a common myth that pine needles will make your soil too acidic. While fresh needles are slightly acidic, they neutralize as they decompose and have a negligible long-term effect on soil pH. Don’t worry—you won’t ruin your soil!

Here’s why it’s so beneficial:

  • Weed Suppression: A good layer of pine mulch helps block sunlight, preventing weed seeds from germinating.
  • Moisture Retention: It slows down evaporation from the soil surface, meaning you’ll need to water less often.
  • Soil Insulation: It protects plant roots from extreme temperature swings in both winter and summer.
  • Perfect for Acid-Lovers: It’s an especially wonderful choice for mulching around acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas, hydrangeas, and rhododendrons.
READ MORE  What To Spray In Yard To Get Rid Of Flies: Your Complete Eco-Friendly

How to Make Your Own Tree Mulch

Ready to make some black gold for your garden? Here is how to what to do with christmas tree mulching the right way.

  1. De-Limb the Tree: Using your loppers or pruning saw, cut all the branches off the main trunk. You’ll be left with a pile of boughs and a bare trunk.
  2. Chip the Branches: The easiest way to create fine mulch is with a wood chipper. You can often rent one from a local hardware store for a few hours. Feed the branches through carefully, following all safety instructions.
  3. The No-Chipper Method: Don’t have a chipper? No problem! You can simply lay the boughs on the ground and run a lawnmower over them a few times to chop them up. Alternatively, use your loppers to snip the branches into smaller 1-2 inch pieces. It’s more work, but just as effective.
  4. Apply to Garden Beds: Spread a 2-3 inch layer of your fresh mulch around the base of your plants, being careful not to pile it directly against the stems or trunks.

A Sustainable What to Do With Christmas Tree Guide: Composting Your Evergreen

If you have a compost pile, your Christmas tree is a fantastic source of carbon-rich “brown” material. Composting is a truly sustainable what to do with christmas tree option that turns waste into a nutrient-dense soil amendment.

The “Brown” Gold in Your Compost Pile

A healthy compost pile needs a balance of nitrogen-rich “greens” (like kitchen scraps and grass clippings) and carbon-rich “browns” (like dried leaves, cardboard, and your Christmas tree). The woody material from the tree provides structure, aids in aeration, and breaks down into valuable organic matter.

Best Practices for Composting Your Tree

You can’t just toss the whole tree onto the pile and expect magic. Follow these tips for success:

  • Chop It Small: The smaller the pieces, the faster they will decompose. Use a chipper if you have one, or take the time to cut the branches and trunk into the smallest pieces you can manage.
  • Balance Your Browns and Greens: As you add the tree pieces to your compost, make sure to layer them with plenty of “green” materials to keep the decomposition process active.
  • Be Patient: Woody material takes longer to break down than leaves or vegetable peels. It may take a year or more for the tree to fully incorporate into your finished compost, but the end result is worth the wait.

Create a Winter Wildlife Haven with Your Old Tree

Perhaps my favorite eco-friendly what to do with christmas tree idea is to use it to support local wildlife. During the sparse winter months, your old tree can provide crucial food and shelter for birds and other small creatures.

Build a Simple “Bird Tree”

The easiest method requires almost no work! Simply place your undecorated tree in a quiet corner of your yard, perhaps near an existing bird feeder. Small birds like juncos, chickadees, and sparrows will use the dense branches as shelter from harsh winds and predators.

DIY Bird Feeders

You can make your “bird tree” even more attractive by decorating it with edible ornaments:

  • Smear pinecones with peanut butter (ensure it’s xylitol-free) and roll them in birdseed.
  • String popcorn, cranberries, or apple slices to create natural garlands.
  • Hang suet cakes from the sturdy branches.

Create a Brush Pile (Benagere)

For the more adventurous gardener, use the tree as the foundation for a brush pile. Start by laying down the trunk and larger branches, then pile the smaller boughs on top. Over time, you can add other yard trimmings. This structure, also known as a benagere, creates an incredible habitat for everything from songbirds and rabbits to beneficial insects and pollinators.

