How to Make a DIY Topiary Tree for Your Porch

Have you ever admired beautiful topiary trees decorating someone’s front porch, only to discover they’re much more expensive than you expected? A DIY topiary tree is a wonderful way to create that same classic, welcoming look without the designer price tag.

Today, I’m sharing how to make a three-tiered faux boxwood topiary tree set using simple materials and a little creativity.

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A black front door with a green leafy wreath featuring a white letter A is flanked by two DIY topiary trees in pots and a semicircle doormat on stone paving.

These timeless topiaries add height, texture, and elegance to your porch while staying green year-round.

One of my favorite things about this project is that it doesn’t have to be completed all at once.

We built our topiary trees over time, adding another boxwood orb as our budget allowed.

Whether you make one topiary or a matching pair, I’ll show you how to create a custom look that you can enjoy for years to come.

Table of Contents

Gather Materials

Six artificial boxwood topiary balls of varying sizes are arranged on a stone patio, near a brick wall and some green ferns in white pots. — 17″ boxwood orb | 13.5″ boxwood orb | 10″ boxwood orb

To make one DIY topiary tree, you’ll need:

3 faux boxwood balls in graduating sizes- At Home (17″, 13.5″, 10″)
1large outdoor urn- Home Depot, similar urn
1 (3/4-inch x 48-inch) wooden dowel rod- Lowe’s
Brown paint- FolkArt in Coffee Bean- similar brown paint
5 scrap 2×4 wood blocks
Drill
3/4″ spade drill bit
Wood gl u e
Clamp
Bag of pebbles- similar rocks
1 nail
Small drill bit the size of your nail

We’re making a matching pair for our front porch, so we simply doubled the materials.

How to make a DIY topiary tree

Create a Sturdy base

Two black urn-shaped planters with wide rims are placed side by side on a stone patio in front of a gray brick wall, touching at the top edges. — Similar urn

Before assembling your DIY topiary tree, you’ll need to create a sturdy base to support the dowel rod inside the planter.

Since our faux boxwood balls are quite large, we wanted to make sure the finished topiary would be stable and secure.

Three stacked artificial green topiary balls in a black planter sit by a gray textured wall and a black door on a brick floor, creating the look of an elegant DIY Topiary Tree.

Start by placing the boxwood balls onto the dowel rod and setting it inside your planter to determine the correct height.

Our planters are deeper than the length of the dowel rod, so we need to create a wood base for the dowel to stand on.

It will take five scrap 2×4 wood blocks to make our dowel rod the correct height.

A person uses a power drill with a spade bit to drill into a piece of wood, creating wood shavings on a workbench labeled Workmate.

To create the base, Rich drilled a 1-inch-deep hole into the center of one block with a 3/4-inch spade drill bit to match the width of the dowel rod.

Then, he adhered the five wood blocks together with wood glue, making sure the drilled hole remained on top.

A bottle of Gorilla Wood Glue sits on clamped wooden blocks, held tightly together by a blue Irwin clamp on a brown surface.

Next, he clamped the blocks together and allowed the glue to dry overnight.

Did you notice the blocks are all different lengths since they were scrap pieces?

No one will see them, so you don’t need to cut them evenly.

A black planter filled with small rocks and a rectangular wooden block makes the perfect base for your DIY Topiary Tree. Green fern leaves partially cover the upper left edge of the planter, adding a touch of natural elegance to your project.

Once the glue dried, I placed the wood base inside the planter and filled the planter with rocks to hold the base firmly in place and keep it centered.

Paint the dowel rod

A tall, brown stick is standing upright in an empty, black decorative planter placed in the corner by a textured gray wall and a glass-paneled door on a stone-tiled floor.

Paint the wooden dowel rod with brown acrylic craft paint so it looks like a tree trunk.

I used FolkArt Coffee Bean and applied two coats for full coverage.

There’s no need to paint the entire dowel rod since the bottom portion will be hidden inside the planter and covered by the largest boxwood ball.

Assemble the DIY Topiary Tree

A hand holds a string attached to a round orb made of artificial green leaves, with gray stone tiles in the background.

Locate the opening at the top of each faux boxwood ball.

My orbs had a twine hanging loop attached, so I simply tucked the loop inside the ball before sliding it onto the dowel rod.

Close-up of dense green leaves with a small open gap in the center. A piece of twine is tied around one leafy stem near the left side of the opening.

This is what the top opening looks like in our boxwood orbs.

A round boxwood orb in a black planter with a tall thin stick in the center stands on a brick porch next to a black door and light gray wall.

Start with the largest boxwood ball and slide it down the dowel until it rests near the bottom.

A black planter holds two artificial green topiary balls stacked vertically on a wooden stick, placed next to a white textured wall and a black door on a stone-tiled floor.

Repeat with the medium orb, leaving approximately a hand’s width between the two orbs.

A DIY topiary tree with three stacked green spheres in a black planter stands on a tiled porch next to a black door and a white textured wall.

Then add the smallest boxwood orb, allowing it to rest on the top of the dowel rod.

