Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
Now that Christmas is over, it is time to get a fresh start on the new year, and that means starting to think about taking down your holiday décor.
If you have a real Christmas tree, it is best not to wait until it dries out before removing it because dry trees are fire hazards. You want to remove all ornaments and lights as well as your tree stand and skirt before you dispose of the tree. It is a good idea to have a bucket handy to collect any water that may have dripped into your tree stand. You can then use a large plastic garbage bag or blanket or sheet to wrap around your tree to prevent any sap or needles from making a mess on your floors. You can then carry your tree to the curb for yard waste pickup. If you do not have that service, you can contact your local yard waste management to arrange a pickup date. Just make sure the tree is not obstructing any sidewalks or roads.
If you live in an apartment or town home that has a shared dumpster for trash collection, check with your landlord or management company before disposing your live tree in the dumpster.
Inside your home may be a little messy from your live tree, so take caution when cleaning up. It is best to use a broom and dustpan to sweep up any pine needles instead of using your vacuum. Pine needles could clog and damage that brand new vacuum cleaner you got for Christmas.
Inspect your floors and carpet for any water damage from the tree. Watering your tree could have caused water to spill over the tree base or collect in the tree stand. If there is any water damage, make sure to clean it up and then steam any carpeting to prevent mold.
You can even investigate how to recycle your tree in your area. Some recycling centers will allow you to drop off your tree for free and they will chip and shred your tree to be used as mulch. Fun fact: Christmas tree mulch can be used as soft bedding for playgrounds and parks in your community as well as soil erosion barriers for lakes and rivers.
You can also get creative with your live tree and use parts of it for a multitude of home projects, such as:
- Cut pieces of your tree and make ornaments for next year’s tree
- Cut pieces of your tree to make a bird house for your back yard
- Cut pieces of the tree trunk into coasters
- Chip up the trunk of your tree and any branches to make mulch for your spring garden
- Place entire branches under your existing trees and shrubs to be used as winter mulch
- Use evergreen boughs for a base in your compost piles
As the holiday season turns over, do not let the cleanup from Christmas get you down. Refresh your home safely and make sure you take caution when using ladders and dealing with sockets. If you are injured over the New Year’s holiday or any time after, our Florida Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton are here to help. Call us at 866-608-5529 or contact us online for a free consultation. We are available 24/7 over the holidays.
From all of us at Whittel & Melton, Happy New Year! Cheers to 2025!