The Christmas Tree Disposal Method To Avoid At All Costs (It Can Be So Unsafe)

You've made it through the holidays with safety top of mind. From keeping your real Christmas tree safe and intact on the drive home, to where to avoid placing your live Christmas tree at all costs once you've gotten it home, you thought of everything. But do you know what to do with it when it's time to take it all down and get rid of that beautiful, though maybe slightly dry and sad, Christmas tree? You're not ready for the holidays to end, and you're considering using it in the fireplace. After all, winter is settling in, and the days are getting so cold. What better way to stay warm and prolong the festive holiday feel than to snuggle up in front of a little Christmas tree fire? Unfortunately, that might be the worst ending to a lovely holiday. Putting your old Christmas tree in the fireplace can be incredibly unsafe.

The dry branches of evergreens actually explode when burned. All the dry needles create an intense fire that causes sparks to fly — and not the romantic type. These are the kind that land on your area rug and cause a house fire, or go up the chimney and start a fire on the roof. In addition, many popular Christmas tree types have a high resin content that adds even more intensity to the fire. If you have creosote buildup in the chimney, it can trap the excessive smoke from such an intense fire and begin to fill your home instead of freely flowing out of the chimney. A fire could even ignite inside your chimney flue. That's not the calming, cozy fireside experience you're probably looking for.

Fortunately, there are creative and eco-friendly ways to recycle your Christmas tree that don't involve setting your house on fire. A straightforward solution is to toss it into your yard or garden to help the local wildlife. The branches can give shelter to birds and other small animals. You can even add dried fruit like cranberries or raisins for food. Alternatively, you can use the branches and shaved bark pieces as mulch for the perennials in your landscape to protect them from the winter weather. If you prefer to get rid of the tree altogether, there are many pick-up and recycling services available. You can contact your sanitation service or local public works department if you aren't sure about programs in your area.

Be sure to remove all ornaments, lights, and tinsel-like decorations before disposing of the tree. Getting the tree out of the house without leaving a trail of dry needles across the floor can seem impossible. One trick for easy cleanup is to put a big plastic bag under the tree stand when you set it up and conceal it with the tree skirt. Then, when you're ready to dispose of the tree, you can remove all the decorations and simply pull the bag up over the tree. Carry it out of the house in the bag and enjoy your clean floors. Remove the bag and tree stand before handing it off to the recycling service.