The end of the year is approaching again, but there is one garden-related task that many of us need to complete before we start the next year: putting up the Christmas tree.
As beautiful as they look and smell good, real trees can be a hassle after Christmas. Once those needles start dropping, it’s safe to say the tree has left its home. The problem is knowing the best way to get rid of the tree, it might seem like a good idea to leave it in the back of the car all the way to the top, but who wants to get the pine needles out of the trunk for the rest time? year?
If you’re really lucky your council gave you a garden bin, it’ll probably be empty at this time of year, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble getting the tree in there.
However, if, like us, you cannot afford a dumpster and want to keep your car in good working order, there are other options available to you:
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1. Shred it
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden shredder, now’s your time to shine. Carefully insert the tree into the chipper; if necessary, cut it into several small pieces first, and hopefully you’ll end up with a nice pile of wood chips. Depending on the model of chipper you have, the resulting wood chips vary in size, but can be used as mulch that breaks down into a natural fertilizer. Simply place the chips around the base of tall trees and shrubs and over time the chips break down and release nutrients into the soil. Keep in mind that the larger the wood chips, the longer they will take to break down, so if possible, try to avoid very large pieces that break down too slowly to be useful to plants throughout the season. ‘year.
2. Dial it
If you’re thinking of starting a compost heap, now is the perfect time to do so: wood chips from a shredded Christmas tree are the perfect base material for other materials, like plant debris and peelings. vegetables. , and of course over time it will all break down into rich compost that you can use throughout your garden.
3. Let nature take over!
If you can hold the tree in the corner of the garden and don’t mind the temporary nuisance, you will be satisfied knowing that the fallen needles will be used by birds to build nests, and small animals can use the tree for shelter during the remaining summer and winter months.