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Can I Burn My Christmas Tree?
AS THE FESTIVE SEASON COMES TO AN END AND WE TAKE DOWN OUR STOCKINGS AND START PUTTING BAUBLES BACK INTO BOXES, THERE IS ONE SOMEWHAT LARGER DECORATION NOT SO EASILY DEALT WITH
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Iam of course talking about your Christmas tree. A question I get asked a lot this time of year is what should you do with your festive centerpiece, more specifically, can you burn your Christmas tree? The answer? Well yes, but no. Christmas trees traditionally are pine conifers. A lot of you have likely heard that you should never burn pine or other conifer trees as they are full of sap and resins and are likely to cause your chimney to ‘tar up’. Although it is true that conifer trees do have increased concentrations of resins in them compared to their deciduous counterparts, so long as your fire is burning at a high enough temperature (get yourself a stovepipe thermometer if you’re not sure), these will combust just like the other compounds found in all natural woods and therefore won’t cause any problems for your chimney. Most of us are quite aware that even the best, most dense hardwoods require seasoning, and your Christmas tree is no exception to this. The pine needles from your tree will dry out somewhat during the festive season due to their high surface area but even these will need two to three months to dry out before they can go anywhere near your fire. Even so, you will find that when a Christmas tree is burnt, the initial blaze can be incredibly hard to control. Due to the high surface area, any available heat will be given off very
By Kristian Jennings
Kristian of Jennings Chimney Sweeping specializes in Chimney problem diagnosis and is a member of the Guild of Master Chimney Sweeps
quickly. The flame from when the fuel first catches can be rather intense and can cause a huge spike in the flue gas temperature, which in turn, could lead to a fire in the chimney if the flames are drawn up the flue. At most, a couple of sprigs, no more than a handful, could be burnt. Ideally these would be used just as kindling but doing so would of course take a very long time to dispose of the tree. Although the initial heat given from your Christmas tree is quite intense, ultimately, with the tree not being very dense and most of its volume being created from needles and thin branches, there is not much heat energy stored in the fuel and as such, the advantage of burning your tree is not great. We spoke earlier this year about what to burn to keep warm in winter. We are incredibly lucky where we all live to have an abundance of good, seasoned oak at very reasonable prices available to us. We also spoke about compressed logs, a great way to start a fire and to keep your flue gas temperature high with very little effort. Be mindful if you are burning leftover wrapping paper. Like your Christmas tree, we wouldn’t recommend you put it on your fire, however, if you do, make sure it is scrunched into balls or twisted, to reduce the chance it is carried up your chimney where it could start a fire and again, ideally only use it for kindling. In short, it is not a great idea to burn your Christmas tree in your wood burner or on your open fire, unless it is a few sprigs at a time, alongside your kindling. If replanting is not an option, make sure to check what collection and recycling services are available where you live. You can either ask your mairie, or contact your local déchèterie directly who should have a system in place. Many of them offer a recycling/composting service for Christmas trees. Alternatively, if you have a compost bin or heap, then you could break up your tree and add it to t he compost. If, however, you have an artificial tree, then make sure to look at ways of keeping them for future Christmases so they don’t end up in landfill where they can take centuries to decompose. Ensure it is packed away carefully and stored in a place it can’t be damaged. If you really want to set alight to your holiday timber, ask for permission from your mayor to have a bonfire and watch your tree sizzle and burn outside, perhaps with a glass of mulled wine, if you have any left…
Ways to Recycle Your Christmas Tree
▪If you have a garden, you can turn your tree into compost or run it through a shredder to make mulch. ▪ Fallen needles can also be used as mulch. Placed at the base of plants such as hydrangeas and rhododendrons, the needles will retain freshness by limiting evaporation and will slow down the growth of weeds. ▪ Although fir is not the best firewood, it can end up in the fireplace after drying. The needles are a good fire starter. ▪ After 6 months of drying in the garden shed, barbecue owners can also burn their Christmas tree at a barbecue party! The cut branches will make a good ember with charcoal. ▪ Bring your conifer to your local déchèterie where it will be recycled into compost, firewood or shredded. Collection points are sometimes organized in town to avoid the trip. Ask at your town hall for information! ▪ Potted Christmas trees can be replanted in the garden to be used again the following year. Preferably plant the tree on a frostfree day and moisten the root ball well. The addition of potting soil is recommended. ▪ If you don't have a garden and you have a Christmas tree in a root ball, you can always offer it to a landscaper who will place it in a plantation, to a neighbour or to a forest owner.
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