Once the holiday season has passed, homeowners still have at least one pretty important job to do: Disposing of the Christmas tree properly.

Kansas State University extension forestry specialist Charles Barden notes many towns in Kansas offer curbside pickup for Christmas trees, which are then ground up for mulch or burned.

Short of that – or if you miss the designated in your community – some other ideas that he offered include:

• Tie the tree to the corner of a backyard deck, deciduous tree or to a post near a bird feeder. Then spread some birdseed. The tree will provide cover for predators and block the wind on cold nights.

• Sink the tree in a pond to improve fish habitat and fishing. The tree serves as a coral reef for minnows and other smaller aquatic life. Larger fish are drawn by the shade and presence of prey.

“To sink a tree, tie the base to a cinder block with a short, stout rope, and toss it in,” Barden said. “Just be sure to get permission from the pond owner first.”

• Clip branches and use them for insulation and mulch for semi-hardy plants like roses. Split and dry the trunk for kindling; however, pitch pockets in the wet wood can explode when burned, sending hot embers up the chimney or across the room. Thus, Barden discourages burning a green Christmas tree inside.

You may also cut and let the tree dry for a few weeks providing some easy lighting firewood. Just beware that most conifer species tend to spark and pop more than hardwoods, as resin pockets in the wood make tiny explosions. This can delight the youngsters, but for safety’s sake, keep an eye on the fire when burning Christmas tree logs!

Alicia Boor is the Agriculture and Natural Resources agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. Contact her by email at aboor@ksu.edu or call 620-793-1910.