Before you drag your Christmas tree to the curb, consider this: that fragrant evergreen can live a second life doing real good for wildlife, soil, and even next year’s Yule log. Instead of tossing it, try one of these 11 clever ways to return your tree to nature—and keep the holiday spirit glowing a little longer.
When to Take Down Your Christmas Tree
Did you know: According to folklore, it was bad luck to leave the Christmas tree and greenery up past Twelfth Night (January 5)—the eve of Epiphany (January 6)? Traditionally, Twelfth Night marked the end of the 12 Days of Christmas.
Twelfth Night was also the last day for the burning of the Yule log—an ancient tradition that predates the Christmas tree tradition? Learn more about Yule and the burning of the Yule log.
After Epiphany and the end of Christmas merrymaking, folks returned to their regular work lives. Read about Distaff Day and Plough Monday.
What do you do with it now that the Christmas season is over? Sure, you could just bring the tree out to the curb or chuck it into a brush pile, but what about trying something new this year?
11 Eco-Friendly Ways to Reuse or Recycle a Christmas Tree
Here are some excellent ideas for recycling that tree:
- A Christmas tree makes for a lovely habitat for small birds, such as chickadees and finches, during the winter months, especially on cold nights and during storms. Evergreens provide important shelter. Prop it up near a bird feeder, another tree, or against a fence. Or, just lay it in your garden for animals of all sorts to enjoy.
- Trim the branches from the tree and saw the trunk into several pieces. Tie the pieces together and store the bundle in the cellar. These logs will make for an aromatic Yule log to use in your fireplace next Christmas Eve.
- Use the branches from your Christmas tree as mulch, giving perennials and shrubs extra root protection from winter weather. Just put the cut branches in the garden, and they’ll hold moisture in and help build the soil, as well as provide shelter for pollinators and wildlife.
- Redecorate your tree as an outdoor bird feeder. String it with popcorn and cranberry garland or other bird-friendly goodies. Add pine cones filled with peanut butter or homemade suet, too!
- Use boughs from your Christmas tree to shade broad-leaved evergreen shrubs from the harsh winter sun and to block out gnawing pests.
- Building a house or know someone who is? Nail the tree to the peak of the roof rafters to bring good luck.
- Sew scraps of fabric together and fill them with Christmas tree needles. These make fragrant balsam sachets that can freshen drawers and closets. See how to make (lavender) sachets here.
- Collect trees from several neighbors and line them up along your driveway or sidewalk as a windbreak. Anchor them to cement blocks and bury the blocks in the snow.
- Pile Christmas tree boughs around tree trunks to discourage neighborhood dogs from doing you-know-what.
- Use dried-out sprigs to ignite kindling in your woodstove or fireplace.
- Give the tree to a friend or neighbor who has a wood chipper. Wood chips can be used as mulch!
Of course, you can simply leave the trees in your backyard if you have the room! Over the winter and fall, the trees will decompose. Young Christmas trees, particularly spruce and balsam fir, have very low rot resistance and break down quickly, adding richness to the soil—just as nature intended!
What NOT to Do With a Christmas Tree
Even though Christmas trees are biodegradable and easy to repurpose, there are a few things you should never do with them. Avoid these common mistakes to keep your home, wildlife, and community safe.
1. Don’t Burn the Whole Tree Indoors
A full Christmas tree should never be burned in a fireplace or wood stove.
The needles and resin-rich wood burn extremely hot and fast, creating dangerous flare-ups that can send sparks flying and even start chimney fires.
Safe alternative: Use only small, dried branches as kindling in an outdoor fire pit.
2. Don’t Leave the Tree in a Plastic Bag
Throwing your tree out in a plastic bag prevents it from decomposing and can contaminate municipal compost programs.
Safe alternative: Remove all decorations and recycle the tree bare.
3. Don’t Throw It in Waterways
Old advice suggested dropping trees into ponds or lakes for fish habitat, but many states now prohibit this. Decomposing trees can alter water chemistry or become water hazards.
Safe alternative: Use evergreen branches to build backyard wildlife shelters instead.
4. Don’t Leave Lights, Tinsel, or Ornaments On
Anything non-natural—plastic, metal, glitter—can contaminate mulch, harm municipal chippers, or injure wildlife. Even tiny tinsel strands are dangerous if ingested by birds.
Safe alternative: Strip the tree completely before recycling.
5. Don’t Keep It Indoors Too Long
A dry indoor Christmas tree becomes a serious fire hazard after a few weeks. Even with watering, cut trees will eventually dry out.
Safe alternative: Recycle or repurpose the tree as soon as the needles begin to drop.
6. Don’t Try to Replant a Cut Tree
Once a tree has been cut from its root ball, it can’t grow again—no matter how quickly you get it back into the ground.
Safe alternative: If replanting is your goal, buy a live, potted tree next year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put my Christmas tree out for curbside pickup?
Many towns offer curbside tree recycling after Christmas. Check local guidelines—most require trees to be free of lights, tinsel, and ornaments. Trees are often turned into wood chips or compost.
Is it safe to reuse a Christmas tree in the garden?
Yes! Christmas trees make excellent mulch, wildlife shelter, and wind protection. Just be sure the tree is undecorated and not treated with artificial snow (flocking).
Will animals really use my old Christmas tree?
Absolutely. Birds such as chickadees, sparrows, and finches love the shelter of evergreen branches, especially during winter storms. Small mammals also use fallen trees for cover.
Can I use my Christmas tree as firewood?
Use caution. While dried branches make great kindling, the sap-filled trunk can crackle or flare in a fireplace. It’s safer to use branches for starting fires and save the trunk for outdoor use or chipping.
Can I compost my Christmas tree?
Yes, but the tree must be cut into small pieces. Large branches take too long to break down. Many people compost the needles separately—they’re slow to decompose but great for paths and walkways.
Are Christmas trees harmful to the environment?
Not when disposed of properly. Real trees are biodegradable, support farms, and can be reused in dozens of eco-friendly ways. Proper recycling reduces waste and benefits wildlife.
When the holiday lights dim and the last ornaments return to storage, your Christmas tree doesn’t have to become just another piece of trash on the curb. With a little creativity, that fragrant evergreen can continue to offer warmth, shelter, and usefulness long after the season ends.
What do you do with your Christmas tree after the holiday is over?
Comments