days 'til Christmas!
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What to do with the Christmas tree after the holidays
1. Stand it up in your yard near a window where you can observe it. Hang bird food from it and watch the birds enjoy your "instant" yard tree. Make your own bird food ornaments by attaching a string to a large, stiff pine cone (available at the farm). Stuff it with peanut butter, then roll it in bird seed and hang a bunch of these from the tree. It's a yummy treat for the birds.
2. Do you have some pancake syrup? Carefully drizzle some on the branches, then pour some birdseed on the drizzled syrup and watch the birds enjoy the sweet treat.
3. Cut up branches and lay the pieces as a mulch over your flower beds.
4. Take it to a local park that recycles the tree by chipping it and use the mulch to enhance the trails in the park.
5. If you have a pond, placing it in the pond will provide a good environment for the fish to breed in the spring.
As a living plant a Christmas tree benefits the environment by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. After the Christmas season the tree can continue to benefit the environment by being recycled in one of the ways described above. Do your part and give your real Christmas tree "second life" by recycling.