DIY Cornstalk Leaf Wreath for Your Fall Decor

This corn stalk leaf wreath is perfect for your fall decor!  And even better, it is a super easy DIY!  Watch the video to see how I taught myself an easy wreath making technique.  I am lucky and could just walk in my backyard for some corn stalks, but hopefully, you can hunt some down too! Real corn stalk leaves look a lot better than the faux ones you can buy, but that’s just my opinion

If you would like to do another fall project with me, click HERE.

Watch the Tutorial

I originally did this LIVE on Facebook, so sorry for the poor video quality!

***UPDATE*** JoAnn’s no longer carries this wreath form, but I finally found another one that looks to be the exact same style. Find that here in my affiliate link. Please note this one is VERY thick wire and you cannot clamp it by hand. Instead I would recommend THIS. You could even get a normal wreath form like THIS and add your own wire before you begin adding the corn leaves.

Cornstalk Leaf Wreath Updated Video

I decided to make a new video! I did go LIVE on Facebook again, so the video is another vertical view!

After years of making these wreaths I’ve learned a few things and I’m sharing those tips with you! Watch the video below 👇🏻

Steps to Making a Corn Stalk Leaf Wreath

Step 1 Gathering the Supplies

Gather the cornstalk leaves, wreath form, twine and scissors.

Cornstalk Leaves, Corn Husks, Corn Shucks

If you watch one or both of the videos above you will hear me talk about the best window for collecting the leaves. You want them to be mainly brown. Now, green leaves will eventually brown once they have removed from the stem. But it might not happen the first fall season that you want to hang and show off the cornstalk wreath.

I have only used green ones mixed in with brown leaves. I have never attempted to make a wreath while all leaves are green or before the majority of the field has turned brown. I’m telling you that because I do not know what the leaves do if you pick them earlier in the season.

I have removed the leaves in two ways. One way was to take loopers, like THESE, and cut down the entire corn stalk. I do not like to waste things, so the ears of corn got put in a bucket and given to my dad for the cows. The stalks were bundled up for the porch or yard, or added to a nail keg for fall decor around my shop. I would even save the tassels so I could put them in a pitcher or stoneware crock to add fall decor touches inside my home.

The other way I have gathered cornstalk leaves was to simply remove the leaves where they were. I would go into the field and pull down on the leaf to remove it from the stalk. A lot of times wind and trash pandas (thank you to my nephew for this descriptive name for raccoons) will knock down whole stocks in the field. I would try to utilize as many of the damaged stalks as possible. The problem with that is that once the leaves are on the ground they can become discolored from dirt and moisture.

When I remove the leaves directly from the field that is because I don’t plan on using other parts of the cornstalk.

Please note that you can also buy new cornstalk leaves like THIS, but I prefer to take them from the field! Even if you don’t have crops, you could always ask a farmer if you could take some of his leaves. 😁

Wreath Form

This is honestly the hardest part about the project! Finding the wreath forms that I used originally!

JoAnn’s no longer carries this wreath form. I have found them on Amazon before, but they are often sold out. So if you find this style somewhere you need to buy in bulk! Another option you could use for your wreath form is THIS. You could even get a normal wreath form like THIS and add your own wire before you begin adding the corn leaves.

The thing I love about the form that I use is that it is SO easy! But it could certainly be made with one of the other styles of wreath forms I shared above.

I also suggest looking at thrift stores for wreaths! Find a wreath and turn it around to see what wreath form they used. You can always buy a cheap wreath at the thrift store or at a garage sale. Take it home, dismantle it, and then use the form! I have done this many times, not from thrifting, but just from real/fresh evergreen wreaths we have received.

The only problem can occur when the wreath has sat outside for a long time and the teeth have gotten rusty. What happens is that they become brittle. When you go to pinch them or bend them into place, they can break. In that case you would need to add wire to secure your corn husks. But, wiring a few husk bundles in place and having most of the teeth on a used wreath form work, still makes this project easier than trying to use a different style of wreath form.

