Use Christmas Trees after Holidays

This article was originally published on December 20, 2007 and expired on January 6, 2008. It is provided here for archival purposes and may contain dated information.

After Christmas, those who decorate their home with a fresh tree have a choice on how to dispose of it. University of Illinois Extension Educators note that state laws consider used Christmas trees as garbage and not yard waste, so they can be discarded according to local garbage regulations. However, that may not be the most beneficial or helpful method.

Some communities will grind up the trees for mulch. Some will give you your ground up tree back for your use or it can be added to a public mulch pile. Well-ground needles and branches can also be used as a soil amendment in the spring.

When used as a soil amendment, do not dilute with too much soil. Soil amendments work better when used at twice the volume of the heavy clay soil to be loosened. Mix two inches of soil amendments with one inch of soil and mix thoroughly for good results. In some cases, nitrogen fertilizer may be needed to compensate for the nitrogen drawn down by the newly-added organic soil amendments.

The trees can also simply be placed outdoors as habitat for some birds. Hanging suet or other feed in the trees also increases their use for wildlife. The trees can also serve as winter cover for other wildlife. State forest or county forest preserve officials may also want to use used trees as a way to increase fish habitat in local ponds or lakes. Be sure to check with local officials before disposing of the tree this way.

Another good use of the trees is to cut off the limbs and use them as cover over tender perennials. The porosity of the needles and branches prevents smothering of the perennials, but gives enough production to reduce heaving of the soil from freezing and thawing. A similar use is to use the pruned branches to protect evergreen shrubs from winter winds and salt spray that can cause burning or desiccation and browning of the foliage of evergreen shrubs.

Source: John Church, Extension Educator, Natural Resources Management, churchj@illinois.edu