Create a stunning evergreen tree topiary out of garland and tomato cages! They are perfect for porch displays this Christmas. This post contains affiliate links.
These are made using a tomato cage for a frame and are nice and bushy. I added cinnamon scented pine cones and white lights for a beautiful evening effect. They are exactly what I wanted! I will share the dimensions I used and where I bought my supplies, but you can alter it however you’d like.
When I was planning how I was going to do this, I figured that 2 packs of 12′ garland would be more than enough for 1 topiary. Well…it wasn’t! My sweet and very patient husband stopped by the store on his way home from work and got me 2 more. Moral of the story, get extra just in case. You can always take it back! There are many places to buy garland. I bought mine at Walmart, but I heard that Target has 50′ packages right now for $10. That’s a killer deal!
Supplies you will need to make a tree topiary using a tomato cage:
1 tomato cage, 42″ tall with a 14″ circular base {$2.48 @ Lowe’s}
1 planter (mine is 15″ tall, 14″ wide) {$12 @ Home Depot}
4 (12′) strands of garland {$4 each @ Walmart}
Pine cones, optional {$3.99 @ Walmart}
wire for pine cones, optional
duct tape
100 ct. white lights {$1.99 @ Lowe’s}
How to make a Tomato Cage Tree Topiary
If your pots are plastic and not very heavy you will need to weigh them down to keep them from blowing over in the wind. I used sand in mine. Bricks would work too.
Bring the ends of the tomato cage to a point and secure with duct tape.
Turn the cage upside down and place inside the planter. If your planter is square, bend the tomato cage a bit so that it fits snugly inside.
Secure each side with duct tape.
Beginning at the top, start wrapping your cage with your garland. Wrap/twist a few of the small wired branches around the cage legs as you go to keep it nice and secure.
Here is what it looks like after using 1 garland. Repeat with remaining.
Separate and “fluff” your twig branches until nice and full.
String with lights.
The pine cones are totally optional, but I thought they would fill in the tree and add a decorative touch. I wrapped the ends with some thin gauge wire and then wrapped them around the branches of the tree.
I added a vinyl monogram that I cut out with my cricut. Add any other decorative items you’d like to finish it off!
I’m thinking that the tomato cage bases would be nice covered in ivy or other climbing greenery for the summer. I may have to get some more!
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LOVE! I’m scared to do this but loved your detailed, precise, succinct directions so I just may have to try making one. I was eyeing these in Walgreen’s today but they looked cheesy.
Go for it!! Seriously! It seems harder than it is and the result is so stunning at night! 🙂
Those look great!! I also love the color of your front door. Did you paint it yourself?
Hi Amy! It came that way, thankfully! I don’t think I’d be up for repainting it! Thank you for your sweet comment!
Wow. You’ve inspired me, once again. You are awesome. Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays to you too! And thanks!!
ooh, love these! I just bought boxwoods for my planters, but if I manage to kill those, I’m keeping this in mind 🙂
Ooo, I would love boxwoods, but I don’t have much of a green thumb. I’m sure yours will do fine and look beautiful!
Oh- this just went to the top of my to-do list! Love,love,love!
Thanks Christie! They are so easy to make!
Just lovely. I have been thinking about this same thing for a long time. You have just given me the push to get it done. Thanks.
You’re welcome! Have a wonderful holiday season!
They really look terrific. I love the pine cone addition and the initial. Really makes them special. They look like they could have cost a bunch.
Thanks! If I hadn’t made them myself they would have cost a lot. And it was such a simple diy project! Have a wonderful week!
Your post is perfect timing! Was just going to spend $120 for 2, so thank you very much 🙂
I have a ?. Did you cut the garland into sections? Seems there are “ends” everywhere sticking out, making it look like a proper branch. You did a very nice job. Your instructions didn’t mention cutting the garland, just wrapping and tying so I thought I’d check. Thanks in advance.
Hi Jennifer! Thank you! I didn’t cut the garland, just wrapped and wrapped! And lots of “fluffing” the wires to have them go all different directions. Hope that helps! 🙂
LOVE this idea!! I can’t wait to make this for my home! Making these would be so cute to add to the home for the holidays. I like how this is cost saving while still being able to decorate a nice piece like this one. The options of adding the decor to the tree also add to the fun. Thank you for this idea!
How big is your vinyl letter
Hi Melissa, it is about 7″.
This would be so cute with the mini-ornaments, too. Hmmm, I feel a project coming on….Thanks for the idea!
