A Christmas tree disposal dumpster sits in the parking lot at Henry F. Koch park in Florissant.

You had your tree for Christmas. Now get rid of it already!

The parking lot at Henry F. Koch park in Florissant has a dumpster for Christmas tree disposal. I can’t imagine people rushing off on Dec. 26 to throw away a tree that has been in their lives for such a short period. People spend a tremendous amount of time and money decorating for Christmas. Is it really all for one day?

I guess so.

The only logic I can come up with is that people want the trees out of the house before they shed needles on the floor. The edge of the parking lot is lined with pine needles.

Pine needles line the edge of the parking lot near the tree disposal area.

Assuming that I discovered this coniferous graveyard at its peak of mass burial, I climbed the dumpster to take a look. There were only two trees. Either these two trees lost a significant number of needles from the car to the dumpster or this dumpster has been emptied before. It could be grave robbers.

Only two trees are in the dumpster today.

How long do you keep your tree? Does it stay in your house until it’s bald or is it out the door on the 26th? Share your tree clean-up horror stories or your home remedies to keep it green all year long.