Turn Those Tomato Cages Into Sparkly Holiday Trees (Trust Me on This)

So here’s the thing… a few years ago, right around early December, I was knee-deep in Christmas bins and digging through the garage for that one box of lights I swore I’d labeled “FRONT PORCH – DO NOT BURY.” Of course, it was buried. But what I did find was a stack of old tomato cages from the summer garden—dusty, bent, and totally forgotten.

And I don’t know what came over me, but I looked at them and thought: “Well, you could be a tree.”

Next thing I knew, I had one flipped upside down, wrapped in lights, and glowing like something off a Pinterest board. It was the easiest, most satisfying little project—and now it’s become a holiday staple around here. I’ve even got my neighbors doing it. One of them added jingle bells and called hers “Jingle Sprout.” We laughed way too hard at that.

Anyway, if you’ve got an extra tomato cage lying around—or if you’re just in the mood for a cheap thrill that looks surprisingly high-end—this is your sign.

Why You’ll Be Glad You Did This

• Cheap. It’s basically trash-to-treasure, and who doesn’t love that?

• No skills required. If you can hold a string of lights and wrap it around something, you’re good.

• Totally customizable. You want rustic charm? Glam? Classic red-and-green? Go wild.

• Indoor or outdoor friendly. Stick it in the entryway, on the porch, next to the fireplace… wherever it needs to shine.

• Surprisingly gorgeous. Like, the “where did you buy that?” kind of gorgeous.

What You’ll Need (Spoiler: It’s Not Much)

• 1 tomato cage (around 3 feet tall, but you can use smaller ones too)

• 1–2 strands of LED string lights (100–200 lights depending on how extra you feel)

• Zip ties, twist ties, or even just some floral wire

• Optional goodies: ribbon, ornaments, garland, little bows

• Something for the top (I once used a cinnamon stick tied with twine—super cute)

Side note: If it’s going outside, double-check those lights are rated for outdoor use. Learned that one the hard way.

Here’s How You Do It (With a Few Side Notes)

1. Flip that cage.
   Turn it upside down so the wide circle becomes the base, and the pokey parts are now up in the air like little reindeer antlers.

2. Tie the top.
   Gather those “antlers” and zip-tie them together into a point. Boom—tree shape.

3. Wrap the lights.
   Start at the bottom and wrap up toward the top, just like you’d decorate a regular tree. Don’t stress about perfect spacing—once it’s glowing, no one’s zooming in.

4. Secure it.
   Use your ties to keep the lights in place. It doesn’t have to be pretty behind the scenes—it just has to work.

5. Add the flair (or don’t).
   Some years I keep it minimal—just lights. Other times I go nuts with little bows, ornaments, even eucalyptus sprigs. Follow your holiday heart.

6. Top it off.
   You can add a ribbon bow, a small ornament, a chunk of cinnamon stick (yes, really), or leave it bare. It all works.

7. Plug it in and stand back.
   This is the best part. Turn off the lights, plug it in, and just enjoy that little spark of “Oh my gosh, I made that.”

Want to Shake It Up a Bit?

Here are a few ways to tweak the vibe depending on your style (or mood):

• Farmhouse Cozy: Wrap the cage in burlap or twine before the lights, add a buffalo plaid bow on top, and toss in a few pinecones.

• Colorful Chaos: Use rainbow lights, bright ornaments, tinsel—go full retro and don’t apologize.

• Winter White: All-white lights, metallic ribbon, maybe a sprinkle of faux snow if you’re feeling fancy.

• Mini Forest: Group a few together in different heights (small cages, big ones, even a wire basket flipped upside down). Great for porches or corners that need a glow-up.

What About After the Holidays?

When January rolls around and the cookies are gone (sigh), you’ll want to store this baby properly:

• Unplug it.

• Snip the zip ties.

• Take off the lights and store them neatly (I wrap mine around cardboard so I’m not crying next December).

• Stack the cages back in the garage like they never even saw the holidays.

Or—and I’ve done this—leave one up in the kitchen as a “winter tree.” Just swap the red for blue and silver, and let it shine until spring.

A Little Goodbye (and an Open Door)

I know this wasn’t a big, fancy tutorial—but sometimes it’s the simple things that bring the most joy. A tomato cage, a string of lights, and a little bit of love can change the whole feel of a space. Isn’t that kind of wonderful?

If you try this, I’d absolutely love to see what you make. Share a pic, drop a comment, or just tell me what color lights you used. And if you’ve got another garden tool–turned–holiday decor idea? Please—do not keep that to yourself.

Until next time, keep things cozy and a little bit sparkly.