I recently had a conversation with a friend about the yard that came with his house. He commented on the trees having been placed poorly, their shade making several rooms of his house extremely cold in the winter months.

I suggested he consider removing the trees that weren’t working for him. He noted that it honestly hadn’t occurred to him, which I think is not uncommon. Trees can seem like such permanent sentinels of the landscape, not to be questioned or messed with, especially when they are healthy. However, if you are a Christmas tree enthusiast, now is the perfect time to carefully consider your evergreen trees.

Some of them have been planted too close to buildings or other trees, or they may have been planted in poorly thought-out locations. The south and west sides of a house would generally be considered a poor location, as they block valuable winter sun that offers free passive solar heating. Deciduous trees (those that lose their leaves), on the other hand, are perfect for the southwest sides of buildings, generously lending their shade during the hot summer months but no longer blocking the sun’s rays come winter, when they have lost their leaves.

Some of the evergreens in a yard may have even begun as living ball and burlap or potted trees that were enjoyed indoors for the month or so around Christmas and then planted outside while still small and cute. Admittedly, it is difficult to envision your Christmas tree, which sat obediently with lights and ornaments in your living room, as a mature tree reaching heights in excess of 50 feet and widths over 10 feet. But I encourage you to use your imagination and even your measuring tape. Dragging out the hose can be a helpful tool to get a realistic visual on the diameter of a grown conifer.

If after a bit of observation and analysis you conclude, like my friend, that your conifer isn’t working for you for one reason or another, now is the perfect time to remove it and continue to enjoy the top six feet or so for the holiday month. “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure” is a great ethic to apply to the domestic landscape. Strive to waste nothing. One way to reduce waste when removing your evergreen tree is to have your tree chipped when you are finished enjoying it come January. Many municipalities have a drop-off collection point or offer a curbside tree pick-up at that time of year. They generally chip them, using the end product for city projects or making mulch  available  for your next landscape endeavor. Meanwhile, the trunk and lower branches of a large tree can be used for firewood or can also be chipped. If you have forested property, the trunk left to rot can positively contribute to the ecosystem, providing habitat for critters.

Regardless, I recommend calling your local International Society of Arboriculture-certified arborist if you have any questions about the suitability of tree placement or if you lack the equipment or know-how to remove trees.

Eve Gilmore is a landscape designer and garden coach and owner of Gardens by Eve in Durango. Contact Eve at www.gardensbyeve. buzztown.com or 970-769-3319.