As usual, it seems like only a few days since we decorated our homes ready for Christmas and yet it’s nearly all over.
We have spent lots of time decorating our homes with festive cheer and very soon it’s got to come down and be packed away again. Record numbers of people across the world have opted for real trees this year so what will happen to them all now? Before we begin to start trying to craft them into a reclaimed wood dining table (!!) we have a look at ways they can be disposed of and reused in a sustainable manner.
Garden mulch is a great way to make use of your tree after Christmas – you may be able to find a company local to you who offer a mulching service. Mulch is a great allrounder for your garden – it helps flower beds retain water in summer, it helps prevent weeds growing and helps protect roots from frost and the cold in winter. Use it to decorate around your outdoor table and chairs patio area, or to create walkways around your garden.
You can remove the smaller branches and twigs to add to your composting heap. Larger branches and the trunk can be made into decorative features in your garden.
You can also create a feature garden bird feeder to feed garden birds through the rest of the colder months. Cut some of the top off your tree so you can attach a flat platform to put bird food on, you can then hang feeders off this and some of the branches of your old tree.
Old Christmas trees create a perfect fish habitat in rivers and lakes as they provide great hiding places for fish over the colder months. Obviously, we shouldn’t all just put our trees in the back of the car and throw them in the nearest watery spot but you can look online to find a local contact who can advise you.
We really love the idea of making coasters or depending how big your tree was, wooden serving boards, from the Christmas tree trunk. They are the perfect coasters to go with gorgeous reclaimed wood furniture. They look lovely on a rustic coffee table to stand your cup of tea on or a kitchen sideboard to stand a vase of flowers on, it would also protect the rustic surface of wooden sideboards and wooden chest of drawers getting potential water ring damage.
If you really can’t make any use of your Christmas tree yourself then look online where you may find collection information from your local council and businesses.