In an ideal world we'd dispense with tree guards entirely. We have other options available to us, including fencing against deer, humane culling or innovative planting methods that lead more trees to survive. But those options can be logistically difficult or expensive, so tree tubes will still have a role in our work. Start by painting or drawing a tree shape on one of the paper plates. Then cut out the shape and fold the plate in half so that the two sides match up. Use the tape or glue to attach the two halves together. Once you’re done, you should have a two-dimensional paper plate tree!

I had an idea to create some Christmas trees that could somehow fold away flat for people with limited space, and I love how they turned out! They also ended up to solve a few other holiday problems. These cardboard Christmas trees: Trace a tree onto a sheet of cardboard with your pencil. Consider the size and shape you'd like, and ensure that your tree is symmetrical. Keep in mind that to create one standing tree, you'll need three flat cardboard trees of the exact same size. I made three separate trees out of the supplies listed, so I’m going to walk you through them one at a time. Once that coat of paint was dry, I lightly brushed some darker grey paint onto the scrapbook paper to slightly grunge it up a bit.Note :: You’ll want to protect your work surface with a cutting mat or another piece of cardboard so you don’t cut your table or floor or whatever. Then take the tan paper, wad it a bit for texture, and attach it to the cardboard using glue. Wadding it up a bit is what gives the texture, making it look more like wood. This is a great craft to do with kids because it’s so easy and they can really let their imaginations run wild. And when you’re done, you’ll have a unique and one-of-a-kind Christmas tree that everyone will love! The Button Tree Use the utility knife with a fresh, sharp blade to cut out the cardboard tree shapes. (Adults only, of course.) I missed it terribly. It just felt like something was missing the entire year. I loved entering the room each morning being greeted by that tree!

Let me share a simple tutorial with you, in case your classroom is begging for a tree! How to Make a Simple Classroom Tree: The Tutorial

We pride ourselves on offering a wide range of lights, in a variety of different styles. If you’re wondering where to start in finding your perfect lights, why not use our handy lights guide Fold each tree in half. Create two slits in each tree on the fold, one high and one low on the tree. The slits should be less than half the depth of your cardboard circles (ours are 1.5"). Fold each tree in half. Create two slits in each tree on the fold, one high and one low on the tree. The slits should be less than half the depth of your cardboard circles (ours are 1.5″). To stain the reed, mix a bit of brown paint with water and apply it with a wet wipe. Use a clean wet wipe to remove the excess, then allow the stain to dry. The main purpose of a tree guard is to protect newly planted trees from browsing, but they also provide other benefits; they create a more favourable microclimate that helps to promote the growth of young trees and protect the plants from wind, competing vegetation, herbicides and water loss. Wooden and wire tree guards have been in use since the 1820s, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that plastic versions were first used. As a cheaper material compared to alternatives, plastic is now widely used for guards in planting schemes.

This is probably the easiest DIY Christmas tree craft on this list! All you need is a cardboard box, some scissors, and some tape. Simply cut out a tree shape from your cardboard box, and then decorate it however you like! You could even use old Christmas cards to make your own unique decorations.This DIY Christmas tree craft is a little more involved, but it’s still pretty easy to do. You’ll need some scrapbook paper, a pencil, scissors, tape, and a ruler. I pushed three wood dowels down into the candle holder top and glued it in place. Then, I positioned the cardboard triangle onto the wood dowels to create the height I wanted. Start by drawing a tree shape on a piece of scrapbook paper. Then use the scissors to cut out the shape. Next, fold the tree in half so that the two sides match up. Use the tape to attach the two halves together. Finally, use the ruler to make evenly spaced cuts down both sides of the tree (be sure not to cut all the way through). Once you’re done, unfold your tree and it should look like a three-dimensional Christmas tree!

The church that our preschool resides in had done a remodel of the children’s wing and repainted all the walls.If you want to see the DIY process, craft along, or just join in on the fun conversations you can watch the DIY tutorial replay on Facebook! For this project, I will be using these items but you can substitute where you want. The Old Chalk New Downs project, hosted by Kent County Council and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, has been exploring alternative options to plastic tree guards. It first compared the costs of different materials, including plastic, cardboard and biodegradable plastic, and looked at the pros and cons for each guard type. For instance, one of the advantages of a cardboard guard is that it does not need to be removed after installation, but it may deteriorate a lot faster than other guard types, especially in particularly wet areas. Biodegradable tree guard options Lyndsay Wayman-Rook If you’re using a saw, it’s really easy to layer 3 pieces of cardboard and cut them all out at the same time. If you’re using scissors or a box cutter, just cut out three trees by hand. I alternated between shimmering silver paint and brown paint to create a layered finish on the corrugated scrapbook paper. Press the scrapbook paper down firmly and allow the Mod Podge to dry. I trimmed any excess paper from the cardboard and started working on the base.