Glass bottle tree

Sandy Lueker
by Sandy Lueker
Does anyone have any ideas on what I could use to make a bottle tree? I don't have access to a welder to weld rebar and I'm looking for other ways to make one...I have all the bottles, just nothing to put them on..
  37 answers
  • Sia@South 47th Sia@South 47th on Jul 17, 2013
    How about using a nice strong tree branch? I've done this before and used it in my garden as well as in my home. In the garden I just shoved it down into my soil. For the house I put it in a planter filled with heavy garden clay, with rocks supporting it. ;)
  • Sally Sally on Jul 17, 2013
    I used a 4x4 drilled holes, put in dowels long enough to hold a wine bottle. Bury it in the ground 1 1/2 - 2 ft.
  • Sia@South 47th Sia@South 47th on Jul 17, 2013
    @Sally Yeppers! Thank you! I forgot to mention drilling holes into the branch! LOL~!!!!! After the holes were drilled I filled them with branches carved down, so they would match the tree. ;)
  • Kimberly Barney Kimberly Barney on Jul 17, 2013
    There was a post where someone made a bottle tree using a tomato cage turned upside down and the ends bent out to hold the bottles.
  • Sia@South 47th Sia@South 47th on Jul 17, 2013
    @Kimberly Barney that sounds like a cool semi industrial take!!
  • Sheila Moore Sheila Moore on Jul 18, 2013
    When my hubby made ours he took a 4x4 post and hammered 6' nails all around for the bottles.Works very well!
  • Sherri Brown Sherri Brown on Jul 19, 2013
    I had an old artificial tree that had seen much better days. I threw it in our large fire pit thinking it would all burn and be gone. When I passed by later what did I see arising out of the ashes but a perfect bottle tree form. Unbeknowingst to me, heheh the trunk of the tree was made of rebar covered in plastic. The base was still intact and I could just see it with bottles on it. I took it out, spray painted it and buried the base in the ground. Lo and behold a recycled bottle tree holder. Added bottles and love it. So keep your eye out for that old tree. Some are made of wood but if you can find one with metal skeleton you are in business.
  • Sandy Lueker Sandy Lueker on Jul 19, 2013
    Sherri Brown, I have thought of the christmas tree form and have had people tell me it wouldn't be strong enough to hold the bottles. How is that working for you?? I love the idea!
  • Tammy McLain Tammy McLain on Jul 19, 2013
    Sherri, I love that idea as well. Lots of great ideas. I had thought of the tree branch idea and then just wire a few together. Of course we are saving all of our bottles for a wall. Wow is that gonna take a long time or what, lol.
  • Karla Campbell Karla Campbell on Jul 19, 2013
    rebar welded as a tree
  • Karla Campbell Karla Campbell on Jul 19, 2013
    i used a tree brnch for my first one the branches didnt work well
  • Sandy Lueker Sandy Lueker on Jul 19, 2013
    That would be nice but unfortunantly, I don't have access to a welder or know anyone who does...
  • Bobbi Bobbi on Jul 19, 2013
    I purchased mine online through Terry's Village (terrysvillage.com), it was about $20 and well worth it...I LOVE it!
  • Linda L Linda L on Jul 19, 2013
    I'm sure I got mine through Collections Etc. It was a few years back, but was around $20. They have an online store.
  • Sherri Brown Sherri Brown on Jul 20, 2013
    As I said my tree form was rebar so it holds a lot of weight. I bought tomato cages yesterday and am going to try the one that was on Pinterest. You could always use smaller bottles to accommodate lighter branches.
  • Tammy McLain Tammy McLain on Jul 20, 2013
    I checked out that Terry's Village, that's a pretty neat shopping place. The bottle tree I pinned, but it is now $21.00. CollectionsEtc.com is always the bomb.
  • Sandy Lueker Sandy Lueker on Jul 20, 2013
    Thanks Tammy...I have bought things from both of those catalogs...I'm going to try the collections etc....
  • Sally Sally on Jul 20, 2013
    I had a metal bottle tree given to me as a gift. It was from Collections, It lasted all of a year & broke off right where it went into the ground, broke several bottles. Was not happy!! So beware!
  • Geniva Barringer Geniva Barringer on Jul 20, 2013
    Sandy Lueker I made my bottle tree with an old tree branch and painted it for my garden. (sorry off the bottle subject) I was shocked when I saw the picture of your beautiful dog it looks just like my American bull dog Chop. He loves his puppies and helped take care of them.
