As soon as the vacations are over and decorations come down, you’re left with a dried-out tree that should go someplace. For most individuals, this occurs in early January, however in the event you have a tendency to depart it a bit of late, you might nonetheless be sitting with a tree you don’t know what to do with effectively into the New 12 months.
Some communities provide pickup or drop-off applications for Christmas tree recycling. However when you have a compost pile, your tree can turn out to be a worthwhile addition to your backyard. It takes a bit of effort, but it surely’s value it in the long term.
Composting a Christmas tree isn’t difficult, however you may’t simply toss the entire tree onto your pile and count on good outcomes. Over time, although, that tree breaks down into nutrient-rich compost that improves your soil and advantages your vegetation for seasons to return. Observe these steps to compost your Christmas tree correctly.
Assess Your Compost Pile
Earlier than you begin on the point of compost your Christmas tree, check out your compost state of affairs. Not each pile is able to deal with a Christmas tree, and it’s value evaluating whether or not that is the precise transfer on your setup. A small bokashi bin sadly isn’t going to chop it.
Christmas timber are largely ‘brown’ materials: excessive in carbon and comparatively gradual to interrupt down. In case your compost pile is already heavy on browns (a number of dried leaves, cardboard, or wooden chips), including a tree would possibly tip the stability too far and gradual decomposition significantly. In that case, you may be higher off utilizing different recycling choices, like making mulch.
Then again, in case your pile has loads of inexperienced materials (grass clippings, kitchen scraps, backyard trimmings) and will use extra carbon to stability issues out, a Christmas tree is good for compost.
Additionally take into account the scale of your pile. Be sensible about capability earlier than you decide to this mission, as a result of slicing up a Christmas tree just isn’t a fast course of (regardless that it’s value it).
Take away Ornaments
Even after you’ve stripped the tree of decorations, small objects can disguise within the branches, and also you positively don’t need these ending up in your hard-earned compost.
Undergo the tree rigorously and take away something that isn’t natural materials. Steel hooks received’t break down and create hazards while you ultimately use your compost. Tinsel and plastic decorations are equally problematic. Even pure decorations like popcorn strings ought to come off since they could appeal to pests to your compost pile.
Examine the trunk too earlier than you compost your Christmas tree. Some tree stands use screws or nails that may nonetheless be embedded within the wooden. Pull these out in the event you can, or no less than pay attention to them so that you’re not shocked later.
I like to offer the tree a great shake outdoor after eradicating decorations. You’d be shocked what falls out (although it’s principally faux snow or glitter). Higher to take away this stuff now.
Reduce the Tree Into Smaller Items
An entire Christmas tree takes years to decompose in a compost pile. Reduce into smaller items, it breaks down a lot sooner and integrates higher with the opposite supplies.
Begin by eradicating all of the branches from the trunk. Pruning shears work for smaller branches, however you’ll possible want loppers for something thicker. Reduce branches into sections. Smaller items are all the time higher when you have the vitality, as they break down sooner and are simpler to combine into your pile.
The trunk is trickier. When you have a chainsaw (and extra importantly, know how one can use it safely), slicing the trunk into small rounds hurries up decomposition considerably. With out energy instruments, you need to use a handsaw, but it surely’s going to take some effort.
Another choice is to make use of the trunk for one thing else solely, like backyard edging or rustic decor, and simply compost the branches and needles. When you have entry to a chipper, you may flip the trunk into wooden mulch on your backyard beds.
Add to Compost
As soon as your Christmas tree is lower up, it’s time so as to add it to the compost pile. Keep away from piling every part on prime in a single huge layer. It received’t break down effectively.
As an alternative, distribute the tree materials all through your pile if potential. Combine branches and needles in with different compost supplies. This helps every part break down extra evenly.
In case your pile is already fairly full, you would possibly want to show it first to create area for the tree materials. That is really a great alternative, since turning aerates the pile and hurries up the composting course of total. Work the tree items in as you flip fairly than including them unexpectedly.
For bigger branches that received’t break down shortly, take into account putting them close to the underside of the pile the place they’ll have extra time to decompose. The smaller items and free needles can go anyplace since they’ll break down sooner no matter placement.
For those who’re feeling lazy, there’s nothing mistaken with merely including the piles of needles on prime. However if you’d like your compost to be environment friendly and break down shortly, some effort now goes a good distance.
Layer with Inexperienced Supplies
Since Christmas timber in compost are principally carbon-heavy brown materials, they want nitrogen-rich greens to stability them out and pace up decomposition. With out sufficient greens, your pile would possibly sit there for months with little or no exercise.
Layer your tree materials with kitchen scraps, contemporary grass clippings, or different nitrogen-rich supplies. These greens present the gasoline that microorganisms want to interrupt down all that woody carbon.
For those who’re composting your tree in winter, contemporary greens may be more durable to return by. Save vegetable scraps from vacation cooking, use espresso grounds, and even add a little bit of completed compost from a earlier batch to introduce energetic microorganisms. As you add branches and needles, alternate with no matter inexperienced supplies you’ve got entry to. This creates the precise atmosphere for energetic decomposition.
Water Your Compost
Christmas timber are fairly dry by the point they arrive down after weeks indoors. That dryness can really decelerate the composting course of, since microbial exercise wants moisture to perform.
After including your tree materials, give the pile a great watering. Dry pockets in your compost pile basically go dormant and received’t break down till situations enhance.
By means of winter and early spring, verify your pile’s moisture stage periodically. Rain would possibly present sufficient moisture in some climates, however in the event you’re in a drier space or your pile is underneath cowl, it’s possible you’ll have to water often to maintain decomposition energetic.
The tree materials will break down slowly over a number of months, progressively turning into darkish, crumbly compost that’s prepared to enhance your backyard soil.