A Christmas tree that keeps on givin’

Looking for ways to recycle your tree after the holidays? Christmas trees can be reground for mulch and wood chips — check with your local waste service to see if it recycles trees. Christmas trees make great fish habitats — they can be dropped into a lake or pond to attract and shelter fish. Christmas trees are also used along our coast to prevent erosion. For example, donated trees at Fort Macon State Park collect sand and help replace dunes washed away by foot traffic and storms. Or if you have room on your property, your old tree can serve as a mini-sanctuary for birds. Redecorate it with pine cones smeared with peanut butter and bird seed to soon see new life in your old tree!