Secure the Center Orb

Our medium boxwood ball fit snugly on the dowel, but because these topiary trees will be displayed outdoors, we wanted to make sure it wouldn’t slide down over time when exposed to heat and wind.

A man uses a yellow power drill to put a hole in the trunk of an artificial plant with three green spheres—against a gray textured wall.

To keep it securely in place, Rich drilled a small hole through the dowel just beneath the medium orb.

A close-up of a tree trunk with green leaves on top. A long nail is hammered through the trunk horizontally, protruding from both sides. A textured wall is visible in the background.

Then, he inserted a thin nail to act as a hidden support, preventing the boxwood ball from slipping while remaining completely concealed by the foliage.

Porch Decorating Ideas

A black front door with a green wreath featuring a white script A creates a welcoming entry. Two tall DIY topiary trees in black pots flank the door, adding an elegant, personalized touch. A tan semicircle doormat sits on gray pavers in front of the entrance.

I love using a matching pair of DIY topiary trees to frame our front door.

They add height, texture, and symmetry, creating a warm, welcoming entrance.

Right now, we’re pairing them with a boxwood wreath.

A green leaf wreath hangs on a dark door, featuring a large white letter A in the center, made from a decorative script font. — Similar Boxwood Wreath | Similar monogram letter

I used floral wire to attach our monogram, and I love how it instantly brightens it up!

To finish the look, we purchased a new doormat from Walmart.

A semicircle doormat with a black sunburst pattern lies in front of a black door, surrounded by potted plants and gray stone tiles. — Sunburst mat

It was so inexpensive but looks fabulous!

Black front door with a circular green wreath featuring a white letter A. On either side, two DIY topiary trees in black pots add architectural charm, while a tan doormat with a semicircle pattern sits at the doorstep.

I think it looks so pretty that I could keep this up year-round!

But if you’ve been around our blog for a while, you know I love to decorate for the seasons and give our entry a fresh new look.

In fact, when we made these topiaries, it was patriotic season, and we decorated like this.

A black front door with patriotic red, white, and blue decorations, including an American flag bow and wreath. Two DIY topiary trees flank the door. A red “Welcome” mat sits on a striped rug at the entrance. — Similar scalloped mat | Blue and white stripe rug

You can get all the details on our patriotic porch here!

Whether you add colorful flowers in the spring, patriotic accents in the summer, pumpkins in the fall, or evergreen garland at Christmas, the topiaries provide a classic foundation that can be styled in countless ways.

Build Your Topiary Tree Over Time

As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, these topiary trees weren’t created all at once.

A decorative black doormat on a stone porch, flanked by two potted artificial boxwood plants and a charming DIY topiary tree, alongside two black lanterns with white candles, and a small ivy wreath on a pedestal near a black door. — Similar doormat

I started with a single boxwood ball in each planter and loved the simple look.

A black front door with patriotic red, white, and blue star and flag banners, a pink star wreath, two DIY topiary trees in pots, and a doormat with a blue leaf pattern.

The following year, I added a second boxwood orb to create a taller topiary for this 4th of July porch.

A dark front door with a green wreath displaying a white monogram A welcomes guests. On each side, DIY topiary trees in black pots add a touch of elegance, while a tan semicircle doormat lies on the stone-tiled porch.

And that brings us back to the elegant three-tiered topiary trees we taught you how to make today.

So, if you’re decorating on a budget, remember that you don’t have to buy everything at once.

Start with one boxwood ball and add another when you’re ready.

Over time, you can build a custom topiary that fits your style and your budget.

Two potted plants—a lush fern and a red-leafed plant—sit beside a tall black urn with three stacked, round green topiaries, resembling a DIY topiary tree, all arranged near a window and a sign reading “The Allen’s.”.

Also, if you’re working with a smaller porch, don’t feel like you need a matching pair.

A single DIY topiary tree placed beside your front door can make just as much of a statement while taking up less space.

Closing Thoughts

I hope this DIY topiary tree inspires you to create a welcoming front porch you’ll enjoy throughout the year.

Whether you make one topiary or a matching pair, remember that you don’t have to finish the project all at once.

Start with what fits your budget, then build on it over time to create a look you’ll love.

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Blessings, Donna and Rich

More Inspiration

Love decorating your front porch?

Here are a few more decorating ideas to help you create a welcoming entry for different seasons.

Two DIY Topiary Tree bunny figures with bows stand in urns on each side of a black door, which features a wreath with a white bunny decoration at its center. A black doormat sits in front of the door. — DIY Bunny Topiaries for Spring

A ghost figure with a witch hat, broom, and pumpkin basket stands by a black door decorated with a wreath. Stacked pumpkins and moss surround the ghost, creating a festive Halloween scene. — Halloween Porch Decor Trick-or-Treaters Will Love

A black front door decorated with a green wreath, garland with red bows and white snowflakes, two DIY Topiary Trees adorned with white ornaments, and a red “Merry Christmas” doormat. — 9 Simple Christmas Porch Decor Ideas

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