Each January the last step of the
Christmas tree lifecycle is on display – trees lining the streets
waiting for their final trip to the mulch piles at the village
reclamation facility. However, there are other ways to recycle or
upcycle trees that may come down throughout the year – some
are obvious but others not.
Firewood: Provided the wood
isn’t diseased, keeping the wood to use throughout the year to burn
either inside or out is the most obvious choice for that recycled
tree.
Mulch: Coming in second place is
mulch. Good for retaining moisture and blocking weed growth, mulch is
a natural and attractive option. Once again, make sure the mulch
doesn’t contain insect infestation or mold/disease.
Furniture: For those on the
handy side, upcycled wood can be used to fashion stools, benches,
tables and chairs.
Pathways: Spend 5 minutes on
Pinterest and you’ll see hundreds of examples of how to use log
‘slices’ as decorative paths or even flooring for a rustic look
and feel.
Decoration: Take the pathway and
put it on the wall! Using cross-cuts of logs can be arranged, hung,
painted and/or stained in any pattern or size.
Clocks: Found at every art fair
is the famous ‘wood clock’. Using different colors, sizes and
hardware, convert those cross-cut logs into attractive one-of-a kind
clock!
Art: Picture frames, mobiles,
hooks, stands – endless possibilities.
Vessel: Hollow out a section of
log and use it for a planter, candle, container on the patio or in
the sunroom.
Garden: Use thick branches to
divide your garden into sections; use thin branches to mark
vegetables, note dates or personalize however you see fit.
Fences: Full or partial fences
made from repurposed wood either ripped from the trunk of the tree or
using thicker branches create a natural boundary for your home.
Sculpture: Attention artists –
using tree sections or even the remaining stumps, compelling
sculptures can be created for a unique welcome to your home.
So whether it’s January and you’re
ready to toss that tree out to the curb or its July and you just had
a professional service take down that 130-year old Maple, there are
plenty of ways to recycle other than mulch. Hopefully this list will
help give you get some fun ideas to get started!
