The holidays are winding down and despite the desire to keep your beautifully-decorated Christmas tree as a centerpiece in your living room forever, at some point (sob!) it’s gotta go. But don’t worry, there are many ways you can keep the spirit of your tree alive while putting it to good use in the garden!
Here are 6 fun ways to transform your tree into a critter-feeding-bird-sheltering-kid-entertaining-garden-mulching thing of wonder this year, adapted from ideas courtesy of our friends at Horticultural Magazine.
Updated for 2022!
1. Plan a kids’ craft project and feed wildlife!
Find a spot in the garden to securely prop the tree (or leave it in its stand) and cover it with suet cakes, orange halves, and pine cones smeared with peanut butter and rolled in nuts and dried berries. Here’s how to make a pine cone bird feeder.
2. Provide winter protection for birds and wildlife
Place the tree against a fence or in a hidden corner of the garden to provide a safe resting place for birds.
3. Mulch your tender perennials
Lay cut branches on the soil to help insulate areas planted with bulbs and perennials. Pine boughs make an especially nice covering for roses that have some of their crown exposed. Remove in spring.
4. Make a winter porch pot
Create cool winter container garden displays using tree boughs mixed with other branches such as red twig dogwood, magnolia, and tufts of dried grasses.
5. Create a natural path
Chip the tree to create a woodland path in the garden or fill paths between raised beds.
6. Compost your tree
Chip your tree and add to your home compost or leave your cut tree curbside for free yard waste pickup through January 31st. You can also bring it to a Seattle Public Utilities Recycling & Disposal Station at no charge through January 31st. See SPU regulations for setting Christmas trees out for curbside pickup.
Now sit back, sip a warm drink, and relax!
Aimée Damman
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