--- title: "7 Ways to Recycle Your Tree After Christmas" description: "Once the lights and ornaments come off, don’t drag your tree to the curb! Learn how a Christmas tree can feed a garden, birds—even fish in local waterways." date: "2023-12-23" modified: "2023-12-23" authors: - name: "Jennifer Noonan" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/jennifer-noonan/" url: "https://www.bobvila.com/articles/recycle-christmas-tree/" categories: - "DIY" - "Furniture & Design" - "Holidays & Celebrations" --- # 7 Ways to Recycle Your Tree After Christmas ![Used Christmas tree in front yard by curb, waiting for recycling pickup. Pile of cut and wasted christmas trees.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Once the holidays are behind us (and our tolerance for Christmas tree needles on our floors is at an annual low), many of us probably check our town's refuse schedule and haul our Christmas trees out to the curb for pickup. Still, it feels wasteful somehow—there has to be a better use for a large mass of organic matter, right? Indeed, there are lots of ways to salvage part, or all, of the tree to give it a second life. Bestow an end-of-season gift on Earth, birds, fish, or even your landscaping with one of these eco-friendly Christmas tree recycling ideas. ## 1. Chip It for Mulch ![Warminster, Pennsylvania, USA - February 6, 2019: After the holidays, Christmas trees are ground up into mulch by a wood chipper by municipal workers.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Chop up that tree and feed it to a wood chipper. You'll have excellent [mulch]() to spread around your landscaping or to line your garden paths. Your shredded tree can insulate your plants throughout the winter, help the soil retain moisture, and aid in foiling weeds in the spring. **RELATED: [This Earthquake Wood Chipper Offers Unbeatable Power, Tested and Reviewed]()** ## 2. Insulate Plants in Your Yard ![Days after Christmas a pile of discarded Christmas trees.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Cut the boughs off of the tree, and layer them over plants in your yard that are susceptible to cold weather and harsh winds. The sheltering limbs will [serve as protection]() throughout the winter and early spring frosts. ## 3. Make Wood-Slice Crafts ![Wood Slice Coaster]() *Photo: [RusticWoodSlices]() via Etsy* Biophilic decor is all the rage, so why not put your tree under the knife? Cross-cut slices of the trunk with a chainsaw or handsaw and use the rings to make coasters, trivets, a wreath, or even [ornaments for next year’s tree](). ## 4. Burn It in Your Fire Pit ![Bonfire close up during the winter season. Fire is inside a metal fire pit. Snowy scene and woods in the background.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* Your Christmas tree is great fuel for an outdoor fire. Cut off the branches to use as kindling, and cut the trunk into logs. Pine is [not recommended for burning indoors](), as its creosote content makes for sticky, sooty fireplaces. But it’s perfect for keeping you toasty while you’re enjoying winter evenings outside. **RELATED: [After 33 Hours of Testing, Here Are Our 11 Best Fire Pits of 2025]()** ## 5. Make a Fish Habitat ![Men loading tree onto a boat]() *Photo: ces.ncsu.edu* If you [live near a pond or lake](), you can sink your old tree into the water to create a welcoming habitat for fish. The branches give them a place to take cover. Just make sure the tree is completely free of tinsel or flocking material that might harm wildlife. ## 6. Feed the Birds ![Christmas tree bird feeder]() *Photo: ces.ncsu.edu* Believe it or not, your old, dead Christmas tree will make an excellent home for the birds for the rest of the winter. Make sure it’s free of all ornaments and tinsel, then secure it in your yard in a stand, or with stakes and twine. Provide sustenance for your avian friends as well by decorating the tree with strands of popcorn, suet, or [pinecone bird feeders](). **RELATED: [After 33 Hours of Testing, Here Are Our 11 Best Fire Pits of 2025]()** ## 7. Compost It ![Hand of agriculturist holding soil mixing coconut dust to prepare for cultivation with sunlight in the garden.]() *Photo: istockphoto.com* A good compost heap needs both “browns” and “greens,” and a Christmas tree has plenty of both. Any part of your tree that can’t be used elsewhere can be [added to your compost](). It will break down into rich soil to help feed your garden in the coming year. ## Author A confessed DIY junkie, Jennifer Noonan writes about home improvement, gardening, and all things do-it-yourself. The recipient of degrees in International Relations and Library & Information Science from Syracuse University, Noonan has worked in media and related fields for over 15 years, including her time at [MTV Networks](), where she served as Manager of Digital Programming at [Nickelodeon](). Today, Noonan lives in Delaware with her husband and daughters, where she is ardently teaching the next generation how to use power tools. ### Author social links [LinkedIn]()