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Home » Garden Crafts » DIY Bottle Tree

DIY Bottle Tree

April 5, 2012 By Jamie Dorobek 32 Comments

Welcome to my parents backyard! Yep, that’s a 10 foot bottle tall tree made out of different diameters of steel round rod complete with colored bottles my mom collected from friends and a few she purchased from the internet. You can buy steel round rod at a local steel supply store. According to my dad, you can not buy steel round rod at the big box hard ware stores.
DIY Garden projects
My mom does big crafts (glass block shower wall, etched glass cabinets, USA license plate map) and this steel tree is no different… well except that my mom did not actually make it herself. It was her vision and persistence that got the project complete, but a family friend did the actual welding of the steel. My mom and I were first intrigued with bottle trees after a trip to a plant nursery in Independence, Texas called the Antique Rose Emporium.

Here are a few pics I found on the ol’ internet of bottle trees at the Antique Rose Emporium:

bottle tree
image

Upon closer inspection of the Antique Rose Emporium bottle trees you will notice that the these bottle trees are real cedar trees, and the bottles are simply placed on a dead branch.

The roses are pretty and smell yummy, but as a kid I remember the Antique Rose Emporium for the bottle trees, funky art, and this picture of a potted archway.

bottle tree
image

Where did the bottle tree originate?

It turns out the idea of a bottle tree has been around since glass bottles were invented. According to this site, that was in 1600 BC in Egypt and Mesopotamia. As the story goes, people believed the whir of the wind through a bottle was the sound of spirits trapped inside. (Remember Aladdin?) Naturally, the next step is to put a cap on the bottle trapping the bad spirits inside, which of course, were then destroyed by the light of a sunny day (who knew vampires used to be so small :). So, people kept bottles by their entryways to protect their home from evil spirits, and the bottle tree was born.

I actually bought my mom a bottle brush tree for Mother’s Day a few years ago, thinking that would suffice her bottle tree fixation. Although the tree I got her did not look like this…

bottle tree
image

It was about 1/20th the size with only 5 twiggy limbs. The tree had a tragic soccer ball to the head (branches) and never recovered. My mom decided a real tree could not live in that spot and thought a steel tree would be perfect. (There have a been a few broken bottles, but those are fairly easily replaced!) My family thinks our backyard is a soccer field.

Here was my mom’s inspiration tree. This tree was created by a Mississippi artist named Stephanie Dwyer.

bottle tree

And here is the DIY bottle tree beauty in our backyard…

bottle tree

*That brick wall is used as a soccer goal. You can see why the tree needs to be super sturdy!

A close up of her carefully crafted branches:

DIY Bottle Tree
 
DIY Garden projects

My mom and her bottle tree…

bottle tree

My mom’s tree is about 10 feet tall and holds 60 bottles. She estimates that it cost about $300 for materials. $150 for the metal and $150 for the colored bottles. The clear and green ones are just old wine bottles she collected from friends. You can buy vintage glass bottles on Amazon for $2.95 each. Here is an orange glass bottle ,turquoise bottle, and a purple bottle. $300 sounds expensive, but honestly, this style of bottle tree is hard to even find for sale. I have a feeling that shipping would be tricky since this sucker doesn’t come in pieces. Here is a super, simple bottle tree from Amazon. It only holds 10 bottles, but still keeps those spirit away and gives off the glow!bottle tree

What do you think of the bottle tree as yard art? It certainly adds a colorful sparkle to the backyard. It’s fun to look at, sturdy, and a great way to recycle those used wine bottles! Do you have yard art in your garden? Have you ever thought about DIY-ing a bottle tree? If you’re in the market for a DIY bottle tree and have any more questions, I am happy to answer more questions or most likely ask my parents… e-mail me at craftaway (at) gmail (dot) com.
 

Filed Under: Garden Crafts

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Comments

  1. Cathy says

    July 7, 2022 at 1:24 pm

    Love, love, love bottle trees!! Does anyone know what to use on the inside of the bottle to make clear bottles colorful??? I have tried paint and it ends up separating and runs!
    Thanks

    Reply
  2. Juan salazar says

    March 23, 2022 at 10:01 pm

    A good place to find or collect bottles is at your local recycling centers

    Reply
  3. Charlene says

    December 25, 2015 at 8:32 pm

    Are these large trees for sale? Would LIVE to have one of the bigger ones

    Reply
  4. Marilyn Kelsey says

    August 4, 2015 at 6:20 am

    I really want one of these bottle trees. I have been looking for a couple of years now. Yours is one of the better ones I’ve seen. HELP, HELP, I would like to make my own but I need directions. Can you help me???

    Reply
  5. Diane says

    April 13, 2015 at 5:43 pm

    What creative, color bit of sculpture for the yard of flower bed!
    Thanks so much for sharing this post with us at #PureBlogLove link Party! the party starts every Thursday Evening at 8 p.m. EST. I’m hosting over at http://www.homemadefoodjunkie.com. Can’t wait to see what you bring next week!

    Reply
  6. Lindsay Eidahl says

    April 12, 2015 at 6:45 pm

    I love this! Thank you for sharing on Show Me Saturday!

    Reply
  7. All that's Jas says

    April 10, 2015 at 2:09 pm

    Oh, wow! That is so artsy 🙂 Thank you for linking up with Thursday Favorite Things!

