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With Christmas almost here, K-State fisheries and aquatics Extension specialist, Joe Gerken, explains how Christmas trees can be repurposed beyond holiday décor.

“Christmas trees are on the top of a lot of people’s minds right now,” said Gerkin. “So, when you’re done with your Christmas tree, if it’s a live tree, it’s a good use for your Christmas tree to be put in a pond if you have one. It can create a lot of habitat and provide a lot of ecological benefits. Instead of just throwing it away or getting rid of it another way, we can get some more use out of that Christmas tree, let its life live on”

Gerken says to safely use Christmas trees as fish habitat in ponds, first, remove all ornaments, tinsel, and any man-made decorations. Sprays such as scents can be harmful to aquatic life, so it’s best to avoid adding treated trees to your pond. A plain, dried-out tree, however, can provide excellent habitat and benefits for fish. Once the tree is cleaned, simply place it in the pond, and it can serve as effective fish habitat.

He stresses the importance of properly anchoring the tree so it sinks to the bottom or is secured along the edge of the pond to benefit fish populations. “One of the really important things to remember as we’re preparing our Christmas tree is that if we just put a tree into our pond without any weight it’s going to float and it’s going to be blown to shore,” said Gerkin. “So, we want to make sure that we anchor that down. A cinder block is commonly used, tied or cabled to the tree. It helps to bring it down to the bottom where it can be used by different fish.”

Placing a Christmas tree along the edge of a pond can also be beneficial. The trees create habitat for very small fish, especially in shallow areas. In the spring, when fish begin to breed, the branches provide shelter for young fish, giving them a safe place to hide and grow.