Transform A Birdhouse Craft Into A Beautiful Succulent Garden

Birdhouses are a great way to attract neighborhood birds to your garden. While their recognizable pointed-roof profile is often pretty standard and available in countless designs from home retailers, discount stores, and handmade markets, there are numerous ways you can boost the beauty of your birdhouse to blend in completely with the natural world and provide a cute home for your winged friends. TikTok user @tangledshade showed off an adorable DIY project that adds succulent cuttings and moss to the roof of an inexpensive birdhouse to create an amazing rooftop garden. This hack is as enjoyable to look at as it is functional, providing a safe and cozy spot for birds and nests that are even more camouflaged from potential predators. 

The succulent trimmings, according to comments by @tangledshade, will last a few months with minimal watering when placed in the moss with a little hot glue and additional moss to fill in any empty spaces. After they have dried out, you can replace the succulent cuttings with new ones. Making your own succulent-topped birdhouse is a great, low-cost alternative to purchasing a ready-made one from floral companies and places like Etsy. The total cost of the project, including the house, comes in well under $10.

To create this garden rooftop, begin with a premade birdhouse with a slanted roof from a craft store like Michaels or Dollar Tree, available for around $1 each. This project is also a great opportunity to liven up an old or thrifted birdhouse that has seen better days. For an even more custom look, try making your own birdhouse from the ground up. 

Add some Dollar Tree moss, roughly $1 per bag, to your birdhouse's roof using a staple or hot glue gun. Other DIYers favor stapling or gluing a piece of chicken wire to keep the moss in place. Once it's evenly distributed across the top, begin securing succulent cuttings across the moss with hot glue. You can use dried florals or artificial materials if your yard or hanging location lacks enough sunlight to make the succulent cuttings thrive. 

If your birdhouse has a deeper recessed roofline, you can grow succulents on the roof instead of using artificial ones or clippings. Place a waterproof barrier over the top of the roof, like roofing paper or a sheet of plastic, then fill it with a layer of potting soil that will accommodate the root systems of the succulents. Add a layer of peat moss to cover the soil. Use a piece of chicken wire to keep the moss in place, and plant your succulents or other greenery in the soil. Fill any remaining holes with additional moss, and water the roof regularly.

This birdhouse rooftop garden is not limited to plants. You can also add decorative stones or small figurines like garden gnomes, fairies, or butterflies for an extra whimsical touch to the top of your birdhouse. Reflective marbles and stones often attract birds with their shininess, as do brightly colored flowers and seasonal fruits like pumpkins or berries. Hanging succulents like Christmas cactus and donkey's tail will drape over the top of the house and dangle down for a lush look.

Leave the birdhouse in its natural finish or paint it your desired shade, making sure to add a protective waterproof coat for protection. It looks great hanging, on a table or bench, or as part of a ground-level garden tableau. A birdhouse with a rooftop garden full of succulents or artificial botanicals also makes a great indoor decorative accent for cottagecore, farmhouse, or shabby chic interiors as a way to bring the outdoors in.