Choosing a Christmas Tree That Isn't Harmful to Wildlife

A popular holiday ritual is to decorate with evergreen trees, wreaths, and garland. They're decked out with lights and ornaments, used as backdrops for annual family photos, and used as a gift umbrella for loved ones. Nearly 100 million American families, according to the American Christmas Tree Association, put up a tree during the winter holiday season. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, between 25 and 30 million real Christmas trees are sold each year. But which is the better option for wildlife: a real or fake tree?

While buying an artificial tree is a one-time investment that avoids the need to cut down trees, they are made from unsustainable fossil fuels and will last for centuries in landfills once they are discarded. They are also frequently manufactured outside of the United States and shipped to the United States, increasing their carbon footprint and negatively impacting the environment.

Real trees, on the other hand, are often cultivated on family-owned tree farms in the United States or Canada. There are 16 common "Christmas tree" species, several of which are native to the United States. The trees give wildlife habitat, provide oxygen, and sequester carbon as they develop. After the trees have been harvested, fresh trees are planted to complete the cycle. Tree farms can help rural towns thrive while also preventing land from being developed for suburban expansion.

Choosing a genuine Christmas tree is typically considered to be the more sustainable, wildlife-friendly option in the long run–as long as you keep the following points in mind.

Purchases that are both local and sustainable

Tree farming practises, like any other form of agriculture, can have an impact on the local ecosystem. Support tree farms that use organic procedures, adhere to Integrated Pest Management principles to reduce pesticide use, and conserve water. Before buying a tree, inquire about these information with your vendor.

Real holiday trees, like firewood, can host non-native invasive bug species. Invasive forest pests such as gypsy moths, pine shoot beetles, balsam woolly adelgid, and Phytophthora ramorum, the fungus-like pathogen that causes abrupt oak death, may be spread by trees cultivated in one site and then transported and sold in another. Many of the traditional Christmas greens used in wreaths and garlands, such as Asian bittersweet and multiflora rose, are non-native invasive species that can spread from the ornamental berries.

Getting a locally sourced tree is the best method to reduce the risk of bringing a new pest to your community. Follow these guidelines:

• For wreaths and garland, buy locally grown trees or greenery.
• Choose a tree from a local cut-your-own farm or nursery and chop it down yourself.
• Obtain a permission and cut your own tree within 10 to 20 miles of your home from a local forest.
• Purchase a pre-cut, locally sourced tree from a reputable local retailer.
• Invasive plants, such as Asian bittersweet, should not be used in holiday decorations.

Recycle Your Christmas Tree

Eventually, you'll have to get rid of your Christmas trees. One option is to throw them in the garbage, although it's preferable to keep them out of landfills. Many municipalities arrange special tree recycling collections after the holidays, or you can bring it to a municipal compost site. This is advised for trees that aren't native to the area.

Locally produced trees, on the other hand, can benefit local animals, your yard's soil, and even adjacent restoration initiatives. Here are four methods to repurpose your holiday trees in a sustainable manner:

1. Make a brush pile using your tree as the foundation.

An old Christmas tree can be used as a base for a brush pile, which is made up of logs, branches, and twigs. If you have a yard, this is the simplest thing you can do with your tree. Brush piles and dead trees provide food and much-needed protection from the cold for wildlife in your property throughout the winter months. We offer ideas for how to make a brush pile, but we recognise that not every community allows them.

2. It can be used in the garden.

You can compost your holiday tree or use the needles and boughs to cover your garden bed in a variety of ways to enhance your soil. Break your tree down and chop off the trunk and branches to provide some wonderful insulation to your garden.

3. Create a wildlife-friendly tree.

You can relocate your holiday tree outside and decorate it with edible decorations or popcorn strings to feed wild birds if you enjoy watching birds or want a fun hobby. This is a fun project to do with kids that also benefits wildlife during a time when food is limited. (Note that, unlike birds, mammals like raccoons, foxes, and deer can become accustomed to humans feeding them, so be cautious if they appear.) Peanut butter, fresh fruit such as grapes, berries, or apples, suet, and bird seed are all used in most of the recipes.

These crafts all make tasty bird ornaments:

• Bird ornaments in the shape of hearts
• Bird feeder made of pine cones
• Suet ornaments
  

4. Donate your tree to a restoration effort in your community.

Christmas trees are collected and used for restoration initiatives by a variety of wonderful local organisations. In Louisiana, recycled holiday trees have helped to minimise wetland loss. Other projects have aided in the provision of fish habitat in National Forests, the restoration of dunes, and even the provision of energy or mulch to cities. If your county has a tree disposal programme, do some research to make sure you'll be happy with where your tree ends up! You might also be interested in these more suggestions for how to recycle your tree.

What are your plans for the Christmas tree?

Let us know what you're doing with your real tree in the comments area below, or post a link to any organisations you know that use Christmas tree donations to aid wildlife or the environment.