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    Best Reuse Ideas for Your Christmas Tree

    By | Green – Wed, Dec 28, 2011 4:08 PM EST


    Used Christmas Tree
    When the holidays are over, take down the tinsel, but don't bag the tree. Its needles, boughs, and trunk can do more than hold ornaments. -Jennifer Stimpson

    See ALL our clever ideas for recycling your Christmas tree at thisoldhouse.com!

    hardwood mulch
    1. Mulch With Needles

    Pine needles dry quickly and decompose slowly, making them an excellent moisture- and mold-free mulch for ground-covering crops, such as strawberries, to rest on.

    Related: All About Mulch

    Bird Feeder
    2. Create a Bird Sanctuary

    Place your tree in its stand outdoors. Fill bird feeders and hang them from the boughs, or drape the tree with a swag of pinecones coated with peanut butter.

    Related: How to Build a Bird Feeder

    Perennials
    3. Insulate Perennials

    Cut off boughs and lay them over perennial beds to protect them from snow and reduce frost heaving.

    Related:     How to Propagate Fall Perennials into Spring Plants

    Edge garden borders
    4. Edge Your Borders

    Cut the trunk into 2-inch discs and set them into the soil to edge flower beds or walkways.

    Related: How to Lay a Gravel Path

    Pond
    5. Shelter Fish

    If you live near a lake or have a pond, and your tree's chemical-free, toss branches into the water to provide sheltering habitat for overwintering fish. (Get permission from town officials if needed.)

    See MORE ways you can reuse your Christmas tree around the house and garden at Thisoldhouse.com!

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    12 Smart Ways to Store Holiday Decorations

    Craziest Homeowner Holiday Disaster Stories

    30 Down-and-Dirty Tricks for Big DIY Savings

    47 Skills You Need to Survive Homeownership