Christmas Tree Recycling

As the Christmas season comes to an end and the decorations are being packed away, we wonder how to dispose of our real Christmas trees. Horkans have 2 environmentally friendly options for you to consider. Firstly, we recommend Christmas tree recycling. Secondly, you can use your old Christmas tree in the garden as a garden structure or to protect new shoots from the frost. 

Real Christmas Tree
Christmas Tree Recycling
Christmas Tree Bark Mulch

Option 1. Recycle Your Christmas Tree

Local authorities throughout the country offer free recycling of real Christmas trees. Real Christmas trees can be recycled into bark mulch. Bark mulch is an organic material that can be used to suppress weeds, in shrub beds and around trees. Local authorities use the bark mulch in local communities throughout the country. It helps to keep shrub beds and borders weed free. 

Those who bought Christmas Trees from any of our Garden Centres you nearest recycle points and details can be found in the following links: 

Mayo

Galway

Wicklow

Sligo (No information available)

This year, the car park at Horkans Turlough (Mayo)  is a designated drop off zone. Just drop your tree into the store before Saturday, January 20th and we will look after it for you. If you cannot get into either of these stores then contact your local county council for information on your nearest Christmas tree recycling centre.

Option 2. Reuse Christmas tree in the garden!

Firstly isn't wonderful to see the Spring bulbs shooting up through the soil - it is a comforting sign that Spring is nearly here!  However during the frosty cold snaps we see after Christmas, we need to protect these new shoots.   Simply cut branches from the tree and place over the shoots.  The sun light will still get through but the branches will help protect from the cold frost! 

A second option is to replant the tree in your garden along fences and borders. It can be used as a garden structure for Scented Sweet Peas or Climbing Nasturtiums to grow on this summer. This will create the perfect wigwam of Scented Sweet Peas which flower from June to October. They can be cut fresh from your garden as a scented bouquet for your home. Simply secure your Christmas tree in a bright location in the garden and plant some seeds around the base. The climbing plants will scramble up through the tree, smothering it with beautiful flowers.

Climbing Nasturtium

Climbing Nasturtium

Scented Sweet Pea

Scented Sweet Pear

Now that's a fantastic way to get 2021 off to a good and green start!

Have you got a gardening question on your mind? Just contact your local store where one of our helpful and knowledgeable staff will be happy to help and answer any questions you may have.