Kitchener Tree Care: How to Properly Dispose of Real Christmas Trees

While artificial Christmas trees are popular for their convenience, some people still prefer the tradition of bringing a natural tree into their home and decorating it for the holidays. Once Christmas is over, people with artificial trees can just put them in storage for next year. However, a real Christmas tree represents a challenge. It can’t stay up indefinitely because it is a fire hazard. Could tree-cutting and removal services be of help? Possibly, but these are more for trees growing in your yard. Here are some suggestions of things you can do to safely dispose of your Christmas tree after the holidays.

1. Put It Out With the Trash

Some sanitation companies will allow you to put the tree out with the rest of your trash for pickup. They will then either dispose of it or recycle it. Check with your trash collectors before putting your tree out because some do not offer it at all and others only offer it for a limited time after Christmas.

Before you take your tree to the curb, be sure to remove all the decorations, including strands of tinsel. To prevent sap and needles from making a mess of your floors, cover the tree with an old sheet or blanket or put it in a large plastic bag.

2. Take the Tree to a Drop-off Site

Most communities have a designated drop-off site for people to take Christmas trees after the holidays. The trees are typically put into a wood chipper. Tree-cutting services in Kitchener may help out with this step in partnership with the community.

Because you are no longer planning to use your tree as decoration, you can cut it up into several pieces to make it easier to transport to the site. Putting the pieces in a box or bag not only makes them easier to carry, but also helps to protect your vehicle’s interior from needles, sap, and stray twigs that the tree might shed.

3. Use the Tree for Crafts or Projects

There are many creative ways that you can get new use out of your old Christmas tree. No matter your level of experience with crafting, there are projects you can do.

For example, you can save the needles and spread them on your flower beds to use as mulch. Spruce and pine limbs give off a woodsy, resinous scent when cut. You can break off small twigs and branches and put them in paper bags to use as homemade air fresheners around the house. You can also put spare branches in your fish tank or backyard pond to give fish a place to hide and feed.

If you’re more confident in your crafting abilities, there are more advanced projects you can make from your old Christmas tree. For example, you can slice up the trunk and use the pieces as coasters. You can use your tree to make wall art, such as a clock or a wreath for next year’s holiday season. You can take the branches and use them to make decorative candlesticks. There are probably many more craft ideas you can find online, along with instructions for making them.

4. Replant the Tree

Replanting the tree is only an option if its root ball is still intact. It isn’t an option for trees that have been cut down by tree-cutting services in Kitchener. However, if the roots are still intact and you’ve kept the tree well watered, you can replant it and it has a good chance of growing at its new site.

Tree Cutting and Removal Services Near Me From Martin’s Tree Service

Removing a tree that is growing in your yard is difficult and sometimes dangerous. Martin’s Tree Service has operated in the Kitchener neighbourhood for over a decade and performs all types of tree service. Contact us for more information about tree removal.