This Christmas we were inspired to do something useful with our Christmas tree - something we'd never done before as it has always been put on the curbside or, sometimes, brought to the local Christmas tree donation drop-off for chipping (which is pretty good). But we wanted to see if we could do something MORE creative, crafty even, so we embarked on the following odyssey....
After pulling the very beautiful tree out of our families' house on Long Island, we took out our handy machete and started disassembling it. The idea was to break it down into pieces that we could use in some way. The best idea we had was to collect all the needles and make a few small evergreen pillows.
Taking the tree apart was satisfying.
We got it into three basic parts: the trunk, the branches and the tips of the branches where all the needles are.
The trunk we chopped up and decided to use for firewood.
The branches we used for kindling and it worked really, really well.
But now we have a tub full of all these beautiful needles that won't fall off or come off of the branch tips and we're wondering what to do. Does anyone have a good idea for either a. how you get needles off easily or b. what we could do with all of them after wards (besides pillows)?
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A whole Christmas tree works well as bird cover. We used ours in the side yard where the dogs and cats can't get to the birds and near a feeder. It works well as cover for small song birds. In the summer the wood is dry enough to use in our fire pit and it doesn't pop as much because it's had some time to age and dry out. You could mulch with what you have or use it on your sidewalk for traction in the ice and snow.
view Carol K's profile
One year we left our tree out so long it dried out completely. Then we took it apart, burned the trunk and put the branches in the compost pile. We thought they would just break down. Instead, they hung around for a few years and turned out to be a really excellent addition to the compost pile. They gave the pile structure, making it really easy to turn with a pitchfork. And they sort of aerated it so that it never got soggy, despite our inattentiveness.
view yolio's profile
Mulchfest is NYC Christmas tree recycling program. You can take your branches to one of the designated parks and the Parks Department will turn it into mulch to use in public parks. You can also take some mulch back with you.
view Mota Rose's profile
burning pine isn't good for your chimney. all the sap in pine will build up in there.
it's probably not too bad to do once a year i would guess.
view lew!'s profile
If you leave your bucket full of needle covered branched in a dry sunny space long enough, the needles will dry and be ready to fall (with agitation).
I leave our tree up too long every year.
When it is time, I cut off branches and mulch some visible areas of the garden.
Then, I sweep up the needles and top dress some house plants (keeps cats out and looks nice).
view johnnybc's profile
Another way (not) to recycle a Christmas tree is to buy a plastic one. Reusable every year! :D
view Clap's profile
I have a room with windows that [dismally] opens to the space under a deck. Last year I propped up a bunch of discarded Christmas trees in the space right outside the windows, and now it looks like the room is dark because of a dense pine forest outside the window, not because of a deck! Looks great and really amuses me--
view Aulaire's profile
We sort of live out in the country, but my grandfather has a lake on his property where we take our christmas tree and throw it in. The fish use them as hatcheries and to hide in during the cooler months.
view lambofcairo's profile
Yeah, they will fall off if you give them some time.
Living near the coast, organizations often call for trees to help rebuild the dunes.
view whytephoenix's profile