Zero waste Christmas decorations from the garden
Zero waste Christmas decorations cost you very little – or nothing at all.
They’re thrifty, sustainable and when the festivities are over, everything can go on the compost heap or into the green waste bin.
And you don’t even need to be ‘crafty’. These decorations from the garden are easy and don’t need any special equipment.
Use twigs, string, garden clippings and foraging to create natural, beautiful and thrifty Christmas decorations.
My definition of ‘zero waste Christmas decorations’ are things found in the garden, responsibly gathered from the countryside or involve re-using decorations we already have. I do often buy one set of new lights each year, but otherwise, almost all the decorations come from the garden or the countryside. And they go into the compost after New Year.
Although Christmas lights aren’t strictly ‘zero waste’, they last for years. I’ve found the tiny battery operated star fairy lights shown in the picture above especially useful. They’re available from Lights4Fun from Amazon. Amazon links in this post are affiliate, see disclosure.
How to make a twig wreath from tree trimmings
It’s considered best to prune silver birch trees before Christmas, so use the trimmings to make the perfect zero waste Christmas wreath.
I’m no craft expert – I’m sure I was born with ten thumbs. But even I have made a twig wreath almost every year for the past few Christmasses. People often comment – it’s so simple that it stands out from the more elaborate decorations everywhere else.
And it goes on the fire in the New Year, so it’s very sustainable.
I kept this simple, with twigs and lights, but you could add dried flowers or fruit or other decorations.
See the ‘how to’ tips demonstrated in video here.
Or if you prefer reading a post, here is How to Make A Twig Wreath From Tree Trimmings on the blog. The lights are a small battery string, and I concealed the battery under the ribbon. You can buy star battery lights like these from Amazon. I bought mine three years ago and they really make a difference on a table or in a wreath.
Make a giant wreath with tree prunings
An extra-large wreath looks extravagant and can cost quite a bit. But you can make it yourself on a minimum budget, using a child’s hoola hoop and garden clippings. Get your giant wreath instructions here.
Zero waste Christmas decorations with style! Make a giant wreath by winding ivy around a child’s hoola hoop. You can see the instructions in this video if that’s easier.
A giant wreath is luxurious – and it would cost a lot if you bought it ready made. But this is easy to make and costs very little.
Make jam jar Christmas lanterns with garden clippings:
Julie Davies of Flowerstart, runs floristry workshops and online floristry courses. She gave me the instructions for the twig wreath.
She also showed me how to do some charming Christmas table lanterns with seed-heads and twigs found in the garden. You can tie twigs or large evergreen leaves around jam jars, holding them in place with natural twine. It really is that easy.
You can see more detail in Jam Jar Christmas.
Use a rubber band or glue to stick evergreen leaves or twigs to the outside of jam jars. Then cover up the rubber band with pretty natural twine. For more detail about how to make these pretty Christmas lights from jam jars and garden twigs, see this video.
Zero waste festive table decorations
You can decorate your Christmas table almost entirely with evergreen leaves, ivy, twigs, pine cones and fruit.
Just cut lengths of ivy and thread them down the centre of the table. Add brightly coloured fruit, such as oranges, tangerines and lemons. Wind the ivy carefully around the candles, remembering to keep them clear of the wick. (Candles must not be left unattended).
There are more detailed instructions here in Christmas table decorations from the garden. Or see how quickly the table can be decorated on this video.
Twist a length of ivy along the table, and poke or tie in pine cones as Christmas decorations. Add brightly coloured berries or fruit. Very quick and easy!
How to forage for your zero waste Christmas decorations
Turn a weekend walk into a zero waste Christmas decorating expedition.
You can pick up fallen twigs and use them in your wreath and jam jar lights…but
Until 2008, everyone had the right to gather up fallen wood and twigs as part of our Magna Carta rights, but this was rescinded by a European directive.
So you don’t always technically have the right to pick up twigs and branches you find on the street or in the park. It’s hard to imagine that anyone is going to complain, but they could.
And you need permission to be on private land, so always ask permission if foraging from local landowners, the council or the National Trust.
Although rights are different in different places, you can usually gather twigs and flower heads from verges and common land in the UK, as long as you don’t dig up plants. But you can’t forage for something you intend to sell, unless you’ve obtained permission.
And because there are so many different regulations in different places, always check what the legal situation is where you are.
People do sometimes put their clippings out on the street with a ‘help yourself’ notice. Or if you spot a neighbour doing some useful pruning, you could always ask them if you can have some clippings. Most people are happy to help.
Decorating with lawn moss
Our lawn is very mossy and may need re-seeding. This is another great idea from Julie Davies, and I will certainly be peeling up the moss from our lawn to use in decorating this year.
You can often find moss in your garden to use around bulbs – and you could return it to the garden afterwards!
Wildlife-friendly garden decorations
If you’re decorating your garden, porch or the outside of your house, consider the effect on wildlife. Birds and other creatures get woken up by brightly flashing Christmas lights. It disrupts their sleep patterns putting their health at risk.
Christmas lights are so cheering, but if you leave them on all night you’re not being wildlife-friendly. Put them on a timer.
The wonderful Abbey Physic Garden in Faversham is organic and eco-friendly. I found some great wildlife-friendly outdoor Christmas decorating ideas there that didn’t involve lights. They hung huge baubles on trees and natural wreaths on pergolas. It looked festive without adding too much light to the garden.
However, I do love Christmas lights, so perhaps another compromise is to use solar garden lights which don’t charge up for long in the winter, so they go off early in the night. I know that’s another opportunity for shopping, but you may already have them. I bought the iihome 50 LED Solar String Lights from Amazon.
See here for more wildlife friendly garden tips. And keep your gardening eco-friendly all year round with How to Create an Easy Sustainable Garden.
Outdoor decorations without lights: try creating an outdoor ‘tablescape’ with potted miniature Christmas trees, twigs and lanterns. Or hang baubles on bare branches and a wreath on a pergola or trellis.
More festive ideas for the garden
Fill your winter pots and window boxes with red flowers and berries and add solar-powered lights.
But filling winter pots and window boxes is slightly different from doing summer ones. For example, plants are mainly dormant in winter, so they don’t grow. That means they won’t fill out the pot – you’ll need more plants to get the same full effect. See some useful winter pot tips here.
And designer Jane Beedle’s house always looks like one of the most festive in the street. She makes up stylish winter window boxes that also look Christmassy – see how to plant a winter window box here.
Your pots and window boxes make your house welcoming!
Pin to remember zero waste Christmas decorations
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Alexandra, these are wonderful ideas and videos.
Thank you!