One tip I read was to put a plastic tree bag under the tree stand when you set the tree up. After you take the decorations off, you just pull the bag up over the branches and out it goes. Little or no left over needles to clean up. OK, admittedly that would have been helpful before we put up the tree. But I try to plan ahead; I found some tree bags at Flowerland that are biodegradable and should work very nicely next year.

Another related tip: Sweep up as many of the dropped needles as you can with a broom and dust pan. They can clog up your vacuum cleaner.

Once you have the tree out of the house, check with your local department of public works or trash service to see what type of recycling is being offered – usually curb side pick-up or designated drop-off locations. The following local communities are offering tree drop-off events:

Wyoming, Grandville, Grand Rapids (several locations), East Grand Rapids, Walker (3 locations), Kentwood, Courtland Township, Cedar Springs, Alpine Township, Caledonia, Plainfield Township, Lowell Township, Sparta, Kent City and Holland

Each community has its own requirements as far as dates for pick-up/drop-off, bagged/not bagged, who can utilize the location, so you will want to check the web or give them a call for details.

Be aware, if your tree is “flocked,” you won’t be able to recycle it.  A “flocked” tree is one that has been spray-painted white to give it a “wintry” look.

Other ideas for used Christmas trees:

• Put it in your backyard or garden and use it as a bird feeder and sanctuary.  Put fresh orange slices or strung popcorn on it for food; the branches will provide shelter.
• Since a Christmas tree is biodegradable, you can remove the branches, run them through a chipper and use them as mulch in the garden.
• Some people burn their Christmas trees, others say don’t do it. It’s up for debate. Some contend it will contribute to creosote buildup and risk a chimney fire. Others argue that getting your chimney cleaned regularly lessens that problem.

Here are some terms to get us started:

evergreen: An evergreen keeps it color all season. They also have constant foliage. Not all evergreens are pines! Other evergreens include yews, rhododendrons, boxwoods, spruces, firs and hemlocks.

conifer: Cone-bearing woody plants. Examples are cedars, firs, cypresses, junipers, larches, pines, redwoods, spruces and yews.

Yews are a conifer, even though they don't have what we think of as a traditional cone. The fleshy aril which surrounds the seed has been classified as a highly modified seed cone scale.

Not all conifers are evergreens (Tamaraks loose their needles).  Some evergreens aren’t conifers (Rhododendrons).

Rhododendrons are not cone-bearing, however they have perpetual foliage making them an evergreen but not a conifer.

What is a pine?

An evergreen. A pine is a coniferous (cone-bearing) tree.  Their needles come in bundles of two to five, and are attached by a papery wrap called a fascicle.

This is an Austrian pine (Pinus nigra). You can see that the needles are attached in bundles and have a papery coating at the base, typical of a pine.

What is a spruce?

An evergreen. A spruce is also a coniferous (cone-bearing) tree.  Their needles are attached  to the stem singly.

This is a Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens). Note that each single needle is attached directly to the stem. Spruces also tend to have very stiff, and sharp needles.

What is a Fir?

An evergreen conifer.  They can be identified by their soft foliage attached  by a suction-cup shaped base, and erect cones. Some Firs include Frasier Fir,  Noble Fir, Red Fir, Balsam Fir and Siberian Fir. Douglas Fir are not considered a true fir because they belong to a different genus. Firs also tend to have dense, tight cones.

This picture of a Frasier Fir shows the soft and rounded tip foliage and dense cone of a Fir. You can also see the winged seeds developing in the cone. When mature, the seeds will look like papery tails hanging out of the cone.

What is a Hemlock?

Evergreen conifers belonging to the genus Tsuga.  Hemlocks can handle shade and are very drought tolerant. Around West Michigan you can see them growing on the slopes of our Maple-Beech forest ravines. They have light, wispy apperance to the branches, and soft leaves (note that they are not classified as needles).

The Hemlock is a beautiful tree with soft foliage. Note the leaves growing from main stem. Hemlocks are commonly used for wood pulp and in leather tanning.

I hope that this has begun to clear things up a bit… Practice your pine and evergreen spying as you shop for your trees and wreaths this winter and are wandering in the woods this fall!