  • Sandy Lueker Sandy Lueker on Jul 20, 2013
    Yes I see your dog...beautiful! MIne is a pit mix and she was rescued from an abusive situation by a friend of mine..I love her to death...she is my shadow...her name is Chloe..love of my life...off the subject but.....I checked Collections etc and taylor gifts and neither had any bottle trees...I'm sure I"ll come up with something....
  • Lavada Jones Lavada Jones on Jul 20, 2013
    I use a tree and 4x4 posts, also wooden fence posts. Just use long screws. I even stripped the leaves off of a tree branch and put vases on them.
  • Sheila Utton-Robbins Sheila Utton-Robbins on Jul 22, 2013
    I cemented a 4x4 post into a large pot. I then nailed large nails into it at an upward slant. Hung my bottles on the nails and then used artificial vines and hostas to cover up the post.
  • Cathy Cottrell Cathy Cottrell on Jul 22, 2013
    I saw one made from 2 tomato cages. Looked easy enough to do just needed wire cutters. I think I posted it on Pinterest.
  • Sandy Lueker Sandy Lueker on Jul 22, 2013
    I like that Idea Sheila! thanks...thanks to all for all your help...
  • Sherri Brown Sherri Brown on Jul 23, 2013
    @Cathy Cottrell , I just made one out of tomato cages, but I chose to use 3 of them. The third one I simply pulled the 3 prongs in and put one big bottle over all 3 of them. That sort of gave the tree a taller top and balanced all the other branches out. I also wired some beads onto the lower rings to add some bling and shine to it.
  • Sherri Brown Sherri Brown on Jul 23, 2013
    Heres the pic
  • Sherri Brown Sherri Brown on Jul 23, 2013
    I plan to sell at craft fair this weekend. How much would you expect to pay for this with bottles included? Just a note, neither of my trees sold, so I guess I will just have to plant them in my garden lol
  • Sandy Lueker Sandy Lueker on Jul 23, 2013
    I have no idea...I've never seen these at a craft show..and I do craft shows with my glass totem towers...I guess you'd have to figure out how much it all cost you and figure in your time. and take a guess...
  • Linda L Linda L on Jul 23, 2013
    @Sally , We concreted our 'stalk' or 'trunk' into the ground. In the fall, we take it apart and store the branches and bottles. I've had this tree for at least a decade. Never an issue with it breaking. Sandy, if you decide to check out Collections Etc and purchase their bottle tree, I would do as I did and concrete it into the ground. I use the larger bottles (wine size) on the bottom of the tree and gradually use smaller bottles up the tree. Just a thought......... @
  • Shirls Shirls on Jul 23, 2013
    Find a branch solid with thick branches on it that can take the weight of your bottles? I go to the park to find branches to repurpose. Thats what I would try.
  • Sandy Lueker Sandy Lueker on Jul 23, 2013
    I tried Collections etc. and couldn't find one on there..Summer is quickly passing and I don't know if I'll get it done this year, but I've been given some great ideas. so thank you to all of you!
  • Teri Herzog Teri Herzog on Jul 24, 2013
    I have seen a 4x4 with holes drilled and round like dole they are space at differnt levels very attractive.
  • Karla Campbell Karla Campbell on Jul 31, 2013
    after a while the dowels bend and get soft from rain i made 1 that way and ended up throwing it away and now am getting a medal 1 made
  • Sherri Brown Sherri Brown on Aug 05, 2013
    ok, added update on my tomato cage bottle trees. I saw a picture on pinterest where they glued two flat sided marbles together with a continuous line of fishing line between them. They then used it as garland around a tree in their yard. I am going to make some of this marble garland and further bling out my bottle tree. The sun should shine through it beautifully.
  • I put mine on a sweet gum tree, then when the tree died, I still had a stump that was over 8 feet tall. I love it better than using rebar because I can place the bottles much closer together and when the sun shines through the colored glass, its an amazing view from my kitchen window.
  • Mssmatch Mssmatch on Feb 09, 2014
    I cut lengths of rebar and drilled holes all around a 4x4 and stuck them in then concreted the 4x4 in ground. As far as what to ask for the bottle cages I think $15 tops
  • Cindy Moore Cindy Moore on Feb 09, 2014
    I had a 4x4 post in the yard of the house I bought. Drilled a few holes for dowell sticks and then reverted to using flag holders. The dowel rods did bend but so far not enough to drop the bottle. Cement metal rerods are the best. The more bottles the better - Google bottle tree and click on 'images' at the top of the page...you'll see many, many suggestions.