How to Repurpose Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays
Image courtesy of Sandra Seitamaa via Unsplash
4 Ideas to Put Your Old Tree to Use
Taking down your Christmas tree doesn’t have to be a chore. In fact, there are many fun ways to repurpose a Christmas tree after the holiday season has ended!
Mulch with Pine Needles
Mulching provides many benefits like preventing soil erosion after rain and treating compaction. It can also help prevent the ground from freezing in the winter. Use your old Christmas tree to create mulch by drying out its pine needles, which help with mold and moisture resistance.
Create an Animal Habitat
Your Christmas tree can also be used to create a habitat for animals you might find near you. If your tree is free of chemicals, take some of its branches to a local lake for fish to use as a sheltering habitat.
Another alternative is to set your tree up outside and fill it with bird feeders. Secure the tree in a heavy pot or stand that won’t allow it to blow away. Next, create decorations for the tree with materials such as oranges, bird seed, popcorn, pine cones, and peanut butter. Halve and hollow out an orange, cutting holes on the sides for string to be attached. Fill it with bird seeds and hang it from your old tree. Birds will also be attracted to pine cones covered in peanut butter and bird seeds, as well as popcorn threaded on a string.
Make an Outdoor Fire Pit
Pine is not recommended for indoor fireplaces because its creosote can make your fireplace sticky. However, the branches of an old Christmas tree can be used as kindling and the trunk can be turned into logs, making for a great place to keep warm outside.
Craft with the Trunk
Your Christmas tree’s trunk can be used for crafting. Make coasters by cutting the trunk into thin pieces, sand them, and coat them with polyurethane to prevent stickiness. You can also create candle holders out of the trunk by cutting a piece of the trunk and lying it on its side. Mark the spot where you want your candles to sit, and use a drill to create holes the same depth as your candles. Next, lightly sand the wood and seal it for protection from wear.
Another fun idea that kids will love is using slices of the trunk to make ornaments for next year’s tree. Cut and sand the slices to the desired size and drill a hole in the top for a string. Decorate with paint, pens, or markers to make a personalized ornament.
Timoti’s Seafood Shak
After a day of taking down your Christmas decorations, take a break with some wild caught seafood at Timoti’s! Whether you’re looking for something fresh or fried, Timoti’s has you covered at both of our locations convenient to Fernandina Beach, Ponte Vedra, St. Augustine, and St. Johns.