Recycle your Christmas trees; it’s a great way to help the planet. But what exactly should you do with your Christmas tree once festivities are over?
Local authorities to recycle Christmas trees
Your local authority will often arrange curbside collections and/or drop-off points in early January. Check your local authority website for more information.
Plant nurseries to recycle Christmas trees
If you bought your tree from a plant nursery you may find that they offer a drop-off service too.
Shredding
Christmas trees can be shredded and turned into chippings which make a great mulch for flower borders or informal paths. If you don’t own a shredder it’s possible to rent one and maybe share the cost with neighbour(s). This is a great way to recycle Christmas trees to benefit the garden.
Living trees with roots
If you bought your tree in a pot as a living tree it’s worth trying to keep it growing by planting it in the garden. If the tree successfully establishes you would be able to dig it up the following November/December to use in the house again before replanting in the garden. Recycle Christmas trees to continue growing in the garden is a wonderful way to add year-round interest too.
Alternatively, you can plant it into the next size-up container from the one it was sold to you in, using fresh, peat-free compost and keep the tree outside and ensure it is well watered throughout the year.
Bear in mind that a tree planted in the ground is likely to thrive better and last longer than one kept in a pot.
Living trees without roots
If you bought a tree top without roots it will not regrow if replanted. As stated above, many local authorities will collect but if you choose not to do this or miss the collection window you can make a mulch from the needles for use with acidic soil-loving plants such as Pieris or blueberries. The bare framed structure of the tree could be used as a frame for climbers such as sweet peas. This is a great method to recycle Christmas trees and make the most of the gardening benefits.
Alternatively, branches could be sawn off and stacked in the garden to make a wildlife shelter.
Rent a tree
Consider next Christmas renting a tree which would be collected by the company after Christmas and replanted by the rental company.
David Domoney is a Chartered Horticulturalist, Broadcaster, and Author. David has worked with a number of the UK’s leading garden retailers as a plant buyer and strategic consultant. With more than 30 years experience, in horticulture, David is as passionate about plants now as he was when he bought his first plant at a village fete.
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