Making wreaths and garlands.

[SaltaKatten]

I've always wanted to make my own wreaths and garlands and this year I am determined that I will! In my garden I have a massive fir tree and also a huge ball of mistletoe growing on my apple tree. I'm swapping some mistletoe for eucalyptus with a colleague. I'd love any top tips for making the garlands and I'm also wondering where I could buy more greenery. Do garden centres sell it or just the finished wreaths?

I'm hoping to make a wreath for the front door and two garlands, one for each fireplace to lay on the mantle.

We did a wreath making workshop yesterday. We used three strips of willow to make the base of the wreath (soaked in water overnight to make it bendy). Do you have that or planning to use something else for the base?

For more greenery then go on a walk and pick up more. There are loads of pine cones lying around, you only need a few. And holly is really nice to add on top of the fir and give it some depth and texture. Again there is loads of holly about! You just need a bag and some secateurs to collect it.

Ivy is another good option for greenery.

Agree with poster above, I always go foraging for extra greenery - our local village has a huge churchyard with masses of ivy and holly growing wild that I snip pieces from. Secateurs and a big ikea bag!
I use a willow wreath base that I made a couple of years ago, but I also use wire bases that I pad with moss if I can find it, straw if I can’t.
For mantle wreaths I just use a long piece of old white dado rail and wire all my greenery to that to keep it in shape!

You can buy the base ready made. I just use any interesting green leaves that I have knocking about. I have a lot of bay, ivy, holly in addition to fir that I get from some local woods. I add rosemary sprigs at the end because I love the smell. I’ve also added dried lime and orange slices and cinnamon.

Oh yes that was another key bit of equipment at the workshop yesterday. Very thin wire to attach the pine cones and anything else which needs pinning down. I created my own garland last week and used a hot glue pen as I didn’t know about the wire method.

Tiny fir cones are good, ivy and little ivy berries and holly. Add some eucalyptus, fir and mistletoe and you'll be sorted.

Thank you everyone, I wasn't sure if it was allowed to help yourself out and about . I read a tip to use rope as the base for garlands which sounded sensible.

Lidl sell springs of various greenery each year, I use that for my door wreaths on a wore frame and gardeners twine. Lots of youtube videos to help! It's about £5 for a decent clump. I've checked and they go on sale thurs 28th this year

You are allowed to help yourself to things growing wild although you should only take what you need, not for commercial purposes and not causing damage, for example taking a whole plant and digging it up at the roots wouldn’t be ok. Taking cultivated crops would be theft and rare wild species should be left alone. Personally I like to leave berries for the birds who need them more than me.

Our local Christmas tree places will bag up offcuts and either give them to you for free or sell them for about £5 for a big sack. I used it for a wreath one year when we couldn’t get out of the city.

I make my own wreath. I use willow strips as I have a willow in the garden. I have evergreens so some of that for the base. I do take a pair of secauteurs down to the local woods and get some decorations not masses just a handful berries and leaves. I live in the sticks though so have miles and miles of woodland. Different if you live somewhere more populated though. Pick up some pine cones. Dry them out on a low heat .

Used sparingly, a spray can of gold/bronze/silver (depending on your colour scheme) can make a lovely addition to the materials such as pine cones of any interesting leaves.grasses

Hit the idea from the lovely florist who made my wedding bouquet. I asked for a natural flavour, they included gold sprayed elephant grasses. Just lovely.

Fuse wire - lots of it!

Basically get your base shape be it willlow, rope or wire. Start winding fuse wire around the base and add in your foliage. Keep going round the base clockwise adding in foliage to build it up. You will go round several times. After you have good coverage start to include the berries, decorative elements. Keep going round until you are happy with the effect.

Use fuse wire to attach elements separately like bows, pine cones etc.

Another option is to make a swag (?) rather than a wreath. I used to gather foliage in my local woods but now I have enough growing in my own garden. I use offcuts from my Christmas tree once I have bought it (but use rosemary if I want to make one earlier) then add ivy and holly, tie it all together with a rubber band, cover the band with ribbon and maybe a few fake berries or baubles.

I have made my own for the last two years.

I have a metal wreath ring about 30cm in diameter which I use for the base. I think I got it on a craft/haberdashery shop. I build the base on that using moss (spagnum?) which I get at a local florist. Same place also sells reels of thin florist wire that I use to attach the moss and rest of foliage.

Like other posters I go on a foraging expedition and usually use a mix of holly, ivy, yew and fir. I also add pine cones and any interesting berries I can get.

I am not the most artistic of people but have been pleased with the results

OP ask your friends with gardens if you can collect some greenery from them. Most gardeners are very happy to share and if cut carefully it won’t damage the plant at all. Also if you walk in a wood, forest or on a common you can snip some and collect in a rucksack. As you long as it’s just for your use, not privately owned and you don’t cause damage it is fine. Please don’t pay!

I was shown how to make a wreath for the front door by making sprays, tying themtogether and attaching in overlapping circle all facing the same way and it worked beautifully.

I like to use brown natural twine, willow and all natural plants and berries eg skimmia berries are lovely, then the whole thing can be composted on 12th night.