Jan 10 2009
O’ Christmas Tree
You may be wondering what I am doing writing about Christmas trees in January but the fact is, this is actually a perfect time to discuss Christmas trees, or more specifically, what you can do with your Christmas Trees. Every year, after Christmas and New Years has come and gone, most people will pull off the ornaments from their Christmas tree and then pull the whole tree out to the curb.
For some, they are lucky enough to have a Christmas tree pick up but for others, those Christmas trees are sent to the dump where they slowly decay. for that reason alone, many people do not feel that Christmas trees are the green choice, but that is really a different subject all together.
The purpose of this article, isn’t in determining what is “greener,” real or fake, but it is about what you can do with those Christmas trees after the holidays are over. Believe it or not, you can save your Christmas tree and use it out in your garden in a variety of ways.
Deck the Halls with Boughs of Christmas Tree:
Maybe you won’t be decking your halls but Christmas tree branches, and depending on the size of the plant, the whole Christmas tree can make an excellent shelter for perennials that are found in your garden. Simply bury one end of the tree branch and drape it over the garden. Snow will fall around and onto the branch but most of it will be kept off your slumbering perennials.
When spring arrives, all you will need to do is lift off the tree branches to let a little light and warmth shine down on your spring garden.
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow:
Oh, no one minds the snow when they don’t have anyplace to go and they can enjoy the warmth of their cozy home. You may be wondering what this has to do with your Christmas tree but by placing it outside or in a stream, you can create a habitat for a variety of animals including fish and birds. If you do decide to create a habitat, it is important to anchor the Christmas tree so that it doesn’t fall or float away creating a hazard to other but once you do that, birds, fish and other small animals will be overjoyed that you have provided them with such wonderful winter lodgings.
Oh, Give us some Figgy Pudding:
And some suet and some nuts and some fruit. A discarded Christmas tree can be an excellent little bird and woodland creature feeder. All you need to do is stick a variety of foods on it and the animals that visit your garden will do the rest. It may not seem like a big addition to your garden but trust me, a garden just isn’t the same without all the little animals that come to visit it.
Mulching around the Christmas Tree:
The last tip that I will offer for that Christmas tree is to create a mulch from it. This can be stored and used the following fall when you are getting ready to winterize your garden or you can use it to create decorative ground cover in your flower beds.
Whatever you decide to use your Christmas tree for, one thing is certain, the joy that a Christmas tree brings, doesn’t have to end with Christmas.
Sirena Van Schaik
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