Christmas evergreens find new purpose as fish habitat

By Steve Moyer

Nevada Daily Mail

The stockings that hung by the fire with care are now empty and bare. Jolly old St. Nick has come and gone, piles of wrapping paper now fill the trash bin awaiting its final trip -- to the dump. The garlands and Christmas tree lights are wound up -- some with care, some not so much. The proud evergreen that began the season with such promise is now dry and used up. So what do you do with a dry tree that sheds worse than a collie with the mange?

The Missouri Department of Conservation has a solution, treecycling. If you have a natural tree that you are finding difficult to get rid of the Department of Conservation has a brochure that has several tips on how to reuse a natural Christmas tree, or find a beneficial use for an artificial tree after the season ends.

With a little imagination, retired trees of each type can be used for more than decorations, they can be of real use, just be sure to completely remove lights, glass ornaments, tinsel and other decorations.

Natural trees can be used as fish habitat, and a local department store has teamed up with the Department of Conservation to make that happen. The northeast corner of the Wal-Mart Supercenter parking lot will have a space set aside where people can drop off Christmas trees.

The trees will either be used as fish habitat created by securing them to concrete blocks under water, or set up as woody cover for other wildlife.

"We take the trees and tie them to concrete blocks with wire and sink them so the fish can use them as cover," Josh Cussimanio, Four Rivers Conservation Area said. "We also use them in brush piles to help provide woody cover for wildlife."

Cussimanio said that the number of trees received by the department varies widely each year. "Last year we only got about 50 trees but there have been years when we got more than 250 trees. We've had years when we advertised and we almost had too many trees to use."

To help out birds and wildlife, set your old tree up in the backyard as a banquet table. Hang edible decorations such as suet, peanut butter balls, ears of corn or clusters of birdseed to attract a colorful and entertaining gathering of birds and squirrels to your backyard.

If you have the space you can discard natural trees to create brush piles like the Department of Conservation. Stacked trees can provide shelter from the wind for small animals and birds. Over time the brush piles break down and decay into compost that can enrich the soil. You can speed up the composting process by running the tree through chipper and using the mulch around plants to conserve soil moisture and reduce water use in the summer.

Although artificial trees last much longer, disposal is more difficult. Ultimately a worn out artificial tree must go to a landfill. Or you may want to consider using it as an outdoor Christmas lighting decoration next year.

For copies of the How to Dispose of Christmas Trees brochure, contact the department's Outreach and Assistance Center by calling (800) 361-4827 or visit the department's Web site atwww.dnr.mo.gov/oac/pubs.htm. For more information on recycling or other solid waste management issues, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/alpd/

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