Christmas is over and the presents are open so why is your tree still up? There are several options for disposing of that needle shedder if you went all natural this year — none of which involve leaving it up until March.

Getting rid of your live tree sooner rather than later is prudent because Christmas tree fires often result in death. According to the National Fire Prevention Association, roughly one of every 34 reported home fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in a death. That’s nearly five times the rate compared to an average of one death per 142 total reported home fires.

The easiest way to see if a tree is beginning to get too dry is when many needles begin to drop off and surround the tree. These needles also can become a fire hazard if they clump around electrical cords.

The most surefire way to ensure an old tree doesn’t go up in flames, though, is to get it out of the house as soon as the holiday festivities are through.

You could cut your Christmas tree up and throw it in the garbage, said Hugh Whaley of the National Christmas Tree Association, but he advises against it.

Christmas trees are biodegradable so they will fare fine in a landfill, but if recycled, they’ll benefit the environment much faster, Whaley said. They’re are often turned into mulch, which can be used for yards and flower beds.

For those who would prefer to dispose of their trees at home, it can be treated much like other garden waste, according to a press release from Indiana State Fire Marshal Jim Greeson.

Greeson warns people not to lean trees up against structures, but instead keep them in a separate decomposition pile.

Another option is to place the tree in a garden or backyard to provide shelter for birds and other wildlife.

Communities throughout the country have Christmas tree recycling programs, Whaley said. 

Before dropping off a Christmas tree at a recycling center or setting one out for pick-up, they typically need to be stripped of all decorations and lights. 

To avoid a needle-y mess, Whaley recommends laying an old sheet or drop cloth on the floor, removing the tree from its stand, lying it on the sheet, wrapping the tree in the sheet and carrying the tree out of the house like a gurney.

You can also take the recycling of your old Christmas tree into your own hands. Here’s a list of additional uses for Christmas trees provided by the NCTA:

• Fish feeders: Throw parts of a tree into fish ponds (if you have permission). Fish will hide and feed in them. 

• Bird feeders: Place the tree in the garden or backyard and decorate it with orange slices or popcorn. The food will attract birds to the tree, which will sit in its branches. This will last a year until the tree becomes brittle, at which time you can break the tree apart by hand or chip it in a chipper.

• Mulch: Remove the tree’s branches and use a wood chipper to turn it into a covering for your plants. 

• Paths for hiking trails

• Soil erosion barriers

One thing Whaley warns against is burning Christmas tree lumber in a fireplace or wood stove. The tree’s resin will create a soot coating on the side of the flue when burned. Over time, that coat can create a fire hazard.

The Anderson, Indiana Herald Bulletin and the Jeffersonville, Indiana News and Tribune contributed to this story.