Real Christmas trees can have environmental benefits

Suggested Intro:

SOME PEOPLE AVOID FRESH CHRISTMAS TREES BECAUSE THEY THINK CUT TREES ARE NOT ECOLOGICALLY FRIENDLY. BUT AN EXPERT IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES SAYS REAL TREES CAN PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS. CHUCK GILL HAS MORE:

Story:

(:09) IF YOU’RE CONCERNED THAT HAVING A REAL CHRISTMAS TREE ADDS TO THE COMMUNITY’S POST-HOLIDAY WASTE-DISPOSAL BURDEN, YOU SHOULD CONSIDER USING IT TO BENEFIT YOUR LANDSCAPE INSTEAD.

(:16) PENN STATE PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF HORTICULTURE LARRY KUHNS SAYS IF YOU HAVE A WOODED AREA OR OTHER APPROPRIATE PLACE ON YOUR PROPERTY, PUTTING THE ENTIRE TREE OUT TO DECOMPOSE CAN PROVIDE HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE. AND KUHNS SAYS WITH PROPER HANDLING, CUT TREES ALSO CAN PROVIDE BENEFITS FOR ORNAMENTAL PLANTS:

Kuhns Actuality:

(:17) "ANY HOMEOWNER CAN CUT THE BRANCHES OFF THE TREE AND JUST PLACE THEM AROUND ANY PLANTINGS OF FLOWERS OR SHRUBS THEY HAVE AROUND THE HOME, AND USE THEM AS A MULCH. THE TRUNK CAN JUST BE PLACED SOMEWHERE OUT OF SIGHT AND WITHIN A FEW YEARS IT WILL TOTALLY DECOMPOSE."

(:11) KUHNS ALSO NOTES THAT THE FARMS WHERE CHRISTMAS TREES ARE GROWN PROVIDE ECOLOGICAL SERVICES SUCH AS EROSION CONTROL, ATMOSPHERIC OXYGEN AND WILDLIFE HABITAT. FROM PENN STATE, I'M CHUCK GILL.