This tutorial shows how to make a tomato Christmas tree. Three different trees using the same sized cage.
A couple years ago I shared how I made my tomato cage Christmas tree. Well this year I decided to take it a step further and make tiered tomato cage Christmas trees using three tomato cages of the same size.
I also wanted to make them easier to anchor into the ground, so I adapted my original version. Think of it as perfecting the art of crafting a tomato cage Christmas tree.
Before I go into the tutorial, let me say that these are ridiculously easy to make and can last years if properly taken care of. Plus, they cost a fraction of what you’d pay to buy them pre-made.
Tomato Cage Christmas Tree Supplies
3 tomato cages of the same size … you can buy a set of 4 heavy-duty cages here
6 strands of 9 foot WIRED, unlit garland (I used 9 ft Holiday Living garland from Lowe’s)
5 strands of 100 lights … found here
3 bows
zip ties … found here
Note: I used 54 inch tall tomato cages.
Trim the Cages
I use unlit garland because should the lights go out, it’s much more of a pain to get the lights to turn back on. If I used unlit garland and use strands of lights on top of the garland, I can easily remove the lights and add new ones.
* The photo above doesn’t show the correct amounts, but I wanted to show the exact products I used for my tomato cage Christmas trees.
Snip the tomato cages to make them into three different sizes. You need to cut all three. Here’s Brad making the middle size tree with heavy-duty pliers.
When you’re done you should have tomato cages like the following:
1- 3 ring, 1- 2 ring, 1- 1 ring
This results in tomato cage Christmas trees that are approximately 50 inches, 36 inches, and 30 inches tall.
Because I’m an awesome blogger, I changed things up and forgot to take a photo so I used my clearly professionally-trained Photoshop skills to create the smallest tree on the right side.
I purposely left the stakes at the bottom of the trees so they can easily be pushed into the ground.
When you’re done creating the tiered trees, use a zip tie to make a point at the top of the trees.
Add Garland to the Cages
Then, it’s time to fluff your garland. Going from this:
To this:
I’m going to show you have to attach the garland to the largest tomato cage Christmas tree. You do the same thing for the other trees, you’ll just use less garland. I’ll tell you how much garland and lights I used on both trees later on.
The garland I purchased came with this great wire on both ends so I just wrapped it onto the cage.
Now, wrap the garland around the cage and secure it with the wire on the opposite end.
I didn’t feel the need to secure the garland more than that, but if you want, you could use some zip ties to attach it to the cage between the two ends.
Next, add another piece of garland and repeat for the middle section of the tree.
Use one more garland for the top section of the tree.
Add the Lights
Then, it’s time to add the lights. Start at the top with the female plug and work your way down so the male plug is at the bottom.
Top with Bows
To add a festive touch, attach a bow to the top of each tree.
Securing the trees to the ground is very easy if you leave some of the cage, creating legs that could slide into the ground.
Here’s the final product!
Here’s the breakdown for each tomato cage Christmas tree:
Big tree: 3 strands of garland, 2 strands of 100 lights
Middle tree: 2 strands of garland, 2 strands of 100 lights
Little tree: 1 strand of garland, 1 strand of 100 lights
This photo doesn’t really do them justice at night.
Here’s what they look like in action on our front porch with a little touch of snow.
Think you’ll try to make these tiered tomato cage Christmas trees this year for your outdoor decor?
If you liked this tutorial, make sure you check out my other holiday projects, decor, recipes, and free printables!
Gail McMurray says
Thanks for the great idea, I can’t wait to make one. So clever.
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
Thanks, Gail!
Jenny Collier says
Love these! I have a ton of tomato cages sitting around after tearing out our summer garden. Am going to try making one for our patio.
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
Do it! It’s seriously the easiest project ever.
Patty says
Love this idea. Definitely going to make these. Thanks for sharing all the great details along with pictures
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
Thanks, Patty! Let me know how they turn out!
Shelby says
Love these!! How easy. 🙂 This is our first year decorating a house (we just moved to Indy from a small Chicago apartment) so unfortunately we are starting from complete scratch as far as outdoor decor goes. These are so easy though so I might have to add this to my DIY list!
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
Welcome to Indy! Decorating a house and yard is probably more exciting than an apartment. At least I was excited when we upgraded from an apartment to a house. 🙂 Yeah, these are definitely easy to make– the perfect outdoor decor!
[email protected] Polka Dots in the Country says
I love these! I was thinking about doing something like this so this tutorial will be coming in handy. As always, you do an amazing job! Hope you have a great rest of your week!
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
Thanks so much, Maggie! Enjoy your week!
Julie Blanner says
You’re a blogger. They’re going to think you’re crazy.
