Help with real fireplace garland

[MarmaladeTeepee]

My old plastic garland was lost in the house move and rather than replace it I think I'm going to attempt a real garland for the mantle this year.

Ours is just a beam style mantle and not especially wide so I think I'm going to use old plastic takeaway tubs for the oasis trays and then attempt to arrange whatever I can find on dog walks throughout November plus ivy from our garden. Do I need to do anything special to the foliage before arranging it? Drying it? Soaking it? Giving it a good shake to ensure any creepy crawlies are off it? Any advice would be greatly received! TIA

Sounds lovely. I bet there's you tube tutorials to watch for ideas. Fir cones get them early and put in front of a fire or somewhere warm to open up. Holly the berries won't last so I'd be tempted to get some artificial ones

Pine cones can have inhabitants deep inside if they’re closed up.I leave them in a box in my utility for a couple of days. Everything else you can eyeball.

I only made a garland once and used a length of rope as a base. But I didn’t think about oasis at all and it showed 😂 so I won’t be giving any more advice.

Now I use a fake garland as a base and add bits of greenery from the garden and walks.

I wouldn’t use oasis just use a length of rope

What about using a chicken wire tube filled with damp moss as a base? You'd need to put plastic down underneath to protect your wooden mantle from moisture. It would all be compostable or recyclable although I agree with using artificial berries as fresh are usually disappointing.

I love a real garland and they are so much better for the environment as well as lots of fun to make (and plenty of poncetastic points).

I agree with everyone saying the berries will not last. In fact they will fall off/get smushed against your wall/clothes. If you want some colour the dead heads of hydrangeas can look good (the ones that dry dark purple). I also agree that you need to protect your beam somehow. Also think about what is on your wall. I make a real garland that goes up our bannisters and we mist it several times a day, but I wouldn't be able to do that if there was wallpaper or delicate paintwork behind it. I don't use oasis at all and it still lasts about two weeks.

I don't really dry/shake any insects out. There are always a few that crawl free in the making of the garland and the first couple of days but I like it to be as wet as possible so that it lasts so I literally bring in the greenery and set to work. Do have a groundsheet on the floor though as it is messy work! If you make the garland with freshly brought in branches tie the bunches really tightly as they shrink as they lose water.

Will your fire be used while there is a garland on it? If so you need to think carefully about fire safety. Dry branches over an open fire is probably not a great idea, and it will also dry out the greenery faster.

To anchor it on to the beam consider small nails at the back that you can loop wire around. You really don't want your handiwork falling off and real branches are a lot heavier than plastic ones, especially if they are wet.

@Candlesonthetable I think we need some pics for inspiration!

Thanks for the tips everyone, much appreciated.

You don't use oasis. Lots of videos on YouTube

@Pleasenowthatsenough I fear I may have given the impression I am more skilled than I am - I am more enthusiastic than I am accomplished!

Oh wow 🤩 @Candlesonthetable that is absolutely beautiful and so professional looking! It really does beat artificial and I bet it smells amazing too - thank you so much for sharing, you have definitely inspired me!

@Candlesonthetable that garland looks amazing!

Thanks @Pleasenowthatsenough and @Stompythedinosaur . Last year I bought 3 branches of blue spruce from the florist - I think it was about £5, but the rest is from the garden, the vast majority is from an overgrown conifer (possibly juniper or cypress) plus a few branches from fir, larch and pine, twigs from a birch tree, ivy and rosemary (this dropped its needles pretty quickly but smelled amazing). To be honest I think anything looks good with some fairy lights and a bow!

I kept a spray bottle by the stairs and any time a child went up they spritzed it quite liberally which also reinvigorated the lovely smell.

If you are thinking about a staircase garland I would put the bulk of it outside of the hand rail so there is still somewhere to grab on to.

You can normally get some offcuts from a real Christmas tree place - they're very useful to bush it all out. I have one that I put above the fire, but I must admit I always move it when the fire is lit! I always buy about £10 worth of eucalyptus from a florist - it smells amazing, and dries nicely. A ribbon or two does always look great.

I do this every year. We have 2 hooks screwed into the beam which i hook a roll of plastic coated wire round. I do it about 2 weeks before christmas and use branches cut off the back and bottom of the tree i get. Just feed the branches through the holes in the roll and that normally holds them quite firmly. I then add decorations and find plastic ties a really good way to hold baubles etc. in place. I have a few good fake apples, pomegranates and stems with berries to add colour. Usually lasts well. Eucalyptus is also good if you have any

Would it be ok with the heat from the fire? I think it might all shrivel up. Costco does a really full lovely garland and a lot less effort . Good luck if you do try it tho op , hopefully it will last the distance