    Reply
  8. the cape on the corner says

    April 6, 2015 at 1:47 pm

    gorgeous, i love her version. the branches are so whimsical.
    b

    Reply
  9. [email protected] Freshman Cook says

    April 5, 2015 at 9:15 pm

    Love your moms tree! It is so colorful!

    Reply
  10. Nancy says

    May 16, 2014 at 3:17 pm

    Do you use a cork or anything to keep the bottles from moving once you put them on the rebar?
    Thanks

    Reply
  11. Laura says

    December 16, 2013 at 8:53 am

    I was wondering how much steel you got and what diameter? I’m hoping to make one for my mother for Christmas! Any more specifics would be fantastic!!

    Reply
  12. Micki says

    January 10, 2013 at 10:19 am

    We make those kind of bottle tree’s here at our shop in Lancaster, Ohio. We travel along the east coast to different arts and crafts show. From SC, NC, NY, PA, MD, MI, VA, WV, MA, GA. My brother in law Dave Anders is the owner, designer, cutter, bender and welder. Give us a call at our shop 740-639-4226. We have different trees. Just wanted to post this on here. Because I know alot of people have trouble finding bottle tree’s or they are way to expensive. Our average bottle tree cost $45. The more expensive one is $65 and hold 39 bottles. My brother in law has been welding and make metal art for home and gardens for 15 years now. Beautiful tree!!!

    Reply
    • Jamie Dorobek says

      January 10, 2013 at 12:05 pm

      Thanks for the info!

      Reply
    • Barbara Feldner says

      March 13, 2013 at 1:21 am

      I have wanted a bottle tree for several years…. I live in southern Ohio above Marietta…. is there anyway you could email me a picture of the different trees you make… so I can judge the size I want… also I am guessing they will have to be picked up at Lancaster. I would appreciate any information you could give me…

      Reply
      • Jamie Dorobek says

        March 13, 2013 at 1:07 pm

        We don’t sale trees. We’ve only made one 🙂

        Reply
      • Micki says

        August 29, 2013 at 2:13 pm

        You can look at our website at the different bottle tree’s we have. The website is not fully finished. I also can send pictures of our tree’s as well. Email me at [email protected]

        Reply
        • Shene says

          November 12, 2019 at 9:12 am

          What is the name of the website and are you on Facebook

          Reply
    • Sharon says

      April 24, 2019 at 11:22 am

      Do you have a web site? Would love a bottle tree.

      Reply
    • Anne says

      April 26, 2021 at 11:16 am

      Please share your information……I have been on the hunt for a tree, and am willing to drive, if it can’t be mailed…..
      Thank you!!!!

      Reply
  13. Deb L says

    January 7, 2013 at 8:53 pm

    Hey, I’m from Australia and I loved the photo of the bottle brush tree. We have those everywhere in our suburb – really beautiful big ones like the photo. I’m sorry to hear your mum’s tree didn’t grow. Glad to see the bottle tree is flourishing instead.

    Reply
    • Jamie Dorobek says

      January 7, 2013 at 10:55 pm

      Lucky! Bottle brush trees dont grow ver ywekk in Texas 🙁 But, the bottle tree does very well.. haha!

      Reply
  14. Leona says

    September 7, 2012 at 9:49 am

    My son unearthed a lot of vintage bottles doing construction work. This would be a lot better than them sitting in a box somewhere.

    Reply
  15. joni says

    May 27, 2012 at 4:21 pm

    how did you bend metal? Is it rebar or just metal rods? thanks

    Reply
    • Jamie D. says

      May 28, 2012 at 11:42 pm

      I did not bend the metal 🙂 A friend of my parents is a welder, and he did it!

      Reply
  16. Donna Wilkes says

    May 3, 2012 at 9:52 pm

    I am from South Carolina where people in the Low Country have had bottle trees forever. I want one all in cobalt blue. (It keeps the "haints" away!) Love all your photos! Followed over from Hookin' Up with HoH.

    Reply
  17. [email protected] says

    April 26, 2012 at 10:08 am

    Wow great project!

    Reply
  18. Yvonne says

    April 5, 2012 at 3:02 pm

    What a great idea! Thanks for sharing. I recently went to a garden fair and found a lot of inspiration for the spring as well. Can't wait to have my own bottle tree 🙂

    http://goinwiththeseasons.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  19. Heather H says

    April 5, 2012 at 2:46 pm

    Awesome idea!

    Reply
  20. Kelly @ Live Laugh Rowe says

    April 5, 2012 at 11:15 am

    Great post, Jamie! Thanks for shaing this fun idea:)

    Reply
  21. AFwife7911 says

    April 5, 2012 at 9:30 am

    What a unique idea! I've never seen anything like this before…love it though. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  22. Danni Baird @ Silo Hill Farm says

    April 5, 2012 at 9:09 am

    Your mom is awesome! I have a friend who has a bottle tree in her back yard. I've always admired it! Fun post!

    Reply
  23. Mandy @ Sugar Bee Crafts says

    April 5, 2012 at 8:31 am

    I love it!!

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Jamie!
I Create Really Awesome Free Things for your home, wardrobe, kitchen, and kids in Austin, TX with the sometimes help of Andy!
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