Oh Christmas Tree!

Real tree or fake tree? That is the question that the Christmas holiday brings around every December.

Fake trees seem to be the more reliable option. You can pick the perfect tree for you. You can choose a flocked tree, a pink tree, a blue tree, a big tree or a small tree. Most of the time, you can find these trees at a local store. To top it all off, a fake Christmas tree lasts the average family six to 10 years. That’s a decade without having to purchase a new Christmas tree.

The issue here is that fake Christmas trees are not biodegradable. A real Christmas tree can be replanted (if bought with the roots still attached), used for a bonfire, turned into mulch or be put in rivers, lakes and ponds for fish to build habitats in.

Your Christmas tree can become the center of a whole ecosystem once it is recycled to the lake. Small insects become attracted to the tree itself, which then attracts small bait fish. The food chain continues, and your sunken tree can support an ecosystem for up to 10 years. The best thing about this is that it becomes a great fishing spot too. You can return to your tree for years and see the benefits of your Christmas tree first-hand.

Many wildlife organizations provide this as an option. You can dump your Christmas tree with a local organization or by yourself. Just be sure to check with them to be informed of the proper drop-off techniques and location. If you are not interested in the process yourself, then you can just drop your tree off with the organization.

A local option is the Chattahoochee River Conservancy. Every year they collect Christmas trees and dump them at Goat Rock Lake. This is a big part of their mission to conserve the Chattahoochee River area.

No matter what Christmas tree you choose this year, have a Merry Christmas!