Looking for eco-friendly tips to help you on your Christmas tree hunt? We can help:
- Get a real tree, not an artificial one. Real trees are better for the environment, better for the economy, and smell wonderful.
- Cut your own tree from a nearby National forest or state land, if possible. Permits are usually inexpensive, and it can be a fun family tradition.
- Get two permits or buy two trees, and donate your extra tree to a local charity, youth home, or non-profit. Make sure to call ahead to find out if they can use it, and what height tree they’d need.
- When buying a real tree from a vendor, make sure they are reputable local dealers. Fly-by-night operators are less likely to comply with state or federal regulations.
- Real trees should be healthy- a good tree will have perky bright green needles and springy soft branches.
- Live trees will travel best if gently wrapped in a reusable tarp or placed in a large burlap bag. Make sure to tie the tree to your vehicle firmly to prevent broken branches.
- Christmas trees with root balls rarely survive being transplanted in the dead of winter. Stick with a cut, local, tree for your holiday display- and use the money you save to buy a healthier sapling in springtime!
- Make homemade and inexpensive garlands, wreaths, and table arrangements from Christmas tree cuttings and other local materials. Re-use!
- When creating homemade decorations, take care not to use invasive species like Asian bittersweet or Multiflora rose.
- A simple bowl of pine cones can make a free and gorgeous, centerpiece. Collect your cones locally and intersperse a few dry cinnamon sticks to make a fresh, aromatic display.
- Dispose of small holiday greenery at a municipal compost facility, or in your regular trash. Don’t throw them out in a brush pile or your home compost-- they could contain weed seeds or foreign bugs that can infest the trees around your house.
- Recycle your Christmas tree whenever possible. Many areas now offer a post-Christmas curbside pickup, and the trees are typically chipped or ground to use in mulch. Look for information specific to your area in your local newspaper.
