Don't Forget

You can’t beat the look and the scent of a real Christmas tree, but what on earth do you do with it once the festive season is over? It seems such as waste to throw them out with the rubbish after just a few weeks of use. Here’s some ideas for making the best use of your unwanted tree:

• If your tree is the potted type, try keeping it alive for next year, either by replanting it in your garden or repotting it into a larger pot with new compost. Unfortunately, many live trees just don’t seem to last the full year after being replanted , as the weeks spent indoors in a small pot over Christmas can do their roots irreparable damage. Smaller trees seem to last better than larger ones, so if you want your potted tree to last, go for something small and tasteful.
• Many local councils now offer tree recycling schemes, where they will either collect unwanted Christmas trees from outside your house or accept them at your local tip. The trees are then mulched and reused as compost. Check your local council’s website for details of schemes they might be running this year.
• If you’re the green fingered type, you could try mulching your tree yourself. If you’ve got a compost heap, you can add the pine needles for composting. Pine needles are very acidic though, so sprinkle some wood ash on top to raise the pH of your compost. Or if you don’t have a compost heap you can spread the pine needles around plants in your garden that prefer acidic soil, such as rhododendron and holly.
• Use a wood chipping machine to turn the trunk and bigger branches into woodchips. If you haven’t got one yourself, ask around if you can borrow one from a friend who does. These chips can then be spread around your flowerbeds, creating an attractive covering that discourages weeds and helps to keep the soil damp.
• Pine needles can be dried, crumbled and then sewn into cotton pockets to make lovely smelling pine scented pouches. Put these in your underwear drawer to keep your clothes smelling fresh and clean.
• If sewing isn’t your strong point you could try making pine needle pot pourri instead. Mix a few handfuls of dried pine needles with dried rosemary, a few bay leaves and some dried and crumbled orange peel. Add a few drops of cinnamon oil and mix well, then display in an attractive dish.
• Pine needles can be used to spice up your drink too. Try flavouring your gin with a sprig of Douglas fir for an unusual seasonal tipple. You’ll need a 6-inch sprig that has been thoroughly rinsed and a 70cl bottle of gin. Place the sprig into the bottle, replace the cap and leave it to infuse for 24 hours. Serve with ice, tonic, a slice of lemon and tiny sprig of fir to decorate.