A Million Ways to Recycle Your Christmas Tree
I don’t know about you but I hate to put away the decorations and Christmas tree after the holidays. Some of us are disciplined enough to take down the tree on New Year’s day, 12 days after Christmas or go by some other unfounded traditions. Here are some useful ideas to recycle your live and artificial trees. Some ideas are borrowed others are tested.
1. Recycle your tree (minus the decorations and flocking) by placing it curb side. Louisiana recycles Christmas trees for coastal restoration.
2. Mulch your tree for composting and for use around plants. You can do it yourself or hire a tree company.
3. Use leftover branches that are still fresh to make a new wreath. Use floral wire and place on a wreath form.
4. Use branches to make a swag by tying several branches together with wire. Decorate with a ribbon tied in a bow and hang upside down
5. Make Christmas tree potpourri by collecting fallen needles from the tree and place in a jar or make sachet pouches, add other died flowers or scents.
6. Cut the top of the tree and place in a galvanized bucket or decorative container to make a container tree. Support with bricks or stand placed inside pot and fill with water or add soil and water to keep moist. Use inside or out as movable container for as long as tree stays moist.
7. Place Christmas tree minus the decorations outside to be used as wildlife habitat. Add pinecones filled with peanut butter for an extra treat for the birds.
Your artificial tree can be recycled by keeping the green ornaments and removing the reds. Replace with gold and purple ornaments for a Mardi Gras tree, replace with pastel ornaments for a Easter trees. You can make a Valentine’s day tree with all red decorations and so on. I usually surrender after Easter and put my tree away.
submitted by Karen Blackburn