Recycle your Christmas tree to nature this season!

By DCNR

Many who live in the PA Wilds celebrate the holidays with the tradition of cutting down a tree at a local nursery and it’s a great way to kick off the holiday season. With the holidays drawing to a close, Christmas trees will be taken down – but don’t throw yours away! If you had a real tree for Christmastime, consider one of these tips from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on how to extend the use of the tree for wildlife. Some of these tips can help the nature and wildlife right in your backyard!

When the holidays are over, don’t throw your real Christmas tree out with the trash — recycle it! Give a new purpose to your real Christmas tree after the holidays by:

Decorating your tree for wildlife

• Put your tree outside and decorate with edible citrus ornaments or all-natural popcorn strings to feed birds and squirrels.

Create a brush pile for wildlife

• A Christmas tree makes a great base for helping to provide food and protection during the winter months!

Enrich your soil

• Chop up your Christmas tree to add insulation and enrichment to your garden bed.

Help fish

• Have a private pond with fish? Sunken Christmas trees provide shelter and feeding areas for fish.

Donate to tree recycling programs

• Tree recycling and mulching programs are becoming more popular in communities. Check your local department of public works to see if a program is available.

Learn more about recycling real Christmas trees from the National Christmas Tree Association.

Information provided by PA’s Department of Conservation of Natural Resources (DCNR). Learn more at DCNR’s website and subscribe to their newsletter to learn about other conservation tips!