Without a crown or slight ridge along the center, moisture tends to collect and freeze instead of draining away. Regrade the path or remove and reset the flagstones or brick. When the holiday is over, don't toss the Christmas tree onto the curb. Recycle it as mulch for your perennials. You can actually use entire boughs to cover the beds or protect the base of your plants.
Nothing provides better protection from the elements.
Toss the boughs onto the compost pile in the spring. To speed up the decomposition process, cut them up and mix them with other garden waste. Once frozen, the blades and crowns become brittle and fragile. Tromping around the lawn will damage the grass plants and make them susceptible to disease.