Another wonderful holiday season has come and gone. If you’re still holding onto those last few whiffs of pine as you walk by your Christmas tree, it may be time to start thinking about what to do with it once it’s mid-February and no longer acceptable to have a Christmas tree. Most people end up just throwing their trees on the curb for the trash guys to take care of, but there is actually an abundance of ways you can repurpose and make awesome use of your old trees. Whether you’d like to salvage the trunk, pine needs, or everything in-between, there’s something out there for you!
Mulch
One of the most popular and efficient ways to make use of your leftover Christmas tree materials is by making mulch for your garden and other outdoor spaces. Trees are incredibly nutrient-rich and can have wonderful benefits to the soil and landscape surrounding your home when transformed into mulch. To accomplish this, you’ll need a saw or woodchipper of some sort to separate your wood and create smaller pieces to include in your outdoor spaces. The great thing about mulch is that you can include every last bit of the tree and it’ll likely thrive and bring life to your yard no matter the environment. Returning the tree to the place where it all started is about as good as it gets in terms of eco-friendliness and recycling.
Bird Feeder
Creating a bird feeder is a great option for those with kids or looking for an entertaining DIY project. If you’re handy, you can build an actual feeder with the wood from the tree trunk using a saw and some nails. You can also bundle together some branches or pine parts and just add peanut butter or bird food to get the attention of nearby birds. This is a great activity to teach your children about wildlife and give them something to look forward to when they see a bird flying overhead.
Conservation Groups
There is an extensive selection of nonprofit agencies and conservation groups that will take your used Christmas trees and recycle them properly for you. If you’re someone who isn’t quite sure where to start with repurposing your tree, these groups are highly trained and would love to help you do your part in helping the environment. If you do your research, there may also be local groups dedicated to specific causes like coastal rehabilitation or wildlife restoration who will make special use of your used tree to help their cause.
Wreaths and Garlands
Repurposing your Christmas tree to make a wreath or garland is perfect for the holidays and can even be used again in the future if cared for properly. Drying out your Christmas tree properly and utilizing it to create a wreath for your front door or a garland to display over your window is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit and have extra decorations for the years to come. This is another great activity to do with kids and customize it for your family to enjoy.
Fragrant Sachets
If your tree hasn’t completely died by the time you’re looking to repurpose it, making fragrant sachets with the pine needles is an awesome way to keep that beautiful smell lingering throughout your home past the holiday season. This is an effortless way to salvage the branches of your tree and bundle them together for a seasonal and happy scent to enjoy. This idea, unfortunately, won’t last forever but is a phenomenal way to make use of a few branches before disposing of your tree.
Fire Starter
Dried-up Christmas tree parts make for some of the best material to start and use in a fire. Even though the holidays have passed, the winter months stick around for quite some time. Having material to use in your fireplace to keep you warm through January and February is essential, and there’s no better way to do so than with your used tree.
Coasters
If you have the tools to do so, cutting slices of the tree trunk into little chip-like structures is a great way to make coasters for your cups and mugs. There’s a lot you can do with these truck slices, but coasters are among the most popular options. If you have the means necessary, staining or adding an additional sealant coat to these slices is a great way to protect their surface and keep moisture and residue from your cups off your table.
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