Before taking your Christmas tree to the recycling center this year, consider using it to create backyard habitat for birds. To attract birds, you must provide their three basic needs - food, water, and cover or shelter. Your old Christmas tree will provide excellent shelter for birds, providing protection from wind and predators. It can also serve as a feeding station, where you provide a buffet of food that our native birds love.
But - before taking the tree outside - remove all decorations and lights, including tinsel. To provide the most shelter possible for the birds, place the tree on the south or east side of the house, sheltered from winter's harsh north and west winds. Anchor the tree securely by setting the stump into the ground or a large bucket of damp sand, and securing the top of the tree with twine to nearby building, fence or trees.
Add “Decorations”
Decorate your tree with strings of popcorn, cranberries or raisins. Apples, oranges, leftover bread and pine cones covered with peanut butter then dipped in birdseed can also be added. For best results, push the edible ornaments well into the tree. Popcorn will be attractive to cardinals, finches and grosbeaks. Cranberries and raisins should attract cedar waxwings, finches and any robins wintering in the area.
Suet is especially attractive to insect-eaters such as woodpeckers, chickadees, and nuthatches and is a good winter energy source. Suet seed balls will attract juncos, chickadees, finches and native sparrows.
Press suet into the branches or hang it in mesh bags such as those that contain onions and fruit in the supermarket. It is best to keep suet balls in the shade so they don't melt. Also, keep them high enough in the tree that dogs can't reach them. If you don't want to make your own, pre-made mixtures containing suet, bird seed and a variety of dried fruits, are available at most nurseries, garden centers, pet stores, or bird supply stores.
To make your own suet seed balls, purchase suet from the meat department of your local grocery store. Mix birdseed and a small amount of peanut butter with suet while it’s warm enough to be molded. One seed combination that is attractive to a wide range of desirable songbirds is: 50% sunflower seeds, 35% white proso millet and 15% finely cracked corn. Mold the mixture around a wire hook. Or fill empty orange rind halves with the suet mixture. Pierce two holes near the cut edge of the orange rind then thread a string through to make a hanger. Both the suet ball and orange rind halves can be hung in the tree.
Water is an Added Attraction
Even in winter birds need water to drink and to keep their feathers clean. A birdbath with clean water will attract many birds if the water is not frozen. Commercial immersion heaters keep water from freezing. They are available from many mail order garden suppliers or bird supply stores. Providing for the winter needs of birds can result in many hours of entertainment spent watching these beautiful creatures.
Other Recycling Options
But even if you don’t want to feed the birds, there are several other ways to put your old Christmas tree to good use. Again, remember to remove all lights, decorations and tinsel.
In Lincoln, trees can be taken to several recycling spots throughout Lincoln after the holiday. Collection sites are open from December 25 through January 20, and are located at Ballard, Oak Lake, Seng Park at University Place, Holmes Lake, Tierra, and Woods Parks. These trees will be chipped and used to cover pathways in parks or as mulch for trees in city parks and arboreta. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/lincoln-tree-recycling.
Boy Scout Troop 8 will pick up trees and transport them to a City collection location. Pick up dates are Dec. 26, 28, 29 and Jan. 1, 4, 5 and 11. Trees should be placed at the curb by 9 a.m. for pickup. The service is free, but donations are appreciated. To schedule a pickup, contact Troop 8 at https://scoutingfortrees.com/ or 402-965-1458.
Recycling alternatives for gardeners include the following:
- Prune off the individual branches from the tree and place them over strawberry or flowerbeds as mulch.
- Once the branches are removed, the trunk can be cut for firewood. Firewood quality from evergreen trees is only fair, but one tree will provide a few logs.
- Finally, if there is a pond or lake on your property, your old Christmas tree can be sunk into the water to create habitat for young fish.
Recycle Old Lights, Too!
The 12th Annual Recycle Holiday Lights Drive, sponsored by Eastridge Elementary PTO, is accepting old and non-working light string through January 10, 2025. Funds raised benefit the Eastridge Elementary PTO, Lincoln Firefighters Operation Warm and the Lincoln Public Schools Science Focus Program Booster Club. Drop off locations include,
- Eastridge Elementary School parking lot, 6245 “L” St. – southwest side of the building near the playground
- Lincoln Children’s Zoo Flamingo parking lot, 2847 “A” St. – The bin is located in the southern end of the overflow lot accessed via “A” Street, south of the zoo.
- All Lincoln Fire and Rescue Stations. Visit https://bit.ly/lincoln-fire-stations for a complete listing.
Lights attached to garland and wreaths are accepted only in the Eastridge Elementary parking lot and should be placed in boxes next to the collection bin. Donations must not include boxes, brown paper sacks, plastic bags, ornaments, artificial trees or household trash.