The holidays are over, the decorations are coming down, and now you’re left with a dried-out Christmas tree that served its purpose over the festive season. But before you drag it to the curb, have you considered composting it?
Composting a Christmas tree is an eco-friendly way to dispose of it while benefiting your garden at the same time. The tree will break down into nutrient-rich material that makes excellent fertilizer and mulch for your plants and lawn.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about composting Christmas trees, from preparation to using the finished compost in your yard and garden. Let’s dive in!
Why Compost Your Christmas Tree?
Composting your Christmas tree keeps it out of landfills where it won’t decompose easily and takes up space. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, over 94 million Christmas trees are sold in the U.S. every year. That’s a lot of trees!
By composting, you can give this natural resource a new life as fertilizer and mulch rather than sending it to rot in a dump. The advantages of composting your tree include:
- Keeps trees out of landfills and reduces waste
- Produces rich, organic compost to nourish your garden
- Recycles nutrients back into the earth
- Saves money on buying fertilizers and mulch
- Lowers your carbon footprint through recycling
On top of the environmental benefits, composting your Christmas tree is easy and free. Once you learn the steps, you’ll have quality compost and mulch ready to use year after year.
What You’ll Need
Composting your Christmas tree doesn’t require any special equipment. Here are the basic supplies you’ll need:
- Christmas tree (real, not artificial)
- Pruners, loppers, or handsaw
- Tarp or large piece of cardboard
- Pitchfork or shovel
- Compost bin or pile
- Water source
- Nitrogen fertilizer or source (manure, blood meal, grass clippings)
Make sure you remove all decorations, lights, and tinsel from the tree before composting. The materials and chemicals could contaminate the compost.
A chipper can be handy for reducing the branches into small pieces but isn’t essential. You can break them down manually or by running a lawn mower over the branches.
Choosing a Compost Method
You have a couple options for how to compost your Christmas tree. The method you choose depends on whether you have an existing compost pile or bin.
Compost Pile
Composting your tree in an open pile is straightforward. You’ll build layers of tree pieces, nitrogen sources like grass clippings, and water as it composts. The pile should be at least 3′ x 3′ x 3′ (1 cubic yard) to generate enough heat for decomposition.
Find an out-of-the-way spot in your yard to compost the tree. Directly on the soil works well so nutrients can seep into the ground.
Compost Bin
If you already compost in a closed bin, you can add your Christmas tree to it. Ideally, the bin should be around 1 cubic yard or more to accommodate the tree.
Cut the branches and trunk into small, 1-2 inch pieces so they’ll break down faster. Mix the tree pieces into your existing compost, adding extra nitrogen sources like manure or food scraps.
Trench Composting
Another option is to bury the tree in trenches around your yard. Dig trenches about 12-18 inches deep in garden beds and lawns. Place whole branches in the trenches, cover with soil, and let them compost over time.
The branches will take 1-2 years to fully decompose but will provide organic matter and nutrients. Mark where you bury the branches so you don’t accidentally dig them up later.
How to Compost Your Christmas Tree
Follow these steps for successful Christmas tree composting:
1. Remove Decorations, Stand, and Trunk
Before getting started, carefully remove all ornaments, hooks, tinsel, lights, and garland from the tree. These materials don’t decompose and can contaminate the finished compost.
Also remove the tree stand and about an inch off the bottom of the trunk which has likely dried out.
2. Chop Up the Tree
The more you break down the tree, the faster it will compost. Start by cutting the branches into smaller sections, around 1-3 feet long.
Use loppers, pruners, or a handsaw to take the branches off the main trunk. Remove remaining smaller limbs and cut the trunk into 1-2 foot segments.
For easier chopping, lay the pieces on a tarp or cardboard before cutting. The smaller you can make the pieces, the better. Aim for 1-2 inch diameter branches and sticks.
3. Run Over Pieces with Lawn Mower (Optional)
For faster breakdown, you can run over the tree pieces with a lawn mower. This will shred the tree into fine particles that compost quickly.
Place the chopped pieces in the path of the mower and go back and forth over them. Wear protective eyewear when doing this for safety.
4. Add Tree to Your Compost Pile
Once prepped, it’s time to add the tree to your compost. If using an existing pile, mix the tree pieces in layers as you build the pile.
For a new pile, start with a 4-6 inch base layer of wood chips, leaves, sawdust, or straw. Place 6-12 inches of tree pieces on top.
Alternate thin layers of tree with nitrogen sources like manure, grass clippings, or chicken pellets. Water each layer as you build.
