Sustainable Halloween Decor: Easy DIY Compostable Twig Garland
Are you looking for sustainable Halloween decor ideas? Are you interested in a fun and eco-friendly Halloween craft? Check out this DIY compostable twig garland!
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I am the reigning Halloween Queen in both my immediate and extended family. If I could ride around on a broomstick from now until November 1, I absolutely would. And I’m always on the hunt for a new and spooky DIY to celebrate my favorite season. The tricky part, however, is finding fun Halloween crafts and decor that align with our environmental goals.
This year, I’ve been focused on sustainable Halloween ideas! I made DIY spooky yard signs from old wood pallets and an almost completely compostable haunted pumpkin patch, but I just wanted something… more.
So, where did I get the inspiration for this DIY twig garland? Honestly, I have to thank a recent re-watching of the Blair Witch Project. Those little stick figures still scare the bejeezus out of me, but not in the “the-neighbors-will-love-this” kind of way. It’s a fine line between crazy-about-Halloween and flat-out-crazy. I do love an innovative Halloween craft, but I don’t aspire to be the next hot topic on Nextdoor.
The idea of crafting with twigs and branches stuck with me, however, and I started brainstorming other ways to use these ever-so-plentiful and compostable materials for a more sustainable Halloween. Thus, my DIY compostable twig garland was born!
Why I love this DIY Compostable Twig Garland:
- You only need three materials for this DIY, and two of them are freely foraged this time of year.
- My twig garland is entirely compostable. (Skip the floral wire and opt for jute or twine to hold it all together.)
- It’s hauntingly beautiful and utterly unique.
- While it does require a little bit of patience working in the bundles of twigs, the only real skill required is tying a good double-knot.
Finally, the DIY Compostable Twig Garland is easily adaptable for the holiday season. Kick it up a notch by adding strands of lights, bunches of fall foliage, or by painting your twigs black (if you’re not planning to compost them). You can also work in your existing Halloween decor, such as small plastic skeletons, light-up eyes, or bats.
Suggested Materials for DIY Compostable Twig Garland
- A spool of sisal or biodegradable, natural fiber twine
- Several longer, lightweight branches to serve as the foundation of your garland
- Scissors
- A large quantity of sticks or twigs
- Clusters of brown, rust-colored, or autumn leaves
- Seasonal string lights (optional) – you could do warm white or even orange
How to Assemble Your DIY Twig Garland
Note: For a fuller-looking garland, look for twigs with lots of off-shoots and clumps of fallen leaves, as you’ll often find after a storm. If you live in an area where the leaves change, consider clipping brightly-hued foliage to add to your garland. We don’t have changing leaves, but we did have a pile of recently trimmed azalea branches, which dried to a gorgeous rusty orange.
- Run a length of twine along the area where you’ll be building your garland, adding knots around any columns or existing nails (such as the ones we use for our Christmas lights each year). You’ll want to leave enough slack in your twine that you can pull it forward to allow about 4 inches of space to accommodate the irregular shape of your sticks and twigs.
- Add your largest, longest sticks to form a “foundation” for your garland by wrapping the twine around them and through any Y-shaped forks in your twigs so that their weight will fall onto the twine, holding them in place. Let gravity work with you, not against you. (View pictures.)
- Then, gather your twigs and branches into small bunches and tie them together with a tight double knot, leaving about 4-5 inches of excess twine on either end.
- Add your bunches to the foundation of your garland by nestling the knot end of each bundle between the branches. Secure each bundle by tying a second double-knot around both the foundation branch and the foundation length of the twine.
- Repeat at about 4-5-inch intervals along your garland (or as desired).
- Fill in any “holes” or flush out your garland with bunches of leaves.
- If desired, work in string lights or other decorative elements. Enjoy!
How to Dispose of Your DIY Twig Garland Responsibly
If you use a biodegradable twine, toss the whole mess (minus the lights) in the compost.
If composting is not an option in your home, remove the twine and use the twigs in your next bonfire. Remember that the resulting wood ash can be used in your garden, as well!
All photos via Reese Moore Photography
If You Liked This DIY Compostable Twig Garland for Sustainable Halloween Decor, You May Enjoy:
How to Host a Halloween Costume Swap
Cheap DIY Halloween Decorations: Haunted Orchard Tablescape
20 Zero Waste Halloween Decoration Ideas
About the Author
Reese Moore
Reese Moore is a photographer, content creator, and pickle connoisseur who divides time between Charleston and Lake Lure. When she’s not behind the lens shooting stunning images for Reese Moore Photography, Reese loves to spend her time wandering the woods with her dog Gatsby or adventuring with her husband Logan in their Airstream Basecamp.
DIY Compostable Twig Garland
Are you looking for sustainable Halloween decor ideas? Check out this DIY compostable twig garland!
Materials
- A spool of sisal or biodegradable, natural fiber twine
- Several longer, lightweight branches to serve as the foundation of your garland
- A large quantity of sticks or twigs
- Clusters of brown, rust-colored, or autumn leaves
- Seasonal string lights (optional)
Tools
- Scissors
Instructions
- Run a length of twine along the area where you’ll be building your garland, adding knots around any columns or existing nails (such as the ones we use for our Christmas lights each year). You’ll want to leave enough slack in your twine that you can pull it forward to allow about 4 inches of space to accommodate the irregular shape of your sticks and twigs.
- Add your largest, longest sticks to form a “foundation” for your garland by wrapping the twine around them and through any Y-shaped forks in your twigs so that their weight will fall onto the twine, holding them in place. Let gravity work with you, not against you. (View pictures.)
- Then, gather your twigs and branches into small bunches and tie them together with a tight double knot, leaving about 4-5 inches of excess twine on either end.
- Add your bunches to the foundation of your garland by nestling the knot end of each bundle between the branches. Secure each bundle by tying a second double-knot around both the foundation branch and the foundation length of the twine.
- Repeat at about 4-5-inch intervals along your garland (or as desired).
- Fill in any “holes” or flush out your garland with bunches of leaves.
- If desired, work in string lights or other decorative elements. Enjoy!
