Seven ways to reuse your real Christmas tree in your home and garden

Now that Christmas is over, Scots are being encouraged to make the most of their real Christmas trees by putting them to good use in the garden and at home.

With festivities coming to an end, experts have highlighted seven ways to reuse a Christmas tree, including creating natural mulch, using branches as insulation or plant stakes and building wood chip pathways.

Experts at gardeningexpress.co.uk have highlighted seven ways to put Christmas trees to good use as it's revealed that an estimated seven million trees make their way to landfill at the end of the festive period, contributing to the release of harmful greenhouse gases.

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Instead of adding more waste to the landfill, households are being encouraged to choose more eco-friendly alternatives for getting rid of a Christmas tree. An excellent way to take advantage of the organic matter from the tree is to turn it into mulch to benefit your garden plants.

Alternatively, gardeners can use the branches as plant stakes and insulation, and shred the tree into wood chips to fill garden paths.

Chris Bonnett, the founder of GardeningExpress.co.uk said: “There are many eco-friendly ways to reuse a Christmas tree after the festive season instead of sending it to landfill. With a bit of creativity, Christmas trees can be given a second life, offering benefits such as supporting your garden plants, helping wildlife and adding to the garden decor.

“All parts of the tree can be repurposed - the trunk can be shredded into wood chips for garden pathways, the branches can be used to provide insulation for tender plants and the needles can be put in small bags to create fragrant sachets.”

Here are seven ways to reuse your Christmas tree:

1. Create natural mulch

Transform your Christmas tree into organic mulch to enrich your garden. Pine wood and needles are ideal materials for mulch, offering excellent moisture retention and weed suppression. Let the tree dry, shred the branches into wood chips, and allow them to decompose before spreading them around trees and shrubs. If you don’t have a wood chipper, pine needles alone work well also since they dry quickly but decompose slowly.

2. Build wood chip pathways

If you’ve turned your tree into wood chips, consider using some to fill garden pathways. A thick layer of wood chips not only keeps weeds at bay and locks in soil moisture but also adds texture and a natural look to your garden.

3. Use branches as insulation or plant stakes

Pine branches can provide an extra layer of protection for delicate plants during frosty weather. Cut larger branches from the tree and lay them over the soil to insulate it, reducing the risk of freezing and thawing cycles that can damage plant roots. Alternatively, you can use the branches as stakes to support young or fragile plants. Insert the stakes 2–3 inches away from the plant’s base and position them at an angle to shield the plants from strong winter winds.

4. Create a wildlife haven

You can support wildlife by turning your Christmas tree into a winter shelter for them. Position the tree in your garden to create a cosy refuge for small animals and birds during harsh weather. You can also hang bird feeders, fruit slices, or seed cakes from the branches to provide extra nourishment for wildlife during the colder months.

5. Craft decorations

The tree’s branches can be repurposed into stunning handmade decorations. For example, use them to craft a wreath that can adorn your door year-round. All you’ll need is some binding wire, scissors, glue, and optional embellishments to personalise your design.

6. Make fragrant sachets

The pine needles from your tree carry a refreshing, wintery scent that works perfectly in fragrant sachets. Gather the fallen needles, place them in small fabric bags, and tie them off with a decorative ribbon. These sachets are ideal for freshening up drawers and closets, and they make thoughtful gifts for family and friends.

7. Re-plant a potted tree

If you’ve bought a potted Christmas tree, you can re-plant it in your garden. Gradually acclimate the tree to outdoor conditions, then find a sunny spot with well-draining soil. Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball, plant the tree, backfill with soil, and water thoroughly.

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