Whether you’re using a live or an artificial tree this year, you can incorporate seasonal greenery into your décor. One of the best ways to do this is to make your own live wreath, and it’s easier than you might think.
The supplies are cheap and easy to obtain, and the wreaths are a snap to make. They’re so much more welcoming on a front door than a plastic wreath and the best part is you can reuse the frame next year.
Here’s what you’ll need.
- Live seasonal greenery (fir tree branches, magnolia leaves, holly branches, etc.)
- Green floral wire (I use 22-gauge, pre-cut for convenience, but it’s also sold on spools with a built-in wire cutter)
- An 18′ wire wreath frame, sold in craft stores or online.
- Floral picks, pine cones, ornaments, cinnamon sticks – embellishments of your choice
- Plain or wire-edged ribbon for bows (the latter is easier to reshape and reuse)
- A set of hand-held plant shears for trimming down branches.
1. Use branches trimmed from your own Christmas tree, or ask a nearby tree lot if you can have any discarded branches. Trim the branches so you have evergreen sprigs around 6″ long. Look for branches that are full, have bright color and needles still firmly attached. If you have access to different varieties of fir branches, all the better. The mixture adds a subtle variation of texture and color that will enhance the finished product. How many you need depends on the size of the frame and type of branches you use.
Note: Some people are sensitive to the sap in live trees, and it can stain your clothing. Wear gloves and an old work shirt, and assemble the wreath outside or on newspaper to keep it from damaging your furniture and floors.
2. Place your frame flat in front of you with the curved, open end facing up. For an 18′ frame, which is a good size for a door and not so large to be hard to work with, expect to pay between $3 and $5. They weather well and can be reused each year.
3. Place evenly-sized branches and twigs around it, layering one on top of the other. Move around the frame in a single direction, so that the woody part of the stem of the first branch is covered by the next.
4. When you finish layering three or four branches, twist green floral stem wires around the frame and branches and secure the ends by twisting them. Don’t worry if it doesn’t seem very full yet; you’ll repeat this process as the branches settle and your wreath takes shape.
5. Tuck the stems in and continue filling in branches, using smaller branches over the top of the first layer. Just keep working around, tucking stems and branches over the branch above it. You’ll begin to see where some branches have odd pieces that stick out at interesting angles. Not to worry! They add character to the wreath and enhance its homemade charm. If it really bothers you, trim any offending branches off with your plant shears when you’re done.
6. You’ll know when your wreath is done. The wire frame will be covered and it will be as full, as rustic, as elaborate or personalized as you like. Decorate it with bows, small ornaments, pinecones – anything that strikes your fancy. If you’re hanging it inside, for example, use small measuring spoons and cinnamon sticks as decorations (just twist wire to them and attach it to the greenery, making sure you run the wire through the frame to make it secure). Find pretty pinecones around the yard with your kids and have them decorate them, or wire them and hang them up as-is. Add dried flowers, silk flowers, even dried fruit slices… whatever feels right.
7. Hang it up and enjoy! Don’t forget to save the frame when you’re done enjoying your wreath. Cut the wire, discard the old greenery (or recycle it as fragrant additions to the mulch in your garden beds), and store the frame to reuse next year.
Live wreaths are fun and easy to make, and they make a wonderful hostess gift, too. In my home, we keep our eyes out for interesting items to add to our wreathmakiing kit months before the holiday season. This year, I made a simple holly and evergreen wreath for the front door, but in the past I’ve made them with elaborate embellishments and bows. We keep three frames on hand, so we’re always coming up with new ideas.
Whatever you decide to do with your do-it-yourself evergreen wreath, you’ll be glad you made it yourself.
