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How To Make Topiary Trees

In: DECORATING, DIY Decorating Projects, Spring & Easter Ideas and Projects

I’m going to show you how to make topiary trees the super easy and affordable way today. You won’t need many supplies or time for this project either!

9 Winter DIY Projects

Today I am joining 9 of my blogging friends to bring you some fresh ideas for your winter decorating. If you are visiting here from Anne and Ann Marie of SImply2Moms aren’t they great…imagine living across the street and working with your bestie!!!

If this is your first time visiting Cottage On Bunker Hill…welcome, I’m Jennifer and I love to DIY and decorate! You can see all my projects here.

Let’s Make Topiaries

OK, OK… I know it’s January but I miss my garden and need to bring a little bit of the outdoors inside to brighten my mood!! To be honest, I become a plant hoarder in January…oh I’m not kidding…I’ve never met a plant I haven’t wanted to put in my carriage!! I just feel better when I have plants and flowers around me during this long stretch of winter.

So for a fun project, I wanted to make some topiaries to spruce things up around here. I wanted them to be easy and affordable to make…let’s see if I can do it!

This post may include affiliate links; you can read my disclosure policy here.

Supplies for making topiaries

  • Small Terra Cotta Pots
  • Spackling Compound/ Paint
  • Greenery and Floral Picks
  • Sticks
  • Floral Foam Block
  • Floral Tape & Floral Wire

step 1. preparing the terra cotta pots

I had a few terra cotta pots in my stash already but they are readily available at craft stores year-round.

I wanted the pots to have the look of old pottery. The trick I am using is to spread the spackling compound onto the terra cotta pots. I purposely didn’t cover every part of the pot with the spackle.

This step is optional, you could skip this and just move on to the painting…it will still come out looking great!

The spackling compound goes on pink and dries white.

Once the spackle was dry it was time to paint the pots. For my pots, I chose off-white chalk paint.

painting terra cotta pots

Once the paint was completely dried, I lightly brushed a dark antiquing wax (Waverly Antique Wax) lightly over the pots. The dark wax helped to highlight the texture that I created with the spackle.

Then I popped a piece of floral foam into each of the pots. (cut off from a large floral foam block)

terra cotta pots with floral foam

adding the greenery

For each topiary base, I am using 2 thin sticks from my yard. I cut the sticks down to about 1 foot each. Using small pieces of floral wire, I twisted the wire at the top and bottom of the sticks to secure them together.

Now to make the topiary part. For this topiary I’m using 4 greenery picks from Hobby Lobby ($1.99)

greenery picks

Now, I held 1 pick at a time to the top of the sticks and wrapped the brown floral tape around the picks to secure them to the sticks.

Once I had the first one secured I added the next one and continued wrapping the floral tape around the sticks.

You want to make sure the green floral picks are covered with the brown tape completely…no green peaking out.

Then I just popped the sticks into the center of the floral block in the pot and pushed it through to the bottom.

To cover the floral foam, I added green moss ( I also pushed some of the moss down into the spaces around the foam).

Once I had the pot filled with green moss, I added a small bunch of Spanish moss around the base of the sticks.




making a lavender topiary

For a second topiary, I wanted to make a lavender one. I followed all the same steps as the one I made using the greenery picks but this time I’m using 4 lavender picks (also from Hobby Lobby)

artificial lavender picks

After I had the topiary together, I shaped the lavender picks to mimic real lavender topiaries.

I bent the picks into almost an L shape.

For the greenery topiary, I bent some of the stems downward

lavender topiary

And here’s the finished topiaries! Didn’t they come out pretty?? So for under $20 I made 2 unique topiaries that I can use year-round in my home.

I had another small pot that I used to make a short topiary. This time I popped a herb stem right into the floral foam to make it look like a plant.

It’s always better visually to have an odd number of items placed together when you are decorating.

Next up on our WInter DIY Project hop is my friend Jennifer from Midwest Life & Style. She is going to show you how to make beautiful winter hurricane candle holders.

Then be sure to check out all the projects today!

Winter DIY Home Decor Blog Hop

Cottage On Bunker Hill | Midwest Life And Style | Open Doors Open Hearts

Vintage Home Designs | Loving Grace Home | Amy Sadler Designs

Bricks ‘n Blooms | The Tattered Pew | Simply2Moms


Jennifer Howard

cottage on bunker hill

Thanks for stopping by today! Being able to share my projects, DIYs, and decorating ideas with you is amazing. Leave a comment below; I love hearing from you! Feel free to drop me a note here if you have any questions.

Get to know Jennifer.

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group photo from influencer retreat

get to know me

here are a few fun facts…

  1. I’ve lived in New England my entire life! This is good because the beach is my favorite place to be…even in the winter I love to go breathe in the salt air.
  2. I am an EARLY BIRD!!! I rarely sleep past 4…it’s my favorite time of day and those wee hours are my most productive. (plus, I LOVE coffee!!)
  3. I am a total Hallmark Christmas movie nut!! Seriously, I know, I know, they are a little sappy but they make me happy!

