Garden experts recommend you keep this one Christmas item instead of throwing it away.
This one item can help protect your plants(Image: Richard Stephen via Getty Images)
Christmas has come and gone, leaving many households scratching their heads over what to do with their tree.
If you splashed the cash on a genuine tree this year, getting rid of it properly can prove quite the headache.
But before you bin it, there’s a brilliant way to put your discarded decoration to work keeping your garden flourishing throughout the chilly months ahead.
According to Eflorist’s gardening guru David Denyer, that abandoned Christmas tree could be an absolute game-changer for your outdoor space – provided you know the right approach.
He explained: “Many people don’t realise just how valuable a Christmas tree becomes once the decorations come down.”
Rather than hauling it straight to the tip, David suggests first removing all those pine needles, which can work wonders in your garden beds, reports the Express.
Pine needles can be a great help in the garden(Image: Getty)
The expert revealed: “Once mulched, the needles and branches of a Christmas tree can help your garden soil retain moisture, suppress any weeds, and gradually enrich the soil as they decompose.”
He added: “A layer of mulch during January or February will also help protect any plant roots from frost, giving plants extra protection during the coldest weeks of winter while preparing the garden for early spring growth.”
What’s more, your old Christmas tree could be exactly what certain plants are crying out for.
Their naturally acidic properties mean crops like blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons will absolutely lap up the benefits. Pine trees are brilliant for these plants, as they thrive in acidic environments – but they’re fantastic for other vegetation as well.
Your Christmas tree could be a huge help for weeds(Image: Getty)
David explained: “Gardeners shouldn’t worry about Christmas tree mulch dramatically altering soil pH. As pine needles break down, they quickly neutralise, meaning you can safely use them around most shrubs, perennials, and fruit bushes.”
The inherently spiky pine needles serve as an excellent barrier against slugs and snails.
For those keen to repurpose their festive fir in the garden, the most efficient approach to mulching a tree involves shredding it completely.
Should you have a garden shredder to hand, utilise it to transform the entire tree into mulch.
Without one, simply spread your tree across a tarpaulin and let the needles drop off naturally.
This process typically takes several days, after which you can distribute them around shrubs as a gentle mulch.
The leftover branches can be chopped manually and incorporated into your compost pile, or arranged to form a wildlife-friendly refuge in the garden.
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