A Christmas tree is biodegradable. Its branches and needles make a good mulch in the garden, especially for plants like rhododendrons which like an acid soil. Many cities and municipalities gather Christmas trees on special collection days and put them through shredders which chop them up into small pieces. The resulting mulch is then used in the summer on the flower beds in city parks. Fir tree foliage can be stripped from the branches and snipped into small pieces for stuffing into aromatic fir needle pillows for the sofa or bedroom.
Some people also use fir foliage in dresser drawers to give clothing and blankets a fragrant aroma.
Large quantities of used trees make effective sand and soil erosion barriers, especially at beaches. Old Christmas trees stacked together in a forest provide shelter for rabbits and other small animals. Woodworking hobbyists can make a multitude of items from the trunk of a used Christmas tree including buttons, gavels and candleholders. This site is presented for your information and enjoyment by the Christmas Tree Farmers of Ontario. All rights reserved.