By: Jennifer Howard · In: DECORATING, DIY Decorating Projects, Spring & Easter Ideas and Projects · Tagged: diy decor, home decor

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lynne Zemaitis says

    February 4, 2022 at 5:15 pm

    These are so pretty and perfect for this time of year when we need a little greenery in our homes! Thank you so much for sharing at Tuesday Turn About! Wishing you a wonderful weekend! xo

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      February 7, 2022 at 8:33 am

      Yes, between these topiaries and my houseplant addiction it’s pretty green around here!!

      Reply
  2. Danielle says

    January 22, 2022 at 10:03 am

    These topiaries look SO good!!! I love the spackle technique you used on the pots! It’s one of my favorite things to make!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      January 23, 2022 at 2:51 pm

      Thanks friend!!

      Reply
  3. Kim Waldorf says

    January 21, 2022 at 8:10 am

    I love both of these, but especially the lavender. You always make things look so easy! Nice job, friend!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      January 23, 2022 at 2:51 pm

      Chuck is really behind the scenes doing it all….LOL…LOL

      Reply
  4. Kelly says

    January 20, 2022 at 11:44 pm

    Jennifer these turned out darling! I love the variety and I miss my garden too! Beautiful as always my friend!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      January 23, 2022 at 2:50 pm

      Well, it will be fun seeing what you do at the new house this year!

      Reply
    • Cindy says

      January 23, 2022 at 6:34 pm

      These are very pretty. I’ll be starting spring crafts in 2 weeks.

      I have a laundry list

      Reply
      • Jennifer Howard says

        January 24, 2022 at 7:39 am

        Me too Cindy!! Thanks for stopping by!

        Reply
  5. Amy Sadler says

    January 20, 2022 at 5:18 pm

    These are precious! I never would’ve thought of this so thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      January 23, 2022 at 2:50 pm

      You would have…you have a crazy creative brain!!

      Reply
  6. Emma Sweat says

    January 20, 2022 at 5:09 pm

    These are beautiful! I love how you aged the pots. The texture they have is awesome!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      January 23, 2022 at 2:49 pm

      Thanks Emma!! I’m still swooning over your photography style…it’s memorable!

      Reply
  7. Leslie Watkins says

    January 20, 2022 at 2:59 pm

    Oh, I love topiaries and these are perfect for brightening winter. Love the spackling technique!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      January 23, 2022 at 2:49 pm

      Thanks Leslie!! I need a little brightening up here right about now!

      Reply
  8. AnnMarie - Simply2Moms says

    January 20, 2022 at 1:52 pm

    These topiaries are so pretty Jennifer. Love the pots too! I’m definitely going to use that method to transform terracotta pots. Thanks for sharing! Pinned!!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      January 23, 2022 at 2:48 pm

      Thanks! Yes, super easy…and cheap way to get vintage-looking pottery.

      Reply
  9. Jen says

    January 20, 2022 at 1:01 pm

    Jennifer, your topiaries turned out so pretty! I love the lavender one. Such a breath of fresh air during the dreary winter months. Hope you are staying warm and cozy, friend!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      January 23, 2022 at 2:48 pm

      I’m like a groundhog right now…everyone will see me in March!!

      Reply
  10. stacy says

    January 20, 2022 at 10:41 am

    Love the topiary DIY! It’s beautiful Jennifer!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      January 23, 2022 at 2:47 pm

      Thanks Stacy!

      Reply
  11. Rachel Harper says

    January 20, 2022 at 10:02 am

    Jennifer,
    These are so cute. I love topiaries.

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      January 23, 2022 at 2:47 pm

      Thanks Rachel! I needed to brighten up my kitchen a little bit.

      Reply
  12. Michele Howell says

    January 20, 2022 at 9:56 am

    These are so cute Jennifer! Love the pots!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      January 23, 2022 at 2:46 pm

      Thanks Michele!!

      Reply
  13. diana says

    January 20, 2022 at 9:02 am

    Hi Jennifer. Love the topiaries and you have inspired me to do this. I have several evergreens and also my lavender is looking great even in January. I’m going to go forth and do this with living plants. I’ll let you know how they turn out.
    Love your blog. .

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      January 23, 2022 at 2:46 pm

      OOh, yes definitely do it and send me a picture! I can’t wait for fresh lavender in the garden.

      Reply
  14. Aliya says

    January 20, 2022 at 6:28 am

    Jennifer! I’m with you. I need a little bit of life in my house to get me through until March/April when I can get back outside into the garden. PS last night Justin and I were talking about LAVENDER!! We’re gonna try to add a bunch of it to our garden this year ❤

    Reply
    • Jennifer Howard says

      January 20, 2022 at 2:50 pm

      Yes, grow it!! I had a big pot by my play area and the little kids would all rub it on their hands and sniff before their parents came…calmed them down a little!!

      Reply

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Hey friends, I'm so glad you are here! I'm a life-long New England gal who started Cottage On Bunker Hill as a hub to share all my DIYs, decorating ideas, budget shopping ideas and so much more!!

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