The Eco-Friendly Christmas Tree Conundrum

Mississippi horticulturist Felder Rushing fields your most frequently asked questions about how to have a truly green holiday.  

Are fake trees better for the environment?

No. "They can be reused, but they're not biodegradable," says Rushing. Eventually, artificial trees end up in landfills and stay there for centuries. Another problem: These trees are often made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a plastic that releases harmful dioxins into the air during manufacture. Plus, overseas factories produce most fake trees and ship them great distances, generating high levels of carbon dioxide emissions in transit.

How about a living tree that can be replanted later—is that a good way to go? "It's a nice idea but a bad practice," according to Rushing. "Bringing these trees indoors in the winter is a terrible thing, physiologically speaking. A very small percentage of the trees survive, probably less than one in 10."

But if I buy a fresh tree, aren't I contributing to deforestation? "Nope. These plants are farmed specifically to be Christmas trees," explains Rushing, who adds that they're typically a low-pesticide crop. "In fact, you're supporting local agriculture when you buy one grown in your area." (Find farms at localharvest.org.) After the holidays, most towns offer to turn the trees into compost or wood chips for free. Check earth911.com for a list of recycling centers near you.

Recycle Your Christmas Tree
Trim the boughs from your Christmas tree and use them to blanket perennial bed and shrubs that need protection from harsh Winter wind and extreme dips in temperature.
Chip the entire tree and use the wood chips to mulch flower beds or to cushion garden paths. Many municipalities nationwide chip trees free or charge on designated dates. To find a location, visit
earth911.org .

Create a habitat for fish by submerging Christmas trees (weight the trunk so it will sink) in ponds and lakes on your property. Or place a tree on the edge of your property where it can provide food and shelter for insects, small mammals and overwintering birds.