How to Make the Most of Your Drying Christmas Tree

Those fallen needles covering your living room floor can be annoying, right? But don’t just sweep and toss them out! They work great as mulch in your garden, so feel free to spread them around. More people are also recommending composting. While some experts hesitate due to the tree’s high resin content, fir trees do break down—it just takes a bit longer. Composting isn’t a quick process anyway. If you have experience, you can try composting yourself, or drop off your drying tree at designated collection points where experts will put it to good use.

Your Christmas tree can do more than just compost! With a little creativity, you can create charming garden edging: cut the trunk into smaller discs and place them along flower beds however you like. They won’t decompose quickly, so they’ll decorate your garden for a long time while also nourishing your plants. If you mostly have potted plants you bring outside in summer, you can freshen up your outdoor space with some nicely arranged discs too. You can even craft various decorative pieces—like a unique table centerpiece—from these wood slices.

During winter, you’ll see many types of bird feeders—but did you know you can make your own from your Christmas tree? If you picked a big tree, try carving a feeder from its trunk where little birds can shelter and find food during the cold months. Before you start, remember: once you begin feeding birds, you need to keep it up throughout the season—they get used to it and will wait for your help. It’s a simple way to support local wildlife!

If you heat your home with wood, you’ve probably thought about using your dried Christmas tree for firewood. Good news—it can work with some patience! They say don’t forget to unplug the lights once your tree starts drying because it can catch fire easily. But before burning, give it time to dry completely: partially fresh trees have a lot of resin, which can produce creosote—a tar-like substance that clogs chimneys.

If you don’t have a garden or don’t use wood heating, these ideas might not fit your situation. In that case, check if there are any local programs near you where you can drop off your drying tree. In recent years, some cities have rewarded those who handed in their Christmas trees in January with raffle tickets. The trees were then used for energy production, given as firewood to those in need, or composted. So instead of just leaving your tree by the trash, why not help others with it?