Contact: Joe Heimlich, (614) 292-6926
Written by Kyle Sharp, (614) 292-2011; [email protected]
CHRISTMAS TREES CAN HELP FISH AND FLOWERS AFTER THE HOLIDAYS
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When the holiday season is over, the Christmas trees don't have to end up in the trash, said Joe Heimlich, Ohio State University Extension waste management specialist. Old trees can be ground into mulch or used as fish shelters in ponds.
Holiday trees and other greenery add tons to the solid waste stream in the days and weeks after Christmas.
"Waste management districts, in order to extend the life of landfills, are doing what they can to limit the amount of yard waste, including Christmas trees and other greenery, that goes into landfills," Heimlich said. "Yard waste can still go into landfills, but often local policy keeps it out."
The most common use for trees after the holidays is in a chipping program. Many communities have a site where trees are delivered on certain days then ground into chips that are used as a mulch material. Communities can use mulch on park trails, around landscape plantings or as a bulking agent in sludge composting, he said.
A chipping program can be used as a fund-raising effort, with an organization chipping the trees, selling the mulch and keeping the proceeds.
In some programs, instead of donating the chips to a municipality or fund-raising organization, individuals can take the chips home for their own use. Depending on the situation, the trees may be chipped for free or a small fee charged.
"People can call their solid waste district or community office, or an urban forester in the parks and recreation department if they have one, to see if a chipping program is available in their area," Heimlich said.
If a chipping program is not available, the trees could be used as artificial fish attractors in ponds or reservoirs. Many ponds and reservoirs contain little or no natural underwater structures for fish because the waterways were originally cleared for boating, natural structures have decayed with age, and fluctuating water levels prevent growth of underwater vegetation. Without these structures, fish often are dispersed and hard to catch.
Sinking cut Christmas trees into ponds and reservoirs causes fish to concentrate in these areas and improve fishing. Some fish hide in the branches to escape predators, others feed on snails and aquatic insects found on the structures, and most fish seek the shaded areas during hot and sunny days.
In ponds, the trees commonly are wired to cement blocks and sunk in 6 feet to 10 feet of water. In reservoirs, the trees should be placed in 12 feet to 21 feet of water. In both cases, the trees should be placed away from swimming areas, and the locations should be marked so swimmers and boaters can avoid them. Get permission from the pond owner before placing trees in a pond, Heimlich said, and contact the state Division of Wildlife for permission and direction before placing structures in reservoirs.
A simple alternative way to dispose of cut holiday trees is to use them as wildlife cover in fields, forests and other natural settings. Birds, rabbits and other small animals could use them as shelter during winter months, and the trees would eventually decay as any other tree that fell in the area, Heimlich said. People also should get permission before placing trees in natural areas.
Before placing trees in ponds or natural areas, people need to remove all artificial decorations, hooks and tinsel.
"Tinsel is mostly all plastic, which does not digest," Heimlich said. "If an animal eats too much of it, it could block the intestines."
Hooks and glass could also harm or even kill wildlife. However, "natural" decorations, such as gingerbread men and popcorn or cranberries strung with natural string or thread instead of fish line or nylon thread, can be left on trees to provide food for birds and other animals.
For more information about what to do with Christmas trees once the holiday season has passed, people can contact their local university extension office.
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