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How to prevent Christmas tree infestation, where to dispose of tree after holidays

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TUCSON, Ariz. — The key to keeping insects away from your trees is the freshness of the tree when you buy it at the lot, and how often you water it at home. Mary Page with Valley View Christmas Trees says, infested trees isn't something her lot worries about, even with them being imported from Oregon.

"Our trees are delivered about every other week, bi-weekly, so they are fresh and they don't dry out. Before I bring them in, I open them, hose them all down and make sure that they're nothing in them. Agriculture came by and they check our trees to make sure they're not infested or anything like that. I pulled six trees randomly, and I did not have any insects or anything along that lines," said Page.

Something to make sure you do next year, ask the lot where the trees came from and what the lot's process is in keeping them healthy. If you buy a tree that isn't fresh, you may have a bigger chance of having insects in it. Page says watering them often, a few times a day, makes a huge difference.

"I tell them just maintain the water. There are preservatives that they can purchase and mix with water. But just as long as you keep water in the trees and the bottom of the tree doesn't sap over and seal," said Page.

Insects are often attracted to tree sap. So even if you buy a fresh tree, the longer you have it and if it saps over, the tree may later become infested.

But when you are ready to get rid of your tree after the holidays, you have a number of options. Check the policy of the lot where you bought your Christmas tree, it may let you bring the trees back within a certain time frame.

"I've had some customers, and they've asked about tree disposal. I told them that I was going to be here until the 31st of December and if they got their trees down, that I would let them bring them here and that I would dispose of them," said Page.

There are also tree disposal sites within Tucson. The following TreeCycle sites are open during daylight hours, seven days a week starting Dec. 26th:

  • Oro Valley Naranja Park, 810 W. Naranja Dr., (Only open through January 7, 2018)
  • Tank's Roll-offs & Recycling, 7301 E Speedway (turn north on Prudence Rd., Open M-F, 7 am - 4 pm; Sat, 7 am - 2 pm; ONLY DURING BUSINESS HOURS
  • Golf Links Sports Park, 2400 S. Craycroft Rd. (7 am - 5 pm)
  • Tucson Rodeo Grounds, on 3rd Ave. (east of Rodeo Grounds, on S. 3rd Ave.)
  • Los Reales Landfill, 5300 E. Los Reales Rd. (Entrance is at intersection of Craycroft Rd. & Los Reales Rd., follow signs) 6am-5pm **Closed Sundays**
  • Silverbell Site, (northeast corner of Silverbell Rd. & Goret Rd (follow signs)
  • Purple Heart Park, 10050 E. Rita Rd.
  • Randolph Golf Course, 600 S. Alvernon Way, (southeast corner of parking lot)

Interactive links and map at https://www.tucsonaz.gov/treecycle.