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
Hah! Right? After we built the window box in front of our house I naturally took photos of it. My neighbors, who didn’t know that I’m a blogger, later confessed that they thought I was really proud of our craftsmanship and that’s why I was taking so many photos.
Ericka says
I love these! Super cute and easy enough to make. I think I’ll be making these for our house this year!
Kristin says
I’ve been looking for ideas to decorate my first house for Christmas and this is absolutely happening! I am so excited. Thanks for sharing 🙂
www. eatcreatetraveller.com
[email protected] says
These are so cute! I love them! I really want to make a few for our front yard. I’ve got to get my Christmas crafting butt in gear!
Melissa Mae says
How do you secure them to the ground so they don’t blow away?
Sunny says
you could put over a pot filled with some type of weight or you could use wire bent in to u shape
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
The “stakes” I left at the bottom secure them to the ground (see photos). We’ve been experiencing some crazy wind here the last few days and they’re still standing.
Michele says
Love, love, love this idea! I’m going to complete this project this wknd. so they’ll be ready for action the night after Thanksgiving.
Terry C says
These are great! How tall is each tree?
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
I used 54 inch tomato cages. So the trees are approximately 50 inches, 36 inches, and 30 inches tall.
Deborah says
I have to say these are BEAUTIFUL! I was reading the Dec. 2014 Better Homes & Gardens and they did the tomato cage tree too. I don’t want to sound mean but theirs looked awful – I was thinking “why would I want a droopy dead looking tree like that”!! I am so glad I saw your post you created them so pretty that now I want to try this! (BHG should have shown yours IMO) Thanks for the terrific idea!
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
Wow! Thanks so much for the amazing compliment! Made my day!
Tia says
Did u use the 42in tomato cages? Or the 54in?
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
54 inch.
Lisa says
Recently I made 3 like this for our Christmas parade float. I can’t wait till the parade to show them off. I added poinsettias to the trees and used smaller bows on top. They look amazing. Thanks for the idea.
Anne-Marie says
I was just thinking it was time to put my tomato cages away. Thanks for the cute holiday idea =)
Ginny says
When the store start putting up Christmas decorations after Halloween, I don’t think anyone would think you are crazy to light them up before Thanksgiving. Speaking of Halloween, these would be cute with black garland and orange lights.
Babbling Babs says
These are amazing! I’ve been wanting to buy LOTS of different-sized artificial trees to fill out our bare flower beds during the holiday season but for as many trees as we would need that would be WAY too cost-prohibitive considering how much even a tiny little 2-4 foot tree costs. I’ll make these instead. Thanks for the brilliant idea.
We’ve also been wanting to get the ones in a planter that you put on each side of an entryway which are also very expensive. These could probably be adapted for that purpose as well if you get some inexpensive but nice-looking planters and find a way to secure the tree into the planter.
Judy Bodnar says
You can put these trees in a planter or pot…just make sure the have soil in them so you can shove the bottom wiires from the cage dow & anchor them….these are beautiful, and I have been making them and using them for years now… I prefer the green garland but I have made them using tinsel garland as well. I once made one for an upscale beauty salon out of pale pink feather boas with a matching wreath . I always anchor my lights to the cage with zip ties or pipe cleaners then put on the garland…the lights poke through and there are no wires showing… This was a wonderful video & clear explanation of how to make this project…so happy to have come across it…thank you Chelsea
Susan Albers says
I laughed out loud, loudly, at your photoshop comment. Too funny!!!!!
Sewducky says
What’s the best way to store these? Unwrap em, throw into a container/bag, nest into one another) How durable are the stakes (can they be bent inward year after year for storage). My mom buys fake flowers throws them in a pot for her planters out front. I bet these would be a great substitute and gift for her (perhaps borrow a few of the flowers to decorate vs bows)
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
I wouldn’t take them apart. I plan to put them in large trash bags to store them in our attic. I definitely wouldn’t recommend bending them.
Deb says
WOW! I absolutely love this idea! Although it is only July here in FL (and HOT), my mother-in-law and I will certainly have something to look forward to creating in November. Thanks for the step-by-step instructions and pictures. Great job!
Beverly S. says
Thank You for the Great Idea. I’m going to make 5 or 6……….three to go with our inflatable John Deere Tractor with Santa sitting on the cab……….and the others on the front porch..
Denise Warner says
Theoretically you could use the tomato cages…as tomato cages…in the summer, then wrap them in garland for Christmas, then unwrap them and use them the next summer as tomato cages…Especially since you are attaching the garlands only at the ends. Repeat every year!!!
