Have you ever wondered what to do with your Christmas tree after the holidays? Instead of discarding it, why not repurpose it into a delightful bird feeder?

In this creative DIY project, Laura from Garden Answer shows us how to turn your Christmas tree into a haven for birds.

This fun and eco-friendly project not only recycles your tree but also provides birds with much-needed food during the winter months. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you follow along.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients and supplies: You’ll need a pencil, a sugar ice cream cone, pipe cleaner or metal ornament hook, a table knife, a jar of peanut butter, large cereal (like Cheerios!), and wild bird seed. Personally, I think it’s a great idea to use peanut butter (or another nut butter), which should be natural, 100% nuts.

Peanut butter is a great source of fats and protein that birds need at this time of year.

• Muffin tin
• Cooking spray
• Bowl
• 2 packages of plain gelatin
• 1 cup hot water
• 6 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1.5 cups flour
• 8 cups wild bird seed
• Jute twine or ribbon
• Wax or parchment paper
• Knife
• Peanut butter
• Large needle
• Fishing line
• Cranberries, dried oranges, popcorn, apples

Step 1: Making Bird Seed Ornaments

First, mix gelatin with water and add your favorite bird seed. Then pour the mixture into molds, refrigerate until firm, and voila!

You will have some charming homemade bird seed cakes to share. Fill the paper plate with bird seeds.

Then, coat all or half of a pretzel in peanut butter. Dip the peanut butter-covered pretzel in plenty of bird seed on the plate, making sure to cover the whole sticky surface.

Step 2: Creating Pine Cone Ornaments

You can also serve peanut butter in a dried orange half or smear a pine cone with peanut butter, roll it in birdseed, and hang it for birds to enjoy. Spread peanut butter all over the outside of the cone.

Smooth peanut butter likely works best, but you could give crunchy a try. These don’t have to be perfect!

One of the many easy DIY suet feeders anyone can make is a pine cone suet feeder. All you have to do is collect some pine cones, tie them onto some string or natural twine, then squash bits of suet mix around it, firming it into place.

Step 3: Stringing Garland

You can also consider stringing peach slices or other pieces of fruit on a line of natural twine and hanging these somewhere in your garden. This keeps peaches safe from pests and gives birds a chance to eat where they are less likely to fall prey to predator attacks.

Step 4: Apple and Orange Garland

However, if necessary, you can also add a few slices of apple to a feeder in your garden, or hang an apple from a tree or other support. If you notice that the orioles are skipping over the sliced oranges, I recommend cutting them at an angle.

Orange slices positioned with an upward-slanting angle will be easier to access for most orioles. One way to preserve apples is to dry them.

Dried apple slices will last a lot longer than the fresh fruits and will help you make the most of a harvest. These can feed you, and some wildlife, over the months when fresh apples are not in season.

Step 5: Putting It All Together

Now that all your ornaments and garlands are ready, it’s time to decorate your tree. Place the tree in a location where you can enjoy watching the birds from your window.

Ensure the tree is sheltered from the wind, perhaps by placing it near shrubs or larger trees. Use a sturdy tree stand to keep it upright.

Hang all the bird seed ornaments, pine cone ornaments, and garlands on the tree. Adding a few store-bought feeders can provide extra bulk and variety.

Laura recommends using finch sock feeders and sunflower seed feeders for larger birds.

Step 6: Enjoy the Birds

Your Christmas tree-turned-bird feeder is now ready to provide birds with a winter feast. Enjoy watching the birds from the comfort of your home while knowing you’ve given your tree a second life.

Conclusion

This project is a fantastic way to recycle your Christmas tree and create a winter wonderland for birds. It’s inexpensive, easy to do, and fun for the whole family.

Plus, it’s a great way to get kids involved in nature and wildlife conservation.

Branch-hanger bird treats

Spec	What our writers say
Cone supplies	Sugar cone, pipe cleaner or hook, knife, peanut butter, cereal, seed
Peanut butter	Natural, 100% nuts
Seed cakes	Gelatin, water, and seed, poured into molds and chilled
Pretzel ornament	Coat a pretzel in peanut butter and roll it in seed
Pine cone	Smear peanut butter, roll in seed, and hang
Pine cone suet	Tie cones on twine and press suet mix into them
Fruit line	String peach slices on natural twine
Apples	Hang an apple from a tree or other support
Oranges	Cut slices at an upward angle for orioles
Dried apples	Last longer than fresh fruit after harvest

Keep reading

• Stay Cool and Creative: Make an Ice Cream Cone Bird Feeder Inside
• 18 Bird Feeder Area Ideas to Attract More Birds
• 6 DIY Bird Seed Feeders for Your Yard (Materials + Method)