Recycling Christmas trees

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I love real Christmas trees - the look of them, the aroma of the needles (yes it is still the classic Picea abies or Norway spruce for me). But I’m the first to admit, that towards the end of its time in the sitting room, the tree often starts to shed a fair number of needles. The same happens, whether it is one we’ve dug up and planted in a massive paper-wrapped pot, or a tree that has had its roots severed.

So what’s going to happen to it when we take it down? I know people who use old Christmas trees as temporary bird food racks – decked with peanut feeders, fat balls and anything else to hand they can look amazingly OK. And the birds love to have the extra food.

But ideally you should compost the tree sooner or later. Home composting of Christmas trees is very difficult because it takes ages (and don’t try putting it through a shredder as the resin can cause a seriously sticky mess.) Check out local directories and newspapers for council composting schemes, or find out whether the garden centre or other outlet you bought it from will take it back - many do. Meanwhile, the fallen needles have a great use - they work amazingly effectively as a slug and snail barrier.

So, before you add it to the bonfire, turn it into a bird-restaurant, or take it off to be composted, run a tough-gloved hand down each branch, and remove any loose needles. They’re far better being used to keep slugs at bay, than wedged into the car or sitting room upholstery.

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