News Release 526

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES PROVIDES
ADVICE FOR DEALING WITH CHRISTMAS TREES

Volume 34-526

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, NOV. 29, 2006 -- As the holiday season approaches, many people in Missouri look forward to time spent with family, friends and good food. Part of the festivities may include a live Christmas tree, beautifully trimmed and with presents stuffed underneath.

But what happens when the holidays are over? The tree has to go somewhere, and they are banned from going to landfills in Missouri. However, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has a few suggestions on what you can do with your Christmas tree.

One of the most popular options for managing old trees is to chip them for mulch or as an additive to a compost pile. Mulch reduces weeds, helps to regulate soil temperature, and Increases moisture retention. Many cities and towns offer tree-chipping services after the holidays, so check with your local Public Works or Sanitation Department to find out.

A unique way to deal with your tree would be to turn it into a fish habitat in your private lake or fishing pond. Once submerged, a Christmas tree provides a habitat for water insects, which attract smaller fish, which in turn attract larger fish. To make your tree into a fish habitat, secure a cement block to the stump end of the tree with quarter-inch nylon rope. Ideally, the top of the tree will be four to six feet below the surface.

If you do not have access to your own lake or pond, you may wish to contact both private and public owners of lakes and ponds to see if they would be interested in creating a fish habitat. However, it should be noted that some such projects may require a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers, so check with the owner.

Another option would be to create a brush pile. Brush piles can be a home for small forest animals. In rural areas, the ideal place for a brush pile would be near the border of an open field. In suburban areas, the undeveloped portions of backyards also make good locations for a brush pile. However, your town may have local ordinances regarding such projects, so check before beginning.

To construct a brush pile, begin with a large base such as big rocks, logs or stumps. Stack the trees in a rectangular shape to height of about six feet. Obviously, this will require more than one tree, so try to work with friends and community members on building your brush pile. Some general things to remember about reusing your tree:

Through proper management, a reused Christmas tree may be a gift that keeps giving to the environment for years to come.

For more information on treecycling contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Solid Waste Management Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5401 or visit the department's Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/swmp.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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