Chris Bonnett, the founder of Gardening Express, said: “There’s so much more that can be done with your real Christmas tree besides tossing it away.
“Once the tree has fulfilled its festive purpose, it can be recycled for gardening, supporting wildlife or craft projects.
“Extending the life of your Christmas tree will allow you to make the most of it, but it’s also good for the environment.”
1. Make mulch
Britons can take advantage of all the organic matter from a Christmas tree by turning it into natural mulch, using pine wood and needles.
To make mulch, let the tree fry before putting the branches into a shredder and letting the wood chips rot before using them to mulch.
Mulch helps to keep the plant or tree warm as well as locking in all of the nutrients throughout the winter months.
2. Create a wildlife shelter
The expert said: “You can attract and support wildlife by letting the tree sit in the garden over winter.
“This will provide a shelter for little animals and birds to nestle in during harsh weather conditions.
“You can also hang bird food, slices of fruit or seed cakes on the branches to provide some snacks for the wildlife.”
3. Use branches as insulation
According to Chris, pine branches can be used to protect tender plants from frost.
Chop large branches from the tree and then lay them on the soil to provide insulation and limit the thawing and freezing of the soil.
4. Make garden and home decor
Chris continued: “You can attract and support wildlife by letting the tree sit in the garden over winter.
“This will provide a shelter for little animals and birds to nestle in during harsh weather conditions.
“You can also hang bird food, slices of fruit or seed cakes on the branches to provide some snacks for the wildlife.”
5. Make fragrant sachets
The needles from Christmas trees have a gorgeous scent, making them great additions to fragrant sachets.
Simply add the needles to small bags and tie a ribbon around the top before placing them in wardrobes or drawers for a fresh scent.
6. Use branches as plant stakes
Chris recommended stripping the branches of needles and using them to support tender and young plants during winter winds and frosts.
The gardening expert added: “To prevent injuring the roots, plant the stakes about two to three inches from the plant’s stem.
“Keep in mind to set the stake at an angle to give the plant more protection from winds.”
