6 Clever Ways to Reuse Your Old Christmas Tree
If your Christmas tree isn’t artificial, chances are you’re just going to throw it away after the holidays are over. Well, there are plenty of other things you can do with it afterward. For example, you could turn it into a bird feeder. We at 5-Minute Crafts will show you how to do this, and more.
1. Compost your Christmas tree.
First, you’ll need to have a compost pile. Afterward, all you need to do is cut the tree into small pieces or shred it. Then throw it into the pile.
2. Turn your tree into a bird feeder.
Start by choosing your desired spot. For example, you can choose a place where you can see the birds right outside your window. However, it shouldn’t be too windy. After that, secure it on a tree stand (or something similar) and put weights on top of it.
You’ll need to decorate the tree with ornaments that birds can eat. Things like pine cones, peanut butter, and even bird seeds will work, and sooner rather than later, you might have birds passing by.
3. Use it as firewood.
First, cut off the branches to use them as kindling, and then cut the trunk into logs. Keep in mind that pine isn’t adequate for indoor fires because it makes for a sticky, polluting fire. Still, it’ll be okay for when you want to light something up outside.
4. Decorate wood slices.
After cross-cutting your Christmas tree, you can decorate the fresh wood slices and use them creatively for plenty of things. They could be coasters, trivets, wreaths, or ornaments for next Christmas. You could even make a hanging plant stand out of a big slice.
5. Make tea out of it.
Start by boiling water. While you wait, chop the pine needles finely, and after the water has reached a boiling point, remove it from the heat and put the pine needles inside of it. Then let them steep for 15 to 20 minutes, and strain them into a cup.
Note: You can also add honey, lemon, or even milk like you would in other teas.
6. Replant it.
If you can’t think of anything else to do with it, you can return your tree to the wild. Usually, these trees are very resilient, and once they’re planted in a pot of soil, they have an incredible ability to recover. You could even plant it in your own backyard.