Here’s how to give your Christmas tree a new life the right way

Start the new year right by disposing of your Christmas tree in a way that contributes to new life. “If a tree is chipped up to make mulch or compost, it will decay to feed organisms in the soil,” said Spencer Campbell, Plant Clinic manager at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. “Those organisms are what enrich the soil for plants.”

You don’t need a wood chipper. Trees that are disposed of properly through municipal tree disposal programs are chipped up and the mulch is either used by municipalities or goes to commercial composting facilities to make soil amendments.

Here are some tips from the Plant Clinic for Christmas tree disposal.

Recycle. Check with your municipality or waste management company about local tree recycling or disposal arrangements, including when and where trees will be picked up or whether you need to take your tree to a recycling site. “Requirements vary by municipality, so be sure to follow the local rules,” Campbell said. “For example, the municipality may specify where the tree should be placed.”

Prevent fire hazards. Dispose of your tree as soon as it shows signs of drying out to prevent it from becoming a fire hazard. If a tree is dried out, needles will become brittle and start to fall off and the tree will no longer take up water. Never burn your evergreen tree in a fireplace or wood stove. It may cause creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire.

Trees only, please. Only the actual tree can be recycled. Before you put the tree out for pickup, remove all decorations. If you use a plastic tree bag to carry the tree from the house, take the bag off outside. Trees that aren’t completely bare will go to a landfill instead of being recycled. Flocked trees — those covered in white synthetic powder to suggest snow — can’t be recycled; they must be thrown away in the regular trash. Don’t try to recycle garlands, wreaths, or anything that contains wire, which could damage the shredding machinery. Discard those items in the trash.

Protect plants. Branches cut from your tree also can help protect plants in your garden. Laid over beds, they will insulate the soil so it doesn’t heat up in winter warm spells and cause plants to come out of dormancy too early. “Beds in full sun are the best place to do this because their soil is most affected by swings in winter temperatures,” Campbell said.

Shelter wildlife. If you have the space, consider leaving the whole tree in your yard to provide a winter refuge for wildlife. In spring, cut the tree up and dispose of it through your municipality’s landscape waste disposal program.

For tree and plant advice, contact the Plant Clinic at The Morton Arboretum (630-719-2424, mortonarb.org/plant-clinic, or plantclinic@mortonarb.org). Beth Botts is a staff writer at the Arboretum.