Tree recycling ideas for the New Year
By By Steve Strong / area horticulture extension agent
Jan. 7, 2004
Christmas trees have a second chance to be useful after the lights and tinsel are gone. Finding uses for discarded Christmas trees is a tradition with its roots in 16th century Europe, according to Steve Dicke, forestry specialist with Mississippi State University's Extension Service.
In Europe, trees were originally burned the evening of Epiphany, a celebration of the wise men's visit to Bethlehem. The fire was used to remind families of the bright Christmas star that guided the wise men to the city.
Another tradition was to whittle the rough stem from the tree to form a cross, and display it during the season of Lent to connect the events of Christmas and Easter. Of course, evergreens of all sorts (palm trees, conifers, even mistletoe) have been pagan symbols of everlasting life since long before Christianity adopted them, and still remain as important to other cultures and religions as our own.
Many communities in Mississippi participate in Christmas tree recycling, and drop-off points or curbside pickup service are available in many areas. Most of these Christmas trees are chipped up for mulch, which may be used for public landscaping projects or made available for homeowner use check with your local county landfill for more information.
If you plan to burn your tree, do it safely outdoors, not in a fireplace where the charred sap can promote soot deposits and clog the chimney flue. Also be aware that the new species of trees grown in Mississippi are designed not to burn easily (bad news for the pyromaniacs out there).
Other Christmas tree recycling projects include lake, river and beach-front stabilization, including areas of the Delta sedimentation management, Dicke said. The same tree that provides hours of holiday enjoyment can also provide both a comfort zone for fish and a lucky spot for anglers.
Dr. Marty Brunson, MSU wildlife specialist agreed: "Using Christmas trees as habitat enhancers and fish attractors is an old trick that has gained newfound popularity."
Tie several discarded trees together in loose groups of two to four for best results. Be sure to remove all traces of ornaments, hooks and tinsel from the trees.
The Christmas trees should be weighted so they will stay in place. Weights can either be tied on or trees can be set in a bucket of cement. Place these fish attractors in 3 to 10 feet of water. Be sure to place attractors at different depths in the pond to ensure that as seasons and temperatures change, the fish will continue to use them.
Too many attractors will cause fish to scatter, so limit the number to one or two per acre of water. Safety is an important concern when placing the bulky attractors. The buddy system is best when taking a boat out into chilly ponds or lakes.
Fish attractors are great additions to your own ponds, but may not be welcome in other bodies of water. Do not put attractors into public waters, because some lakes may have restrictions against such activity. Check with local lake managers such as the state Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that often accept donated trees and install them as a public service.
