3 Sustainable Ways to Use Holiday Decor in Your Garden
Holiday decorating often feels like choosing sides: you're either an artificial decor family or a natural decor family. Growing up, we were firmly in the artificial crew - our faithful Christmas tree emerged from storage each winter, bringing with it the familiar ritual of straightening bent branches and adjusting faded fake needles. And that always worked for our household.
But as I moved into adulthood and started creating my own holiday traditions, I discovered it wasn't quite so simple. Life in rentals meant constantly adapting to new spaces, and my artificial decorations rarely fit from one home to the next. Year after year, I found myself caught in an unsustainable cycle - buying new decorations, using them briefly, then reluctantly adding them to the growing pile at Goodwill, Facebook Marketplace, or worse, the landfill.
This year, my husband and I decided to break the cycle. Living in less than 500 square feet has taught us the art of "less is more," pushing us to rethink how we celebrate the season. Instead of squeezing in another artificial tree that might not make it to next year, we opted for something different: real cedar garlands. The transformation was immediate and surprising. Fresh greenery framing our kitchen corner window and TV stand brought nature's touch to our everyday spaces, making our tiny home feel a bit cozier without losing any square footage.
But here's the thing about holiday decorating - we often fall into the cycle of buying new decorations each season, using them briefly, and then sending them to the landfill. As a gardener, I've learned to see the potential in everything, including holiday greenery. Why not give these beautiful boughs a second life in our gardens?
Here are three creative ways to repurpose your holiday greenery and give your garden a head start for spring:
1. Make Nature's Free Mulch
Once the holidays wind down, don't toss those fragrant boughs! Strip your garlands and trees of their branches and spread them evenly across your raised beds. These evergreen branches make excellent mulch, helping retain soil moisture and slowly breaking down to enrich your soil. Best of all? It's completely free and puts what you already have to good use, rather than adding another expense to your garden budget.
2. Create Natural Trellises
Before you rush to buy new bamboo stakes or garden trellises for the upcoming growing season, take a closer look at your holiday greenery. The sturdier branches from trees or garlands can be repurposed into natural trellises for your climbing plants. These branches add rustic charm to your garden while providing perfect support for peas, beans, or flowering vines.
3. Build a Pollinator Paradise
Here's my favorite tip: transform your tree trunk or larger branches into a pollinator hotel. Simply drill deep holes of varying sizes into the wood and position it in a busy spot in your garden. This creates perfect nesting spots for native bees and other beneficial insects. It's a wonderful way to support your local ecosystem while giving new purpose to your holiday decor.
A More Sustainable New Year
In the whirlwind of holiday shopping and endless online deals, it's easy to get caught up in the cycle of buying and discarding. But sometimes, the most meaningful actions we can take are the simplest ones. By repurposing our holiday greenery, we're not just reducing waste - we're creating something beautiful and beneficial for our gardens.
When I look at my cedar garlands now, I see more than just holiday decor. I see future mulch that will nourish my spring seedlings, natural trellises that will support climbing vegetables, and homes for the pollinators that will bring my garden to life. It's a beautiful reminder that in gardening, as in life, nothing goes to waste - it just transforms into something new.
What holiday decorations could you give a second life in your garden this year?
