Two days after Thanksgiving, my boyfriend and I purchased our Christmas tree from a grocery store parking lot. This is not an unusual occurrence. The offer was appealing—just $31.99 for any tree we desired. With a trimming and wrapping fee, our total came to approximately $40, which is a great deal compared to our usual yearly expenditure of between $45 and $60.
The tree was stunning. Emphasis on the was.
Less than three weeks following its installation and decoration in our home, the tree was lifeless. I mean, deeeeead. I started noticing needles dropping randomly, followed by entire ornaments cascading to the floor. I ensured it received adequate water. A substantial amount of water. Yet, Mother Nature’s elixir was unable to revive this pine.
To eliminate the fire hazard, we removed the remaining ornaments and untangled the lights, and during this process, every. single. needle. came off the tree. It was astonishing. The evidence is captured in this photograph.
Farewell, Christmas tree. 11/25/17-12/13/17
As we readied ourselves to navigate the holiday season without a tree (I had no intention of purchasing another one just to see it perish as well), a friend proposed an ingenious idea: spray paint the wooden remains silver or gold and reassemble it. What a fantastic suggestion! Instead of consigning our deceased holiday tree to the shredder, I now possess a bold, shiny, reusable reminder of the year we almost extinguished Christmas. (Also check out: 8 Old Holiday Traditions That Are Hard to Believe Ever Existed)
Drawing inspiration from this mishap, here are seven additional ways to breathe new life into your old tree.
1. Enhance the lives of sanctuary animals
If there are any animal sanctuaries in your vicinity, reach out to see if they accept donated trees. I recently discovered that a tiger rescue organization in North Carolina incorporates trees into their enrichment initiatives, making the tigers feel more at home amidst tree-like surroundings. Additionally, a chemical-free tree can serve as food for elephants at a sanctuary in Tennessee, where each elephant consumes up to 150 pounds of plant material daily.
2. Support wildlife by providing habitat and resources
In the absence of a nearby animal sanctuary, you can aid the wildlife in your backyard by placing your old tree outside to create habitats for birds, squirrels, and other creatures. Simply putting it out there allows them to climb and perch on it, or you can replant it upright. You could even craft a few pinecone bird feeders to hang from its branches, attracting beautiful winter birds like blue jays and cardinals to your garden.
Your local Department of Natural Resources may also take your tree to sink it in water bodies, establishing a fish habitat, as has been successfully done at Lake Havasu.
3. Assist shore towns in reinforcing their dunes
If you’re situated in a coastal town, you understand the significance of safeguarding the beaches and coastal areas. One method conservationists employ is using Christmas trees to bolster sand dunes. The needles aid in capturing sand blown by the wind, helping to retain more of it on the beach. Contact local authorities to see how you can get involved in similar initiatives in your area. A colleague mentioned that in one part of the Jersey Shore, the dunes have grown so significantly due to the donation of Christmas trees that they gain sand each year, allowing the beach to widen after storms instead of eroding.
4. Use loose needles as garden mulch
My garden can greatly benefit from the abundance of needles I’ll spread from my unfortunate fir. Pine needles make excellent mulch as they decay slowly, acidifying the soil and promoting the growth of acid-loving plants, including azaleas, hydrangeas, ferns, and dogwoods.
5. Create crafting materials
If you have a reciprocating or bandsaw available, cutting the trunk into wooden rounds is easy. These rounds serve as perfect canvases for DIY craft projects, like rustic coasters. Morgan Statt, a health and safety investigator at ConsumerSafety.org, recommends sealing the wood before crafting to prevent any sap from seeping out.
You could also list these discs for sale on platforms like eBay or Etsy, as there’s a significant market for recycled wood. (Check out: 7 DIY Crafts That Will Help You Save Money)
6. Use the trunk for natural garden edging
If crafting isn’t your fancy, you can still utilize those trunk discs. Create natural and visually appealing borders for your garden by edging it with them. A wealth of inspiration can be found on Pinterest for this easy project.
7. Transform branches into potpourri
If you’re fond of the scent of pine throughout the holidays, extend that fragrance by repurposing your Christmas tree branches into potpourri. This potpourri recipe incorporates two branches, essential oils, and cinnamon sticks.
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