If you have a Christmas tree with roots, and could use a few tips on planting it, American Forests provides detailed information about tree planting.

Over the past few years, we’ve recycled ours by either sinking it in our pond, where it serves as a refuge for our pet-like bass; or by cutting off the branches and placing them on the ground under the bird feeder, to provide shelter from the wind for visiting birds.

Each year, 10 million Christmas trees end up in the landfill. If you don’t have a yard, you can still recycle your tree — many cities offer programs to turn your tree into mulch or wood chips. Call (800) CLEANUP or visit www.earth911.org to find a tree-recycling program near you.

If you do have a garden, you could prune off the branches and place the boughs over perennials as a winter mulch. Or, chip the tree and use this as a mulch around other trees, shrubs, or in flower beds.

UPDATE: MULCHFEST takes place January 7 & 8, 2012 from 10:00a to 2:00p…NYC residents can take their Christmas trees to various sites throughout the 5 boroughs, where holiday trees will be morphed into mulch. Certain locations will offer free mulch to those who “chip in” their trees. Visit the NYC Parks & Recreation site for details.