Homemade Evergreen Wreaths
There was a moment in our country’s history when store bought was better. Christmas was purchased in the drug store. Artificial trees were all the fashion, and the halls were decked with blinking lights, not boughs of holly. Everything that comes around, goes around though. Today, real is rated better than artificial and authentic wreaths from evergreen branches are so sought after that the garden store has a hard time keeping them in stock. If you opt for a DIY Christmas wreath, it won’t matter.
DIY Christmas Wreath
Homemade evergreen wreaths are unique – each one is a personal work of art with a piney fragrance that makes the whole house smell like the holidays. If you have pines or spruce in your backyard, all the more reason to try a DIY Christmas wreath, but you can also find evergreen boughs from the garden store, if you find them (start early). The best part about making your own wreath is that all of the decisions are your own. You get to pick whether you prefer needled evergreen branches like pine or broadleaf evergreens like holly and magnolia. Evergreen shrubs such as cotoneaster or boxwood work just as well as taller trees. Mixing and matching is a popular choice too. You get to decide how large you want it and what else goes on it. Think pinecones, ribbons, bells and bows, or any other trinkets that appeal to you. Gather the greens, the decorations, and a metal wreath form in whatever size pleases you, move it to the kitchen table and get ready to have a blast.
How to Make an Evergreen Wreath
Learning how to make an evergreen wreath is easy; getting it the way you like it is largely a matter of practice. The idea is to attach one little bunch of evergreen cuttings to the wire wreath, using either floral wire or raffia to hold it together and hold it in place. After that, you add another bunch that overlaps with the first. This process continues all the way around the wreath until you arrive at the first bunch of cuttings. Tuck the stems of the final bunch under the foliage of the first. Tie it off and the base is done. The next step is to add berries, ribbons, pinecones, bows, and any embellishments that please you. Don’t forget some string or wire to use when you hang it on the door.
