Handmade Bird Feeder Wreaths: The Perfect DIY for those Cold Winter Months!

Do you have piles of dried flowers waiting to be used but have already exhausted your creativity making dried flower decorations, magnets, wreaths, and more? Handmade bird feeder wreaths are the perfect way to use up dried flowers and attract birds to your home during the long, dreary winter months.

Tara of Wild Bird Farm recently shared with me her tips and tricks for making DIY bird feeder wreaths, and I’m thrilled to have her as a guest contributor on this blog post to share her process with you all herself! Below are Tara’s step-by-step directions to make this practical and beautiful dried flower arrangement. If you’re more of a visual learner, you can check out her video on YouTube!

A wreath made of dried flowers and twigs, featuring earthy tones of brown, red, and orange, is hung on a tree trunk with rough bark. The background shows an open, grassy field and a clear sky.

Making a DIY Bird Feeder Wreath

In past years, I have dipped pinecones in peanut butter and rolled them in birdseed to hang in my yard for the birds, but this year, I wanted to try something different. As I was planting tulip bulbs, I noticed a lot of edible flowers and seed pods still standing in my garden.

We had received a killing frost weekly earlier, but I usually leave much of the flower farm ‘as is’ throughout the winter for the birds and insects to forage. I decided to gather some of these dried bits and pieces and see if I could put together a unique bird feeder wreath – one the birds could forage from and something that would be pretty for me to look at!

If you prefer video content, check out Wild Bird Farm‘s video on YouTube:

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own:

Dried plant material, edible for birds (amaranth, sedum, basil, grass pods, dried flowers like marigolds or sunflowers)
Wreath form – I used a wire one, but a grapevine one would work, too
Paddle wire – thin to medium gauge
Wire snips
Flower snips
Gardening gloves (optional)

A wreath-making setup consisting of a metal wreath frame, a spool of green wire, a pair of red and black needle-nose pliers, and a pair of grey and green work gloves on a dark surface.

how to make a homemade Bird Feeder Wreath

If you’ve made an evergreen wreath before, the concept is similar. You will secure small bunches of your dried materials onto the wreath form with the paddle wire.

First, process your dried plant material into small pieces with stems 4-6 inches long. Create piles of each type so you can quickly grab them to put your small bunches together.

TIP: I used a 14-inch wreath form, and it took a surprising amount of material. Cut more dried plant material than you think you’ll need.

A hand with maroon-colored nails holding a bouquet of dried flowers. The bouquet includes small, dried, orange flowers and various other dried flowers in shades of beige and purple. A larger arrangement of similar dried flowers is visible in the background.

Next, secure your paddle wire to the wreath by wrapping it around several times. Then, create a small bunch using several stems of your dried material. I found 3-4 different types of materials worked well. Amaranth bulked up the bunch, while single flower heads like marigolds needed more substance added to create a full bunch.

Lay your first bunch on the wreath frame and wrap the stems snugly with the paddle wire, usually 3-5 times around.

A person wearing green gloves is seen arranging dried flowers, including pink and brown varieties, on a black table. Nearby are wire cutters, a spool of green wire, and a partially completed circular wreath frame. Bright orange flowers are also visible.

Once secure, take another bunch, lay it on the stems of the previous bunch, and wrap it with wire. I like to vary the direction of the bunches – one slightly angling out and the next slightly angling into the wreath frame. This creates a full wreath and helps cover the prior bunch’s stems.

You will work around the wreath form this way. I found adding a sunflower head to every other bunch created a nice balance. If you are using smaller flowers, maybe adding two or three of the same will look nice. If I had more marigolds, I would have added more to bring out the orange colour.

A crafting table with a half-finished wreath made of various dried flowers and foliage in shades of pink, purple, brown, and orange. Loose flower pieces and stems are scattered on the table. A gloved hand is visible in the top left corner, holding a tag.

Snug your last bunch under the first bunch so its stems are hidden, taking care to keep the first bunch loose from the paddle wire so it can lay over that last bunch. Poke extra dried material into any holes or gaps you see and trim the paddle wire, securing it to the wreath frame.

Hanging your edible flower Wreath

Now it’s time to hang your wreath! Choose a location that’s somewhat protected from wind if you can. You can hang it from a shepherd’s hook or on a fence post. I hung my wreath on a tree I can see from my kitchen window. I have seen birds on it, but I haven’t managed to snap a picture yet!

A dried flower wreath with a mix of brown, pink, and orange flowers is laid on a black surface. Scissors and green floral wire are to the left of the wreath, suggesting it is being crafted or adjusted. Dried flower debris is scattered around the wreath.

Related: 25+ Best Flowers to Grow for Dried Flower Arrangements

Thanks again to Wild Bird Farm for sharing this gorgeous homemade bird feeder! Find Tara on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for more cut flower beauty and creative DIYs. And, if you’re local to Iowa, check out her website for u-pick opportunities and to buy cut flowers, bouquets, dried flower creations, and more!

I look forward to making this DIY wreath myself and will update this post with my experience once I have.

A close-up of a vibrant floral arrangement featuring a mix of dried flowers and foliage in shades of purple, brown, and yellow. The textures and colors of the different plants create a rich and intricate composition, with some flowers having papery petals.

If you liked this blog post, find me on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram for more cold-climate vegetable gardening tips, delicious recipes, and cut-flower goodness! I also make weekly videos over on my YouTube channel. I hope to see you there!

WANT TO EXTEND YOUR CREATIVITY TO BOUQUET MAKING?

Bouquets Made Beautiful includes a collection of my best bouquets of all sizes, throughout all seasons, including a flower-by-flower list with pictures for every single one! I also share my favourite colour palettes that I return to over and over again. Whether you’re a backyard gardener or a farmer florist, this highly visual ebook will help you create better-looking bouquets and give you more confidence that you’re growing the right things.

If you’re planning for an event and ready to take your flower farming to the next level, this ebook is also available in the DIY Wedding Bundle alongside Cut Flowers Made Simple and the Flower Farmer Garden Planner.