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Bunnings Warehouse

How to make outdoor Christmas decorations

By Bunnings magazine /

A garden decorated with plant trainers wrapped in solar fairy lights.

Overview

Make your garden glow and light the way for Santa with these plant trainers that turn into ‘light trees’. These D.I.Y.  outdoor Christmas decorations are simple to make, using solar fairy lights wrapped around plant training frames and secured with twist ties. You can make as many as you like for a magical effect in your garden.

Tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves, ear muffs and a mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.

How to make outdoor Christmas decorations

Follow the instructions below to make your ‘light trees’. To display, you can stake them in decorative plant pots or directly into the ground or garden beds. When the festive season is over, remove the lights and use them to grow climbing vegetables and other plants for the rest of the year.

Steps

  1. 1

    Tie the trainers

    Join two curved vegie plant trainers together using twist ties, cutting ties using the packaging cutter as required.

  2. 2

    Position the fairy lights

    Starting at the base, secure the end of the fairy lights to the frame using a twist tie, then run the strand vertically up over the top of the frame, keeping it taut. Run the lights down and up over the frame again, repeating until you are happy with the arrangement, then secure in place with twist ties.

  3. 3

    Add the decorations

    Make bows from jute webbing. Secure bows, artificial berry springs and faux flowers to the frame with twist ties, then place the finished tree in position in a decorative pot.

  4. 4

    Looking for more inspiration to decorate outdoor areas this Christmas?

    Check out how to get the ultimate festive look for your front yard.

     

    Photo credit: Martina Gemmola.

Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.