Photo By G. Anthonie Riis | Give your live Christmas tree a new beginning after the New Year. Learn some...... read more read more
For some people, Christmas décor centers on the tree. If one opts for a live tree, however, there’s the question of what to do with the tree following the season.
Despite the artificial options on the market these days, there are those people who still prefer the sight, smell and feel of a real tree and consider it a necessity for the season’s festivity.
After the New Year, though many trees are sighted on the curb with other useless Christmas trash, but there are still many uses for your discarded tree.
According to Joseph Truini’s article from Popular Mechanics magazine, titled, “How to Keep Your Christmas Tree Fresh Longer,” most well-watered conifers stay verdant for up to six weeks, which have some people repurposing the tree as a migratory station for birds either traveling south for the winter or sticking it out here.
Jennifer Stimpson shared her suggestions in her article, “10 Uses for Your Dead Christmas Tree” featured in This Old House magazine. Perhaps her most interesting idea was setting your tree – stand and all – by your favorite window where you can birdwatch. Hang birdfeeders in the branches or pine cones glazed with peanut butter and rolled in bird seed or bread crumbs.
Eventually, once the tree is completely dead, there are a few old standby uses.
At that point, Stimpson proposes that the tree might be chipped and the remnants be used as mulch to discourage weed growth and trap moisture for trees or bushes. It can also be composted for later horticulture use.
Evergreen trees can also serve as great fish habitat as the dense branches provide hiding and protection for smaller fish,” Stimpson said.
She also posits that portions of the tree can be used for simple crafts like coasters or whittling. A thin coat of polyurethane is suggested to keep the wood’s sap from sticking to other surfaces.
Dried evergreens make excellent fire starters for outside burning because they burn easy and stay lit long enough to ignite larger sticks and logs, but Stimpson warned that Christmas trees are not for indoor burning.
Some people are even attempting to give their Christmas trees new life by taking 4- to 5-inch cuttings, removing all needles on the lower section and dipping the cut end into a rooting hormone which aids root development. According to Fort Knox Wildlife Biologist Mike Brandenburg, for the best results, any cuttings should be taken soon after getting the tree home. Even then, he warns that propagating local conifer trees are often not as successful as with some other trees.
Dan Sundeen, Fort Knox Qualified Recycle Program manager, said recycled trees are put to good use on post.
“In the past, we’ve chipped the trees, and let the units use them for spring beautification projects or let the chips turn to mulch for horticulture,” Sundeen said. “This year, we’ve promised them to [Fort Knox] Forestry who will submerge the trees to help the fish populations of our ponds and lakes on post.”
For those who are set on just tossing it out, the Fort Knox Qualified Recycle Program will collect trees from Dec. 26 to Jan. 10. The QRP is located at 309 Frazier Road, Bldg. 2962. For all recycling questions call 502-624-5026 or email at army.knox.qrp@mail.mil
| Date Taken: | 12.20.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 12.20.2019 21:36 |
| Story ID: | 356869 |
| Location: | FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 189 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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