A Christmas tree makes for a lovely habitat for small birds 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. You can even redecorate your tree as an outdoor bird feeder
Trim the branches from the tree, and saw the trunk into several pieces. Tie the pieces together and store cold dry storage. 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.
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.
Collect trees from several neighbours 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 neighbourhood 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 neighbour who has a woodchipper.
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!
At the very least this year you can take your tree to the City of Prince Albert Landfill. The City is requesting that Prince Albert Residents drop off their Christmas Trees, free of charge, at the City Landfill until January 29, 2022. All decorations should be removed from the trees. If trees are placed in plastic tree bags, these bags will have to be removed as well prior to dropping off. Follow the signs to the clean woodpile area at the landfill, where the trees should be placed.
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