About this time of year, I have learned it is well worth the effort for me to place a call to Jeff Richardson, the city landscaper, to see if his crew will be collecting those gently used Christmas trees after the holidays. I made that call last week and thankfully Richardson told me there will once again be a drop-off point for anyone wishing to leave their Christmas trees for recycling purposes courtesy of the City of Vicksburg. 

The collection site is the same as last year’s — the vacant lot on the south side of the Mississippi Hardware store. Richardson reminded me that there is no fence and no gate, so individuals can show up most anytime after Christmas, but hopefully before Jan. 12. That’s when the effort ends. I don’t suppose that will be much of a problem as most everyone I know is about as anxious as I to get the ornaments packed away and the tree out of the house soon after the new year begins. One would think that the next couple of suggestions would be a given, but it’s best not to leave anything to chance. Please take all the decorations off the tree before you bring it to the collection site and please don’t drop off artificial trees.

According to Richardson, the original plan a few years back was to accept the trees and allow a couple of weeks for area fishermen to get what they wanted to use in their favorite fishing spots. Then, whatever might be left would get shredded and composed and the material used for mulch. Sounded like a great idea and an environmentally friendly use of resources to me.

What Richardson has discovered the last few years, however, is that area fishermen have used all the trees dropped off, and there have been none left for shredding. Richardson is certainly not complaining and is actually glad that the trees are being put to good use.

Our fish biologists at Mississippi State University think the use of Christmas trees in ponds and lakes is a good idea, too. In fact, they recommend tying a weight such as a concrete block to the base of the trees and sinking them in groups of 3-4 trees in about 10 feet of water. The trees will provide both a feeding site for smaller fish and protection for both small and large fish. The trees will actually last in the lake for at least a couple of years.

Fishermen have discovered they can return to those feeding sites and increase their odds of harvesting fish beginning the summer after the trees were submerged. Even in larger bodies of water, fishermen can pinpoint the spots where they left the trees with the use of their GPS devices and return to those exact places months later.

I try not to forget to add a safety reminder when I suggest fishermen toss heavily-weighted trees out of their boats: take a friend and wear a life jacket. Being pulled out of a boat and into cold lake water can be very dangerous and embarrassing. Be careful.

John C. Coccaro is county Extension director. Write to him at 1100-C Grove St., Vicksburg, MS 39180 or call 601-636-5442. E-mail him at jcoccaro@ext.msstate.edu