Really nice! Thank you! I too am a Crafter and Penny Pincher. I have 2 – 10in wide & 13in high white planters I bought yrs ago for this very project. I finally elongated my bottom front porch step to extend beyond the rails to place a planter w/topiary on each. They were on clearance at Target for abt $6 ea! I also already have a pine cone lighted topiary in my living room next to my copper wall fireplace also on clearance from Target (slightly damaged) for abt $10 that I talked them down to $7 since it’s center foam base was broken. I’ve had them all for abt 5yrs or more now. I wanted to put evergreens in the planters. I even thought of buying the expensive faux topiary bushes because I wanted the beauty year round, but you have inspired me to do this another way! Thank you! I re-coned and lighted the pine cone topiary in my living room that stays lit year round. It acts as a soft night light for those late night fridge raids! Lol! I may just use my Cricket for the initial but I usually stencil. I will put quick set cement in mine to weigh it down and secure as I’ve had my hard earned money and time spent on past self-made adornments stolen. I think I will also have to chain mine to the railings unfortunately. But I love the holidays, so I won’t be defeated nor discouraged! Thank you again for sharing! …Oh yeah! …Because I’ve had my Event Planning business for 25+yrs, I have a huge collection of things I’d buy on clearance with every intension of using them. So I’m doing a Winter Cleaning and came across several faux garland! Including the 50ft you mentioned and I got mine at Home Depot for less than $5 (agn on clearance) as well as a 15in pre lit wreath for abt $5/9 and several boxes of indoor/outdoor lights all on clearance! I’m finally going to put them to use. I donated several boxes of holiday decorations (Easter & Halloween) and party and baby shower decorations to 3 different organizations (Lupas, VVA & Purple Heart) that pickup in my area. I’m proud of myself and I know my husband and kids are glad as well. Thank you again! I can’t wait to get started!
Joyce, that’s awesome! If I had thought ahead I could have purchased my supplies on clearance the year before too. So smart. Good luck on your topiaries! I need to go through and clean up my stash too! 🙂
I’ve made these before and they are so fun! Mine never look quite as festive as yours do though… 🙂 I’ll have to try and up my game this year. Thanks for sharing!
Lovely tutorial for creating your own topiary. Creative and oh so cute, Thanks for sharing at DI&DI.
I’ve been wanting to do this! This sounds so easy too; thanks for the wonderful tutorial. Pinned.
These are so pretty and I love how simple they are to put together. Some themed ornaments would be really nice too in areas that aren’t too windy. I love your idea for changing them out seasonally.
Oh I LOVE these! We don’t have a porch, but they would work great outside our side door as it’s under cover. Like you, I’ve found topiaries to be very expensive here in the UK, so this is an idea solution. I will have to keep my eye out for reasonably priced garlands! Thank you so much for a great idea, totally pinned! Sue via #CreateLinkInspire
Just lovely. Lots of places have strings of solar lights now so if they were somewhere they got some sunlight during the day you could use those if you don’t have an electrical outlet near by.
I’ve seen tons of tomato cage Christmas trees, but yours look the best that I’ve seen. These are adorable! I like that monogram, too.
VERY pretty! 🙂
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This is a fabulous version! I have always wanted to make some but I don’t like the plain ones and I didn’t want ornaments to break. Pine cones are a brilliant addition. I’m sure we’d have to secure ours down with cement since we live in a place that can get crazy wind so anything we put up outside always gets knocked over. We may finally get this done this year!
This is awesome, I love these but have always cringed at the price of them. I never would have thought of the tomato cage!! brilliant!! well, probably other more experienced crafters already knew about the trick but its totally new to me and I am all over it!! Thank you for the inspiration!
Love this DIY so much that I’m going to have to try this myself. You are so right about the cost! Will have to get some tomato cages…:)
Awesome! And yes! I saw some topiaries today that were shorter and $65 each!
Thank you for the tutorial! I have thought about doing this, for years, but never took the time. I plan on going through my “scrap” pieces of greenery to put together something similar-I may have to break down and buy some new garland, though, because it is scrap pieces and older pieces that I would try to use. I am going to add the pine cones, as well, and put them in our flower planters along the walkway to our front porch. Totally new decoration using (hopefully) all materials we already have!!!
That’s the best kind of project! When you don’t have to go out and buy everything. Love it!
what a lovely idea and a fun project to do … thank you for sharing !