![\"\"](\"https://www.cyclonerake.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/fir-tree-3875734_1920-300x199.jpg\")
Use it as a fire starter.With the new year in full swing and Christmas (sadly) behind us, it’s time to start thinking about what to do with the tree that’s started to wilt in your living room. Now, in the past you’ve probably just thrown your tree in the trash with the stale popcorn wreaths and tinsel. But consider the alternative. While recycling a Christmas tree may seem daunting, here are just a few ideas on what to do with your tree now that Santa has gone back to the North Pole.
Give a local farm or petting zoo a call and ask about donating your tree. Animals like goats love to snack on your left-over holiday cheer. Besides being just a fun treat for the animals, your left-over Christmas tree is a great source of vitamins and nutrients.
Use it as a fire starter.Your old Christmas tree is a great source of kindling if you have an outdoor fire pit. Or, if your pit is large enough, throw the whole thing on the fire and listen to the needles pop. The liquid in the needles rapidly heats up causing them to expand with an audible pop. It’s a great way to entertain the kids, especially if you bring some marshmallows to roast over the fire.
Keep in mind it’s very important to only use your Christmas tree for outside fire pits. Burning them in an indoor fireplace or wood stove can cause the build up of a chemical called creosote, which can result in a chimney fire. Before burning outside it’s always a good idea to check with your local forest and fire agencies to make sure there aren’t any burn bans in effect in your area.
Pine needles and branches take a long time to decompose, which makes them great as a base for a compost pile. If your compost pile is outdoors a base layer of Christmas tree branches and needles can add a great layer of insulation to help keep it warm in the colder months.
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Recycle it!Most areas have curbside pickup for your Christmas tree. All you have to do is kick it to the curb and they’ll come take it away. If you don’t have curbside pickup, there are drop off locations you can bring your tree to. Not only will they take it off your hands, but they’ll make it into mulch to reuse.
If you’re looking for a creative way to recycle a Christmas tree, the internet is a wealth of ideas. Cut the trunk of your tree into slices with a circular saw and the possibilities are endless. Make some rustic coasters, paint a wooden snowman, you name it and you can make it.
Whether you decide to feed your local goats, make some fun decorations, or start a composting pile, you’re sure to put your Christmas tree to good use. When you’re recycling a Christmas tree, the cheer doesn’t need to end with the holiday season!
\r\n \r\n\r\n","BodyOverview":"How should you go about recycling a Christmas tree? With the new year in full swing and Christmas (sadly) behind us, it’s time to start thinking about what to do with the tree that’s started to wilt in your living…","AllowComments":true,"NumberOfComments":0,"CreatedOn":"2019-01-16T19:00:00","Tags":[],"Comments":[],"AddNewComment":{"CommentText":null,"DisplayCaptcha":false,"Captcha":{"ReCaptchaChallengeField":null,"ReCaptchaResponseField":null,"ReCaptchaResponseValue":null,"ReCaptchaResponse":null},"Id":null,"UserFields":[]},"Id":"61dd396ce71dd5843d2125a3","UserFields":[]},{"MetaKeywords":null,"MetaDescription":"Should your prune your plants during winter. ","MetaTitle":"Can You Prune In Winter?","SeName":"it-may-be-cold-outside-but-winter-is-the-best-time-for-pruning","Title":"It May Be Cold Outside, But Winter is the Best Time For Pruning","PictureModel":{"ImageUrl":"/assets/images/thumbs/61dd797d407cf9311b5a1ad9_it-may-be-cold-outside-but-winter-is-the-best-time-for-pruning_750.png","ThumbImageUrl":null,"FullSizeImageUrl":"/assets/images/thumbs/61dd797d407cf9311b5a1ad9_it-may-be-cold-outside-but-winter-is-the-best-time-for-pruning.png","Title":"Show blog post for It May Be Cold Outside, But Winter is the Best Time For Pruning","AlternateText":"Picture for blog post It May Be Cold Outside, But Winter is the Best Time For Pruning","Style":null,"ExtraField":null,"Id":"61dd797d407cf9311b5a1ad9","UserFields":[]},"Body":"\r\nIt’s winter and that means it’s time to prune. Pruning is one of the best things you can do for your shrubs and trees as it not only helps control the size of a plant, direct growth and influence flowering or fruiting, but it can also rejuvenate old, overgrown plants and maintain plant health and appearance.
Why prune in the winter? Pruning this time of the year can promote fast regrowth in the spring, as most plants are dormant during the winter. This is important because pruning is best done before buds begin to swell and open. Also, winter is a good time to prune most deciduous trees because you can see the overall branch structure easily, and insects and disease-causing organisms are not active. Because they produce flowers on new growth or current season wood, the optimal time to prune summer-flowering trees and shrubs is late winter or early spring before new growth starts. This is advantageous because it means the wound will be open for a shorter period of time, which can reduce the risk of infection.
When pruning a tree or shrub for the first time, there are several steps which should be followed. First, make sure to remove all broken, dead and diseased limbs. Next, make your trained cuts. By cutting back lateral branches, the tree or shrub can be trained to develop a desired shape, to fill in an unsightly open area or to keep it in bounds to fit a given area.
![\"\"](\"https://www.cyclonerake.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/burning-bush.png\")
When cutting back to an intersecting branch, choose one that forms an angle of no more than 45 degrees with the branch to be removed. Additionally, the branch that you cut back to should have a diameter of at least half that of the branch which you are going to be removing. Make slanting cuts when removing limbs that grow upward; this prevents water from collecting in the cut and expedites healing.
Make your cuts just outside the swollen branch collar, which is where the plant begins to heal its wounds. When you prune, also take care not to damage the bark around the pruning cut. To shorten a branch, cut it back to a side branch or make the cut about a 1/4 inch above the bud and always prune above a bud facing the outside of a plant which will force the new branch to grow in that direction.
Importantly, make sure to use the correct-sized tools for the job. The wrong tools will either leave jagged cuts or ruin your pruning tools. Well-maintained tools also make the cuts clean and smooth, which is important for a good job. And never leave a stub as they can produce weak stem suckers and will provide a place for pests and diseases to attack. When pruning, keep in mind that even proper work will leave physical wounds on plants and can have several important plant health outcomes.
So get out there and start pruning. It’s a great way to have your trees and shrubs looking good come spring and summer.
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