How to Make a Bottle Tree

Last Updated: May 20, 2022 References

A bottle tree is a type of recycled glass sculpture that is popular with gardeners. Its origins lay in Egypt, where bottles were used to capture spirits. African slaves also made versions of these sculptures.^{[1]
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Research source} To make your own bottle tree, you will need to collect bottles and construct a wooden or steel “tree.”

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Collecting Bottles

1
Begin collecting bottles for your bottle tree. Regular sized wine and spirits bottle of approximately 750 milliliters (25.4 fl oz) work best. Purchasing enough bottles to decorate a bottle tree can be very expensive, so try to reuse as many as you can. You can even make a recycling drive for old glass bottles.^{[2]
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2
Give preference to blue bottles. In the folklore associated with bottle trees, blue is the best color for deterring spirits. Sky vodka bottles can be combined with almost any other color of bottle for a multi-colored bottle tree.^{[3]
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3
Remove the labels. Unless you want to advertise your favorite drink, you can remove the labels by soaking them in a mixture of vinegar and water. Remove stubborn labels with Goo Gone, or a similar orange cleaner. The place where the label was may be sticky so you should clean it thoroughly until the glue is completely gone.^{[4]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Making a Tree

1
Look for dead or dying trees on your property. Traditionally, bottles were placed over the dead branches of a tree; however, your landscaping will determine if this is possible, or if you need to make a metal tree.^{[5]
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2
Purchase a bottle tree frame if you don’t have time to make one. Garden bottle trees that hold between 10 and 30 bottles are available on Amazon and eBay for $20 to $100.
3
Consider buying a bottle tree from a local steel artist. If you want a statement piece, then investing in an elaborate design will make sense. If you don’t want to spend upwards of $500, opt to make it yourself.
4
Make a bottle tree out of a square or round fence post. Dig a hole in your yard and pour a concrete base. Insert the post into the ground and allow it to dry.^{[6]
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- Screw holes around each side of the tree intermittently. Use a drill at a downward angle, ensuring you extend each hole at least three inches (7.5cm) inward.
- Insert metal rods of six inches to one and a half feet (0.2 to 0.5m).
- You can purchase metal reinforcing rods at a home or hardware store.
- Make sure each of these rods is secure before continuing to the next one.
5
Make a bottle tree out of rebar. Recently, this has become a very popular choice because of its durability in all climates.^{[7]
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Research source} Purchase 10 to 20 lengths of rebar from a construction recycling yard, a steel business or a large hardware store. The rebar should be 3/8-inch to ½-inch (1 to 1.3cm) rebar. They can be at different lengths to mimic branches.
- Purchase a metal collar in which you can encircle your rebar branches or plan to weld the rebar together.
- Rent a conduit bender if you want to bend the rebar dramatically.
- Drive stakes into the holes where the rebar will go. Then, drive the rebar into the ground with a stake hammer.
- Weld your rebar together if you want to. Check that it is sturdy before decorating it.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Decorating a Bottle Tree

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Insert the bottle onto the “branch” of your bottle tree. It should meet the bottom of the bottle to avoid blowing off in the wind.^{[8]
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Decorate evenly. Add a bottle on each side to offset the weight of the bottles.
3
Reinforce the base of the tree if it starts to waver. You may need to cement the tree into place if the ground is not very compact.
4
Add to your bottle tree over time with new bottles. You can also train vines to grow up the center section of your tree.
- If you want to create a cobalt blue bottle tree, but you don’t have enough blue bottles, start with easier to find green or brown bottles. Then, collect and replace them throughout the years.
5
Customize your bottle tree. Although rebar and steel bottle trees are common, there is great variation in the look and size of bottle trees. Attach other glass or ornaments if you desire.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I keep insects out of the bottles?

Community Answer

This shouldn't be an issue. Clean bottles are facing downward so if an insect did get in and somehow didn't fly back out, if it died it would fall out usually. If not, the bottles aren't glued onto the branches so just remove the bottle, clean it and replace.
Question

The bottles on the tree get dirty after a while with a crusty kind of dirt, and they don't shine, which is less attractive. What is the easiest way to clean the bottles on the tree?

Community Answer

You can wash the with vinegar and water, if still dingy, use vinegar and baking soda inside the bottles to dissolve any crust.
Question

Can I paint a wine bottle without baking it?

Community Answer

Yes! You can put paint inside a clear wine bottle, swirl it around, and drain it. The paint will be on the inside.