More Creative & Eco-Friendly What to Do With Christmas Tree Ideas

Still looking for more inspiration? Your tree’s usefulness doesn’t stop there. Here are a few more practical ideas that gardeners will love.

Insulate Your Perennials

Don’t chip the branches just yet! Lay the full boughs over your perennial beds. They act as a natural, breathable insulation, protecting plant crowns from harsh winter winds and the damaging freeze-thaw cycles that can heave plants out of the ground.

Edge Your Garden Beds

Use your handsaw to cut the trunk into 2-3 inch thick “cookies.” You can lay these rounds along the edge of a garden path or flower bed for a beautiful, rustic border that will slowly and naturally decompose back into the soil.

READ MORE  Preserving Flowers At Home - Your Complete Guide To Everlasting Blooms

Create Free Plant Stakes

The straight, sturdy parts of the trunk and larger branches make excellent, free stakes for your garden next spring. They are perfect for supporting peas, beans, tomatoes, and any other climbing plants. Simply trim them to your desired length and sharpen one end.

Common Problems with What to Do With Christmas Tree (and How to Solve Them)

Even with the best intentions, you might run into a few snags. Don’t worry—these are common issues with simple solutions. This section addresses some common problems with what to do with christmas tree recycling.

Problem: My tree was sprayed with chemicals or flocking.

Solution: As we mentioned, these trees are not safe for your compost or mulch. Your best bet is to check with your local municipality. Many towns have specific “tree-cycling” drop-off points where they will grind them for industrial use, keeping them out of the landfill.

Problem: I don’t have a wood chipper.

Solution: You have options! Many local garden centers or tool rental shops offer chippers for a half-day or full-day rental. Alternatively, embrace the manual method with loppers and a saw—it’s a great winter workout! Finally, many cities offer curbside pickup and chipping services in January.

Problem: The sap is incredibly sticky!

Solution: Pine sap is no joke. Always wear gloves. To clean sap off your tools (or your hands), use an oil-based solvent. Rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer, or even cooking oil or mayonnaise can help break down the sticky residue.

Frequently Asked Questions About What to Do With Christmas Tree

Can I just leave my Christmas tree in the backyard?

You certainly can, especially if your goal is to create a wildlife habitat or brush pile. However, just leaving it in the middle of the lawn can look messy and will take many years to decompose fully. It’s better to have a designated spot for it.

Are pine needles too acidic for my garden?

This is a persistent gardening myth! While fresh pine needles are slightly acidic, they quickly neutralize as they break down. Their overall impact on your garden’s soil pH is minimal and not a cause for concern for most plants.

What’s the easiest eco-friendly way to dispose of my tree?

The absolute easiest method is to take advantage of your town’s municipal composting or “tree-cycling” program. They do all the heavy lifting (and chipping!). For an at-home solution, creating a simple brush pile in a corner of your yard is very low-effort and high-reward for wildlife.

How long does it take for a Christmas tree to decompose?

It varies greatly depending on the method. If chipped into fine mulch and added to an active compost pile, it can be fully decomposed in 6-12 months. If you leave the tree whole, it could take several years for nature to completely break it down.

Give Your Tree a New Beginning

There you have it—a wealth of possibilities for that holiday tree. Instead of seeing it as a chore or another item for the landfill, I hope you now see it as a gift that keeps on giving to your garden.

From enriching your soil with valuable organic matter to providing a safe haven for winter birds, repurposing your tree is one of the most satisfying and sustainable acts a gardener can perform. It’s the final, wonderful gift of the holiday season.

So grab your gloves, head outside, and give your tree a new purpose. Your garden will thank you for it all year long. Happy gardening!

Rimon Chowdhury
Latest posts by Rimon Chowdhury (see all)

Similar Posts