Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Environmental Benefits of Christmas Trees

Your Tree Has Uses After The Holiday Season Too
RECYCLE YOUR TREE!
Christmas trees are biodegradable- the trunk and branches can be chipped and used as mulch for gardens, or used on paths to help prevent erosion. The mulch provides a protective barrier for the roots of other plants and vegetation while preventing weeds from growing. The mulch then decomposes, providing the nutrients plants need to thrive.
Some communities use Christmas trees to make effective sand and soil erosion barriers, especially at beaches and on stream beds.
Sunk into private fish ponds trees make excellent refuge and feeding areas, and good habitat for fish.
Christmas trees can be used to make bird feeders, adding color excitement to the winter garden. Utilize orange slices, suet, bread and seed to attract the birds. Try rolling pinecones in peanut butter and then birdseed, and hanging these from the branches.  Birds will come for the food and stay for the shelter in the branches.
Use needles for making aromatic stuffing for sachets.
Remove and use branches as garden mulch.
Tree recycling provides a tangible and real completion of the recycle circle. So, real Christmas trees are a good choice for your community, the environment, and your family.

Important:
Never burn your Christmas tree in a fireplace or wood stove. Burning the tree may contribute to creosote buildup in chimneys.
Towns/cities can provide curbside pickup and deliver trees to a chipping site. Chipped material can then be recycled as mulch, allowed to compost for municipal or residents use, and/or made available for sale (Chipping trees creates a recycled product that can be used as a mulch for walkways, flower beds &/or other ground cover uses- composted chips provide an excellent soil amendment when used as part of a total waste composting program).

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