Instead of throwing them in the trash or compost, use invasive vines to make a wild grapevine wreath for your home decor. Add a few decorations to hang on your front door.
How many times have you purchased a grapevine wreath at craft stores like Michaels? I know I have purchased many. They are not very expensive, and they work well with so many projects.
However, did you know you can make a natural grapevine wreath from vines you may have growing in your backyard?
Here's a pic of a wild grapevine (Vitis spp.) growing in the garden. It's a real pest, and I do my best to pull it out during the season.
However, invariably there are still some around when it comes time for winter cleanup. Like this long one pictured above.
Making a Grapevine Wreath
Instead of throwing it in the compost, or waste pile, I decided to make a grapevine wreath base from the old vine.
The process is incredibly simple. Just soak old grapevines in a bucket of warm water for about an hour. This will make them softer and flexible.
If you are using fresh living vines you can let them dry out for a couple of days after you cut them. Then you can easily strip the leaves from the vines. I'd leave the tendrils. They offer great accents to the wreath.
Pull the vines out of the bucket, and start at one end, making a circular coil.
Use the side branches to wrap around all the vines, keeping them tidy and neat.
Allow the wreath to dry overnight. Then it's ready for any decor project. They last a long time, so you can also store them for future use.
If you don't have grapevines growing in your area, you can make your own wreaths from other vines too such as Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens). Here's a good video on how to make a wreath vine from fresh Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.).
Safety Note: Make sure you know what you are working with, so you don't end up making a wreath with poison ivy.
You can make them as big or small as your harvest allows. If you have a ton of vines, you might consider selling these wild grapevine wreaths at a local market. With zero cost in materials and very little production time, the profit margins are pretty good.
More Grapevine Projects to Make
Make Your Own Grapevine Wreaths
Equipment
- Hand pruners
- Large plastic tub
Materials
- Fresh or dried wild grapevines
Instructions
- Cut several yards of wild grapevine.
- Soak the vines in a large bucket of water to soften the vines. If the vines are fresh and malleable you don't need to soak them.
- Pull the vines out of the bucket, and start at one end, making a circular coil.
- Take any side branches and wrap them into the wreath too.
- Continue wrapping the vines around and over each other until you get the size you want.
- Allow the wreath to dry.
- Decorate or hang.
Lynette Reed
I want to make an oval wreath. do i need support or wires?
Patti Estep
Lynette, I don't think so, but I have never done it. You may need to work a little harder to make the shape oval. You can wrap extra vines around different areas of the oval to hold it into place. The fresh vines or (wet if they are dried) should dry into place.
Cara Davoli
I don't have a garden to snag some free vines, but live in wine country. When is a good part of the season to snag some vines?
Patti Estep
Oh lucky you. I've used the wild ones green during the growing season and I've also used the ones that are dried after winter. I just soaked the dry ones as shown in the post. So I would say any time would work.
Shannon
Hi Patti,
Thank you for sharing this tutorial, it is very helpful! I am going to make a wreath that will be 4ft in diameter. Should I use something to help support the shape?
Patti Estep
Shannon, thicker vines will make it sturdier. Also, you can make sure that you wrap the vines around the wreath more for stability.
Cat
Very simple directions thank you. I started last year collecting vines BUT had NO idea about poison Ivy vines ..... for that THAN YOU !
Patti Estep
Cat, I'm glad you like the post and what out for that poison ivy. I don't seem to have too much trouble with it but my husband has a terrible reaction at the slightest touch.
bryan e
I just read the above comments from your readers and your replies. I had forgotten about using warm water. Thanks. Years ago I bought a "rose thorn stripper", I think from a floral supply store, and it has saved me from bloody fingers and lots of time. It's a very simple tool to use. I wish i could send you a drawing. Mine is metal about 3/4" wide and sort of works like a spring cloths pin. It's always "open" and ready to use, close it in your hand with the thorned stem in the Vs at the end, and pull. I use mine most often when de-leafing flower stems and of the thorns from from the Brown thistle plants that are so ready for harvesting at this time of the year. I have often seen them spray painted (usually red) and sometimes with added glitter when being used for holiday arrangements. I hope I was of some help. (PS I'm at my local library as I don't have a computer and one of the library assistants, and I discovered when looking for the name of that thistled plant that it seems to be called "Brown thistle"!)
Patti Estep
Thanks Brian. Thank you for all your ideas. I'll keep an eye out for a rose stripper. It would be a great help.
Brenda Stannix
I have many vines from our garden and have wanted to make wreaths, but have wondered how the best vines to pick? I have new, still green and old vines.
Patti Estep
Brenda, I've used them both. The old vines will be easier to work with if you wet them first but you may not have to with the fresh ones. Cut the vine as long as you can, remove the leaves, then start creating the size wreath you want. Weave some of the vines over and under or through so that they hold together. Then let it sit and dry out. At that point, you can remove any extra leaves etc..
Pam wilson
Do you make grapevine wreaths to sale?
I need one for our church but no one has them in the stores bigger than 24. I need a big one. Like 48
Patti Estep
Pam, I'm sorry but I do not make wreaths to sell. You might look at Etsy. Or see if anyone from the church has grapevines on their property that they could donate. They really are easy to make and dry out in a day.
Lorrie Campbell
Pam please feel free to contact me. I do custom wreaths.
Sarah
If you use wild blackberry vines with thorns, won't they be difficult to decorate once dried? I'd love to use mine if possible. Also, what other shapes have you made and how do you shape them?
Patti Estep
Sarah, I have never used blackberry vines but have seen where others use them. You would have to remove the thorns. Wear a pair of leather glove and hold one end of the vine while you pull down and scrape off the thorns with your other hand.
Arlene Crowley
I made a wreath from blackberry vines...these blackberry vines are growing in my yard. .from my next door neighbor's yard.
The bad part about these vines is the large thorns. I enjoy the berries and also the wreaths I can make.
Patti Estep
Yes, I bet they were troublesome to work with but with the right gloves why not. I love using things in nature that you're probably going to toss in the compost pile anyway to decorate. Thanks for sharing Arlene.
Adele D
Can you make the wreath with vines that are still green & just allow it to dry/harden?
Patti Estep
Hi Adele,
Yes, you can use green vines too.
Zori Fernandez
Zori
June 8, 2017
You're not going to believe this, but I made my wreath from roots!!! I started planting some Crepe Myrtles and I kept pulling roots (very long ones). I tossed them a side to put them in the trash, but after seeing your post for wreaths, I thought, what a perfect idea for a wreath made from roots. Talk about FREE!! Thank You!!! 😊
Patti Estep
Hi Zori,
A wreath from roots? That's a first but why the heck not? I love it!
Thanks for sharing your wonderful idea!
Patti
Pamela
I made mine from Wisteria vines too. Living in wine country that may seem odd but it was what I had growing and had plenty of when I pruned it to keep it in check.
carole
Making wreath base is fun because you can create what you want. I've made wreaths using wisteria vines, they're thicker but so fun to work with. Great tutorial and a neat reminder that sometimes we should begin creating with what we have before running to the store. Definitely opens the door to thinking outside the box which is always fun.
Patti Estep
Hi Carole,
Yes. Wisteria is another great option. Thanks for mentioning it. I know I always get a thrill from creating something from nothing or for free so I hope my readers do too.
Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!
Patti