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Christmas trees bring holiday cheer, but they can continue to provide benefits after the season, according to Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini.

Old Christmas trees can be placed in a corner of a deck or tied to a tree or post near a bird feeder to provide birds with shelter from predators like hawks or cats and protection from cold winds.

Trees can also enhance pond ecosystems by serving as habitat for fish. When sunk into a pond, the branches act like a coral reef, giving water plants a surface to grow on and providing cover for minnows and other small aquatic life. Sinking a tree is simple: tie a cinder block to the base with a short, sturdy rope and lower it into the water, with permission from the pond owner.

Christmas trees can also be dried and used as firewood, though conifers tend to spark and pop more than hardwoods due to resin pockets in the wood.

Many municipalities offer a convenient option for disposal, allowing residents to place trees on the curb for pickup, after which they are burned or ground into mulch.