Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue.

Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Welcome! We hope that you enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribe purchase a subscription to continue reading.

Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribe purchase a subscription to continue reading.

Thank you for signing in! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.

Checking back? Since you viewed this item previously you can read it again.

Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.

Please purchase a subscription to continue reading.

Your current subscription does not provide access to this content.

Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code.

Promotional Rates were found for your code.

Overcast. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy late. Low 23F. Winds light and variable.

Whether you keep up your Christmas tree through the New Year or take it down once the presents are opened, Julie Janoski, manager of the Morton Arboretum’s Plant Clinic, recommends planning now for how to dispose of the tree.

Once the halls are undecked and the boughs of holly make their way back to storage, follow these recommendations from the Morton Arboretum.

Dry trees can quickly become fire hazards. Dispose of the tree as soon as it shows signs of drying out. Dry needles will become brittle and start to fall off, and the tree will no longer take up water. Never burn an evergreen tree in a fireplace or woodstove. It may cause creosote buildup that could lead to a chimney fire.

Check with local municipality or waste management company about local tree recycling or disposal arrangements, including when and where trees will be picked up or whether residents need to take their tree to a recycling site. Recycled trees are chipped into mulch or compost. In some municipalities, the fine-smelling mulch that results can be picked up to spread in your garden.

Locally, Kennedy Park, 2427 W. 113th St. and Mt. Greenwood Park, 3721 W. 111th St., will participate in Christmas tree recycling through Saturday, Jan. 7, during normal park hours. Mulch from the trees will be available at Mt. Greenwood Park, beginning Monday, Jan. 9.

Only the actual tree can be recycled. Be sure to remove all decorations, and if using a plastic tree bag to carry the tree from the house, take the bag off the tree outside. Trees that aren’t bare will go to a landfill instead of being recycled. Flocked trees—those covered in white synthetic powder to suggest snow—can’t be recycled; they must be thrown away in regular trash. Don’t try to recycle garlands, wreaths or anything that contains wire, which could damage the shredding machinery. Discard those items in the trash.

Branches cut from your tree can help protect plants in a garden. Laid over garden beds, they will insulate the soil so it doesn’t heat up during winter warm spells and cause plants to come out of dormancy too early. This is most useful in beds that are in full sun.

If space permits, leave the tree in the backyard to provide shelter for birds and other animals during the wintertime, or place the trunk in a pond on your private property to provide shelter for fish.

For more tree and plant care tips for a greener world, visit the website at

Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.

Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.

Would you like to receive our news updates?  Signup today!