Also, if you purchase solar string lights, the trees could be put anywhere on your property I have seen inexpensive solar string lights for sale online for under $20.
Francine Stewart says
Since I’ve retired (last May ’14) I’ve been looking for Christmas projects I can do myself and save myself some money to boot, This looks like something I’ve been looking for and anxious do. Thanks for sharing.
Linda Langtry says
We only have 36 inch cages however I can make do with what I have. Question I have is do you use lighted garland and a string of lights? Thanks and please folks do not put any decorations out until after November 11th.
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
I used non-lighted garland and then added the lights.
Vickie @Vickie's Kitchen and Garden says
I just took my tomato cages out of the garden this past week. I’m going to go in the shed and grab three of them to make these! they are so cute! Thanks for the idea!
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
You’re welcome! Happy tomato cage Christmas tree making! 🙂
KATHLEEN says
These are awesome ideas… thanks for sharing them.. I have to ask myself, “now why didn’t I think of that?” LOL
Joyce Hoover says
This is a wonderful idea & I’m planning to do this for Christmas.
Cindy Litchfield says
I made a fall tree using colored leaves garland and yellow lights. I love it and can’t wait to make these. Thank you for the idea.
Karen J says
Love this. Easy, inexpensive and oh, so pretty!
Teresa says
I’m just seeing this for the first time and I really love this idea and will be making it for sure this year!! Thanks for sharing!!
Lauren says
Oh my goodness – I laughed out loud at the photoshop thing! Thank you.
I love this so much!
It’s November 7th and i might make these today and light ’em up 😉
love love!
Julie says
Such a clever idea. and a great step by step set of instructions, thanks.
Lux says
It’s that time of the year! Loooove.
Catherine says
Love this! Easy enough for me, the non-crafter to make. Thanks 🙂
Betty says
I love this idea. I remember Home Depot having the tomato cages in different colors last summer. I might look for green…if they have any in stock right now. I’d really like to try it. Thanks. Betty
Jamie says
That is adorable!! I always put my tomato cages in the corner for the winter, and now I can use them for decor…I love it! Thank you for sharing with us at the #HomeMattersParty
Vicki says
My friends and I made these today for our girls craft day. They were super easy to make and we had a great time. We found out though that we needed more garland then suggested, we had to stop half way and run for more. I’m not sure if it is because we used cheaper garland that wasn’t as full or if we put it on to close together so we didn’t have big holes. They turned out great though and I can’t wait until next weekend so I can light them up!
jackie says
I have tried this and after finally being able to cut the cages with bolt cutters, the garland is not looking the same. There is too much space between the rows. I followed the directions you gave and I have zip tied them thinking maybe it was moving around too much without the ties but it doesnt look the same. I am very disappointed. Not sure what I am doing wrong or how to fix without buying more garland.
Chelsea @ two twenty one says
Hey Jackie! Perhaps the garland you purchased isn’t as full or as long as the garland I purchased. Did you buy the exact brand and length?
Keith says
These were easy to make. I used an extra strand of garland per tree to make the foliage more dense.
Christal Steele says
We have a huge blue spruce in our front yard, and we’ve always put lights on it. Well, it’s getting too big to do that now, so this will be a PERFECT alternative. These will look great in our front yard! Thanks for the clever idea! Oh….BTW, I’m from Indy also. 🙂
Christal Steele says
Oh….and I’m a photographer (2nd career) and LOVED your Photoshop comment. Another clever idea….even if not the best PS work I’ve seen. LOL
Teresa Wright says
Love this ideal. Thanks for sharing.
Michelle says
Did you use separate pieces of garland for each “layer” of the tree, or did you use one large continuous piece?
Nadine says
I made the large tree this week. It turned out really cute ~ though I used 5 of the 9′ garlands to make the one tree. Guess I smushed the wraps together too close. It is a full tree though.
I also couldn’t get the zip-tie to stay put at the top of the tree. It kept shooting across the room so I improvised and used strips of vinyl leftover from another project.
I will be making the two smaller trees next year.
Sharon says
All the tomato cages I have are the same size. How did you get varied sizes of trees?
Sherry says
I love your Christmas decorations
lisa says
HelI have been looking for different paper flower crafts to make so I can put in some vases I have that my son and his family brought me flowers for my birthday and for mother’s day. These look so easy to make, I am going to try them and make a bouquet for one of my vases. Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial. I will let you know how mine turn out.
Emma says
to cut the cages with bolt cutters, the garland is not looking the same. There is too much space between the rows. I followed the directions you gave and I have zip tied them thinking maybe it was moving around too much without the ties but it doesnt look the same. I am very disappointed. Not sure what I am doing wrong or how to fix without buying more garland.