Christmas tree pickup for City of Shell Lake residents will be on Monday, January 9th.
Christmas tree pickup for City of Spooner residents will be on Friday, January 13th.
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10 Uses for Your Dead Christmas Tree
Tuesday, January 3, 2017 | This Old House
- Mulch With Needles: Pine needles dry quickly and decompose slowly, making them an excellent moisture- and mold-free mulch for ground-covering crops, such as strawberries, to rest on.
- Create a Bird Sanctuary: Place your tree in its stand outdoors. Fill bird feeders and hang them from the boughs, or drape the tree with a swag of pinecones coated with peanut butter
- Insulate Perennials: Cut off boughs and lay them over perennial beds to protect them from snow and reduce frost heaving.
- Edge Your Borders: Cut the trunk into 2-inch discs and set them into the soil to edge flower beds or walkways.
- Shelter Fish: If you live near a lake or have a pond, and your tree's chemical-free, toss branches into the water to provide sheltering habitat for overwintering fish. (Get permission from town officials if needed.)
- Set a Stage for Containers: Saw the trunk into different lengths and use the pieces as flowerpot risers for a dramatic group display.
- Make Coasters and Trivets: Cut thin slabs off the trunk, sand them smooth, and apply a thin coat of polyurethane to keep the sap off tables and glassware.
- Chip It: Rent a chipper (get a few neighbors together to split the cost) and feed the tree through it. Next spring, spread the wood chips under shrubs; they'll suppress weeds and, as they decompose, add nutrients to the soil.
- Feed a Fire Pit: It's fine to use a few of the quick-to-ignite branches to start an outdoor fire pit—but never in an indoor fireplace, where creosote build-up is a hazard.
- Stake Your Plants: Strip small branches and use the remaining twigs to support indoor potted plants or stake leggy seedlings.
Last Update: Jan 03, 2017 9:18 am CST
