Prolong Christmas with 'treecylcing'

Everyone wants to prolong Christmas, but the tree will only last so long before needles start to fall.

So, what can you do with a dying Christmas tree? Make sure all the ornaments and decorations are removed and pick one of the following forms of "treecycling:"

* Send it back to nature. An old Christmas tree can be set up in the back yard as a banquet table for neighborhood birds. Hang edible decorations such as suet, peanut butter balls, ears of corn or clusters of bird seed to attract a colorful and entertaining gathering. Though the tree will still eventually have to be removed from the yard, prolonging its use can prolong the Christmas spirit.

* Let it swim with the fishes. Weighed down by a stone, a collection of trees at the bottom of a pond can benefit fish by creating a habitat for small swimmers and the food they eat. Call someone who owns a farm pond and let them know there's a habitat available in your front room.

* Have it do battle with Jack Frost. If you have the room, a grouping of natural trees can be turned into a brush pile. Stacked trees can provide shelter against harsh winter winds and ice for birds and small animals. Over time the pile will break down and the compost left behind can enrich the soil.

* Make it into mulch. To speed up the natural composting process of the brush pile, a tree can be run through a chipper and used as mulch. The barrier will conserve soil moisture around plants and reduce water use in the summer.

* Give it away. If you'd rather let someone else do the dirty work, there are two options for city-dwellers. Cape Girardeau offers a Christmas tree collection service on Wednesdays for a fee. Call 334-9151 to schedule a pickup. A drop site is also located at the southeast corner of Arena Park through Jan. 31.

And don't forget there are ways to "treecycle" artificial trees, too. Using a pair of pliers, wire limbs can be bent into wreaths and centerpieces for next year's festivities. The limbs can also be placed on a mantel or connected to wrap around staircases and columns. Metal or plastic trees can also be revived as outdoor decorations that will get less up-close scrutiny than their indoor counterparts.

All it takes is a little imagination to keep that tree out of a landfill and give back to nature.