Why You Should Keep Your Christmas Tree After the Holidays
Keeping your Christmas tree can benefit local wildlife and the environment
Christmas Tree, Wildlife, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Environment, Backyard, Samantha Knight
Toronto: You might think it’s time to toss your Christmas tree, but hold on! Keeping it around can actually help the environment.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada suggests that instead of sending your tree to the landfill, you can put it in your backyard. It’s a great way to support local wildlife.
Just find a spot in your yard—maybe near another tree or against a fence. You can even make it a fun family project by decorating it with pinecones filled with peanut butter and seeds for the birds.
This way, the tree becomes a cozy spot for birds to hang out and grab a snack. Just make sure there aren’t any rat issues in your area before you start slathering on the peanut butter.
Samantha Knight from the NCC says that leaving your tree in the yard during winter can really help birds. It gives them a safe place to rest, especially when it’s cold or stormy.
Plus, if you keep the tree until spring, it can continue to provide shelter and even improve your soil as it breaks down. It’s all part of their Small Acts of Conservation program.
When spring rolls around, your tree will have lost most of its needles. You can then cut the branches and lay them down where your flowers are starting to bloom. Just don’t cover the flowers!
The branches and trunk will help keep moisture in the soil and create a nice habitat for critters like toads and bees. By fall, they’ll be well on their way to turning into rich soil.
So, why not give your Christmas tree a second life? It’s a simple way to make a positive impact on your backyard ecosystem.
Some communities even have drop-off spots where they recycle trees into mulch or use them to prevent coastal erosion. It’s a win-win!
So, before you toss that tree, think about all the good it can do for nature!