How to Recycle a Christmas Tree Into a Plant Hanger

There are many ways to recycle a fresh Christmas tree after the holidays. You can send them to your community's recycling program, turn them into wood chips, build a wildlife pile or use the logs to border a garden. Another way to recycle the trunk of the Christmas tree is to turn it into a plant hanger. Just follow these steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Christmas pine tree
• Lopper
• Pruning shears
• Wire
• Wire cutter
• Gloves

1. 
   Remove trimmings.

   Remove all the trimmings and decorations from the Christmas tree.

2. 
   Trim branches.

   Trim all the branches, leaving some of the major stems on the trunk. These will serve as the "hooks" from where you will hang your plants. Set aside some long and thick branches for the next steps.

3. 
   Prop the tree with branches.

   Choose four thick branches that you can use to prop up the tree trunk. Tie them to the trunk with wire so that the four branches support the trunk on four sides.

4. 
   Secure the tree base.

   Choose four straight branches to hold the diagonal props in place. Position them horizontally and, using wire, secure them to the base of the support legs as well as to the tree trunk. This will keep the trunk upright.

5. 
   Display your hanging plants.

   Find a location for your plant hanger and display your hanging plants.

6. 
   Decorate your living space.

   Use this all-natural plant hanger to decorate your patio with your favorite plants and colorful accessories.

Tips & Warnings

• A quick and easy alternative to tying cut branches to prop up the recycled tree trunk is to purchase a stable Christmas tree stand.
• This recycling project works best on big and tall Christmas trees because they have big trunks that will be able to support even heavy hanging plants.
• Recycle regular-sized Christmas trees with average trunk sizes into hangers for lightweight and aerial plants like orchids, ferns and bromeliads.
• Consider tying orchids and bromeliads directly onto the tree trunk.
• Consider making plant hangers every year and arranging them into a moveable wall of hanging plants.
• Always wear gloves and eye protection when working with potentially hazardous tools and materials.

Resources

• Clemson Extension: Hanging Baskets and Window Boxes
• GardenForever.com: Traditional Moss Hanging Basket