Twine

As I mention in the videos, this is completely unnecessary. For me it is for peace of mind. If I tie the bundles of corn husks then I know that my wreath will be more even and uniform. If I tie the bundles of leaves then if it does get destroyed in heavy winds, it will be easy to reassemble. Those are the main reasons I like to do an extra step and tie off my bundles.

So if you aren’t going to tie of the corn leaves, then you don’t need twine!

Step 2 Making Bundles of Cornstalk Leaves

Now that you have gathered your supplies you will want to make bundles of your cornstalk leaves. The leaves vary a lot in length and width, so I like to bundle 10 leaves per section. The wreath forms I use have 10 sections or teeth, so 10 leaves for 10 sections, you need 100 leaves.

I group 10 leaves in one hand. Make sure that the tips are all pointed up, while the harder section on the leaf that attaches to the stalk is pointed down. Gathering the leaves in one hand decide how long you want your leaves. The length of your leaves determines the diameter or size of your wreath.

My first batches of wreaths were very large which limited where you could hang one. If it’s too wide, it will not fit on your front door. While if you have vaulted ceilings or a huge window you want to hang it on, then you do want a bigger wreath.

So determine the size or length of the leaves. Remember where you tie the bundles is where the bundles will get clamped to the wreath form. Tie off the bundles where you gathered them with your hand.

Next you will want to remove the access leaves. Cut 2 to 3 inches below the string. Be sure to cut on the “bottom” side, the end that would have attached to the stalk. The leaf tip or ends of the leaves are tapered. Throw away the access or you can talk the ends you removed and arrange them in a pitcher or stoneware crock!

Step 3 Adding the Leaf Bundles to the Wreath Form

This is the step where having the right wreath form can make all the difference! It is so easy to add the bundles when all you have to do is pinch together some wire!

You will need to watch one of the above videos for this part of the process. To explain it you will take one bundle of leaves and lay it on the wreath form. Line up the twine you tied with the teeth of the wreath form. Put the end of the bundle at the next set of teeth. Basically but up the end of the bundle to one set of teeth and at the next set of teeth should be the tied section. The bundle should be in line with the back circle on the wreath form. Again, watch the video above.

Use your fingers to clamp the wreath form teeth as tightly as possible. Sometimes this will mean that the teeth wrap all the way around the wreath form, sometimes it won’t. All bundles will have a different thickness.

Repeat the process. I am right handed, so my next bundle went to the right of the first. It doesn’t matter so much which direction you go. What matters is that you go in order, one set of teeth at a time and with all of the leaves facing the same way.

On your next bundle you will repeat the process however this time you are not only lining up the bundle with the back ring on the wreath form, but you are also angling the bundle to cover up the wire you just clamped down.

Repeat this process all the way around the wreath form.

You can kind of see what I’m talking about from looking at the back of the wreath form.

Sometimes when you pinch together the wire it wraps all the way around the wreath form, sometimes it doesn’t make a complete circle. When you hang your new wreath, you don’t want it to scratch and damage the surface you have it hanging on, so you may need to take pliers and bend or curve those wire ends.

Pictured below shows you what the teeth look like before I used pliers to bend them.

Step 4 Adding Corn Tassels

I have made many wreaths without adding anything to the cornstalk leaves. However, I have seen other wreaths were they have incorporated the tassels and or the actual ears of corn.

I had no desire to add ears of corn for a couple reasons. First the corn is for the cows and often times is rotting or incomplete. It’s not all pretty, so to find pretty ears of corn to incorporate would be time consuming. Secondly corn is heavy and I think it would really make the wreath harder to hang and more likely to get damaged. Think about squirrels and wind moving the corn around on the dried leaves🤷🏼‍♀️

But adding the tassels seemed like a nice simple embellishment. So in my most recent video I finished off the wreath by adding tassels. I simply tucked them into each leaf bundle so that they were secure and visible.

Other Corn Stalk Wreath Variations

Want to see other corn stalk wreath’s? Check out different variations HERE.

More DIY Wreaths

Check out other easy DIY wreaths I’ve made!

Garden Hose Wreath

Button Wreath

Terra Cotta Pot Wreath

Easter Egg Wreath

Sheet Music Wreath

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