12/30/2024

UPPER MICHIGAN - The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has some advice for those wondering what to do with their live Christmas trees once the holiday decorations come down. Many have asked if their trees might make good lakeshore habitat for fish, turtles, frogs and other animals and help shore erosion by acting as a buffer against wave energy. The DNR reports that most Christmas trees are softwoods, which break down very quickly in the water and whose branches are too dense for fish to use as habitat. Create a brush pile to provide habitat, making sure that the tree is pesticide-free, and all ornaments and decorations have been removed. Mulch it to be used in garden pots or landscaping, which will return nutrients to the soil. Give the tree to a friend who has chickens or goats. Chickens can roost on trees and goats love to chew on them. And finally, many cities and towns collect trees or have designated drop-off locations where they turned into mulch and often times those locations give away the mulch.