After the holidays, it's time to pack up those Christmas decorations and take down the tree. Artificial trees can be used year after year, but real trees only last one season. Instead of throwing it out, recycle your tree! Sometimes they can be turned into mulch, or be used for other things. The Ludington State Park uses old Christmas trees picked up in the city of Ludington to help prevent land erosion. If you live in the city of Ludington, you can set out your Christmas tree right after Christmas through the month of January and it will be picked up to be recycled.

In Hamlin Township, residents may drop off their Christmas Tree during the month of January at the Hamlin Township Transfer Site on W. Dewey Road. Please remove all decorations, tinsel, stand, etc from tree. Hamlin Township Residents only; signature, address and phone number required. One tree per family/address. The hours are Wednesday and Saturday from 9am-5pm.

In Oceana County, Lewis Farm Market & Petting Zoo will accept Christmas trees to be recycled from December 25, 2014-January 25, 2015. Their goats and critters will munch on the trees (it's a great treat!) and anything leftover will be chipped into mulch. When dropping off the tree, you can enter to win a VIP membership for 2015 by taking a picture of you with the tree at the drop off site and email it to Betty@LewisFarmMarket.com. They will post it on Facebook in their contest album. The picture that gets the most votes wins a VIP pass for the coming year. Of course, if you get your friends to vote for your picture, that might just help you win. Lewis Farm Market & Petting Zoo is located at 4180 W. M-20 (Stony Lake Road), New Era MI 49446.

Ways to Recycle Your Tree at Home

• Cut off the limbs of the tree and use them to protect plants susceptible to windburn, or use them to cover and protect plants that may come up early in the spring and may get nipped or damaged by the cold. They can be used as a sort of blanket to protect plants from the freezing temperatures and harmful winter weather.
• If you or someone you know has a pond, you can sink the tree in the water to provide additional habitat for fish and other pond critters.
• Turn the tree into mulch. Rent a chipper or take your tree to a landscaping company and have them chip it to turn into mulch. It can then be used in gardens to help prevent weeds or to beautify a landscape.
• Next year, purchase a tree that can be planted after you use it for Christmas. Some tree farms grow trees in pots that can then be planted in early spring. This is a great solution because the tree can continue to grow and live. The only downfall is that most potted trees have to be smaller in size to fit in a pot.


Also read our story about Where to Find a Fresh Christmas Tree.





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