Canada's Christmas tree farms produce over three million pine, spruce and fir trees each year -- and most of them are simply abandoned at the curb soon after Santa makes his annual visit.
Now, the Nature Conservancy of Canada is suggesting that people should instead haul their tree to the backyard, to help nature and learn a bit about ecology.
Most municipalities have programs to chip and compost old Christmas trees, but Dan Kraus, senior conservation biologist with the Nature Conservancy says residents have an opportunity to make the most of their old tree.
He advocates people put their used Christmas trees in the backyard where backyard birds can use it, especially if you have a birdfeeder. He says birds will land in the tree before they go to the feeder. Some of them may even stay in it at night to get some shelter.
Kraus says over winter, many of the needles will fall off, and by spring the tree will be ready to introduce to the soil.
He suggests cutting off the branches in the spring and laying them on the ground around flowers.