Trees were the most time consuming part of this projects. I wanted them to look just like what they used in the movie.

I based most of my trees on this image. Thick trunk supported by roots running in various directions then covered in vines.

This log came off a tree in my front yard. After I did some seasonal trimming I was going to use them as firewood but they ended up as the truck of my trees.

I took the log and drilled holes in the bottom and inserted dowel rods cut at a 45° angle. I then glued on additional dowel rods and turned them in various directions.

Make sure your tree can stand on it own by making the dowels end the same length overall.

The log and the dowels were then covered in instant paper mache and allowed to dry. This gives it all the same texture.

Paint the paper mache a deep color of brown. For vines I started by using dowel rods but later found it easier to use thick dried vines from the floral section of a craft store (Hobby Lobby).

These are thinner dried vines added to the bigger ones to give it a degradation.

Notice that the tree is not one color. I painted it all dark brown but then hit it with olive green, a desert sand spray paint and a variety of other browns.

Make sure, if you paint your vines, to make it consistent with itself in color. Some of the smaller vines I didn't paint at all but like the natural color they provided.

Variety is key to making these look good. Use Star Wars photos and your imagination to make really cool swamp trees.