Now that another Christmas has come and gone, many are left with the same annual problem, what to do with a Christmas tree.

Common options include turning the tree into mulch, or simply taking it to the landfill, but the Nature Conservatory of Canada has other ideas.

Andrew Holland, a spokesperson with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, said that there is a better, more environmentally friendly option when it comes to post-Christmas clean up.

"We encourage people, if they have a big backyard, living in a more rural area, maybe you leave that Christmas tree in your backyard," Holland said, explaining the option. "And there's various benefits for both your lawn, but also your wildlife."

Holland said that erecting the tree in a backyard would provide habitats for non-migratory birds during the winter, as well as squirrels.

Noting that wildlife wouldn't be the only beneficiaries of this method of tree disposal, Holland spoke on a different way of composting the tree which would still benefit the soil where the tree was located.

"The needles on the tree will fall off, and ultimately create some moisture which is beneficial with your soil, and ultimately that can help the quality of your lawn, so some people will take the branches of the Christmas tree and put them where there are spring flowers type of things, for that reason, those needles fall off and decompose, and stuff like that," the conservationist said. "So that's another option for people to help out with what we call a small act of backyard conservation."

Whether you choose to leave the Christmas tree standing or distribute the needles around an area, Holland explained the benefits of also leaving the stump of the tree on your property into the spring months.

"And some people might say, 'well what do I do with the Christmas tree stump?' because that doesn't break down as quickly as the branches and the needles on the tree, and some people may come May or June, may want to discard or dispose of it rather than have it in their backyard, and some will just leave it in their backyard, and those tree stumps can be helpful for pollinators of different kinds, including carpenter bees."

Connecting back to the topic of small acts of conservation, Holland said that Christmas tree re-purposing was just one of the tips the Nature Conservancy of Canada is giving out, focusing on enabling everyday people to make a difference in the environment.

"People are looking at options, (asking) what can they do on a personal level to help the environment, and so to do that, we are giving people little ideas that they can take on that doesn't cost money, but in their own individual way, small acts of conservation, you add them all up, and all Canadians can make a real difference."