5. Maintain Temperature and Moisture
Active compost piles need the right conditions to aid decomposition. The ideal temperature range is 130-160°F, and moisture should be like a wrung-out sponge.
Use a compost thermometer to monitor the temperature. Turn and mix the pile weekly to distribute heat and moisture.
Water occasionally if the pile becomes dry. Don’t saturate it, as too much moisture removes oxygen. Proper aeration and moisture will speed up composting.
6. Check Progress and Finish Composting
Depending on conditions, composting the tree can take 4-12 months. The pieces will shrink and darken as they break down.
When the tree is no longer recognizable, the compost is finishing. Finished compost is dark, crumbly, and has an earthy smell.
At this point, you can screen out any large pieces that need more time and use the dark, crumbly compost in your garden!
Using Christmas Tree Compost
The effort of composting your Christmas tree pays off with nutritious compost for your lawn and garden. Here are some ways to use it:
- Mulch around plants: Spread 1-3 inches of shredded tree pieces or finished compost as mulch to suppress weeds, retain moisture, and add organic matter to the soil as it breaks down further.
- Mix into garden beds: Blend Christmas tree compost into vegetable and flower gardens in spring and fall. It provides a slow-release nutrient boost.
- Topdress lawns: Add a thin layer of fine tree compost or mulch over lawn grass to feed the soil.
- Potting mix ingredient: Mix up to 25% tree compost into potting soil for containers and raised beds.
- Tree and shrub beds: Use composted Christmas trees as a nutritious topdressing for trees, shrubs, and perennials.
- Pathway material: Coarser mulched tree pieces make an attractive path material that will gradually enrich the soil beneath.
Follow these best practices when using Christmas tree compost:
- Test compost maturity before applying to gardens
- Apply 1-3 inches max as mulch around plants
- Mix no more than 25% compost into potting soil
- Add nitrogen if used for potting mixes or lawns
Common Questions about Christmas Tree Composting
Composting your Christmas tree may be new to you. Here are answers to some common questions on the process:
Can you compost a Christmas tree with lights on it?
No, always remove lights, ornaments, tinsel, and decorations first. The materials could leach chemicals, metals, and microplastics into the compost. Natural decorations like cranberries and popcorn should be removed too.
Do you need a chipper to compost a Christmas tree?
A wood chipper makes quick work of breaking down a tree but isn’t necessary. You can chop the tree manually using pruners, loppers, and a saw. A lawn mower also works for shredding the tree pieces finely.
How long does it take to compost a Christmas tree?
Expect the tree to fully compost in 4-12 months depending on the size and conditions. The more you shred the pieces, the faster the tree will decompose. Maintaining heat and moisture accelerates the process. Turning the pile weekly prevents compacting and speeds decomposition.
Can you compost Christmas tree needles?
Yes, pine needles can be composted but break down slowly due to their waxy coating. Shred the needles to speed decay or use them as a carbon browns source in your compost pile. Limit thick layers of needles which resist decomposition.
What can’t be composted from a Christmas tree?
Avoid composting Christmas lights, ornaments, tinsel, flocking, and decorative sprays on the tree. Remove these before composting. The chemicals and metals can contaminate the finished compost. Only compost the natural tree pieces.
Does pine wood make soil acidic?
This is a common myth – pine needles and wood do not acidify soil. Pine trees prefer acidic soil but don’t directly make soil more acidic as they decompose. Feel free to compost pine wood chips, needles, and trees.
Can you compost a Christmas tree in a worm bin?
Worm composting Christmas trees is not recommended. The woody material is difficult for worms to digest, and pine needles can inhibit worm activity. Stick to compost piles or trenches which get hot enough to break down the tree.
Are there other uses for a Christmas tree besides composting?
If you don’t want to compost your tree, here are a few other green uses:
- Yard brush shelter for birds
- Decorative garden mulch
- Firewood or wood chips
- Donate for dune restoration
- Craft projects like wreaths
- Drop off for community mulch programs
Enjoy the Benefits of Christmas Tree Compost!
Composting your Christmas tree is a time-tested practice that benefits your garden in so many ways. By recycling this resource onsite, you’ll help the environment while making free fertilizer for your plants and lawn.
We’ve covered the complete process from start to finish, including preparation, composting methods, maintenance, troubleshooting, and using the finished compost.
Just remember to remove decorations, shred the tree, build proper layers, monitor conditions, and use mature compost. With a little effort upfront, you’ll get excellent results.
This season, give your Christmas tree new life by composting it for a healthier, more sustainable garden. Turn an item destined for the landfill into “green gold” for your yard and plants!