Christmas trees add all the beauty of the season to our homes this time of year, but their time will soon come to an end.

Most trees that have been decorated and illuminated for the past month or more will now find themselves being dragged to the curb awaiting trash pick-up. What if the end of the Christmas season didn't necessarily mean the end of your tree's "life"?

99.1 WFMK logo
Enter your number to get our free mobile app

There are so many ways that specially selected Christmas trees we took so much time to pick can serve a purpose, especially in nature and wildlife. Check out these unique uses before tossing your tree.

MAKE IT A WILDLIFE HABITAT FOR BIRDS:

According to The Nature Conservancy of Canada, nature should help you recycle your Christmas tree. Toss your tree in your backyard or prop it near another tree. The birds will find sanctuary amongst the branches. You can try adding pinecones with peanut butter as snack-able "ornaments" for your feathered friends. It provides a haven well into the summer months.

MULCHING:

Probably one of the easiest ways to dispose of your tree without just hauling it to the curb. You can make compost or just woodchips if you choose, both are perfect for keeping your yard or garden healthy and moist until spring.

FISH FEEDER & PROTECTION:

With all the lakes, rivers, and ponds around Michigan, this is a great way to put your tree to some use. Once tossed in the water the tree will start having algae grow on it which becomes a source of food for fish. The tree also becomes a form of protection against predators for the fish too. Be sure to check with the local DNR and authorities to be sure you are cleared to drop your tree in the lake or pond.

GARDEN INSULATOR:

Those branches are perfect for getting a jump on your spring garden planning. Cutting the branches off your tree and laying them across your garden area will protect your garden and flower beds from the harsh winter weather. It's also great for those late freezes we often get since the boughs can protect your plants. If you go the bird sanctuary route, you will find that by spring the needles have fallen off and you will be left with basically only branches. You can still cut the branches and use them in the garden in the early stages of spring growth.

BURN IT TO ASH FOR THE GARDEN:

Sometimes things have different uses in different forms. After you burn the branches of your Christmas tree gather the ashes left behind. The ashes from the tree will make your garden more fertile when spread on the soil.  Wood ash happens to contain potassium and lime which will help your garden plants thrive, and it's eco-friendly. High sapwood is best for outdoor burning so stick to those bonfires.

LOOK: Stunning vintage photos capture the beauty of America's national parks

Today these parks are located throughout the country in 25 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The land encompassing them was either purchased or donated, though much of it had been inhabited by native people for thousands of years before the founding of the United States. These areas are protected and revered as educational resources about the natural world, and as spaces for exploration.

Keep scrolling for 50 vintage photos that show the beauty of America's national parks.

Gallery Credit: Alexander Raeburn

RANKED: Here are the most popular national parks

To determine the most popular national parks in the United States, Stacker compiled data from the National Park Service on the number of recreational visits each site had in 2020. Keep reading to discover the 50 most popular national parks in the United States, in reverse order from #50 to #1. And be sure to check with individuals parks before you visit to find out about ongoing, pandemic-related safety precautions at www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

Gallery Credit: Hannah Lang

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.

Gallery Credit: KATELYN LEBOFF

 

 

More From 99.1 WFMK