Decorating Walls With Wreath For Christmas

A Country Living guide to real Christmas wreaths, including how to make them, how to care for them and what fresh foliage to use, from mistletoe to herbs and greenery. Here, we look at:

expert tips on making the perfect Christmas wreath, according to a celebrity florist
the best foliage to use for a fresh Christmas wreath
a basic step-by-step guide on how to make a fresh foliage Christmas wreath
how to make a mistletoe Christmas wreath
how to make a herb Christmas wreath

5 tips on making the perfect real Christmas wreath

We asked celebrity florist, Larry Walshe, to share his wreath making tips for 2021. Larry has partnered with Bloom this Christmas, who have nine nature-inspired wreath designs, featuring contrasting textures, rich scents and striking colours. For Larry, this year is all about swapping plastic adornments for natural ones – and we are on board.

"We love to use an assortment of spruce varieties to add depth, texture and movement. It provides tonal colour variety that results in a detail driven and luxurious overall look," Larry tells Country Living.

"This year, we see the trend moving away from plastic baubles and instead, returning to nature and celebrating all the wonderful ingredients that surround us. Pinecones of course can then pair with heather, lavender and other fresh ingredients which dry beautifully to result in a sustainable and super chic look."

Here are four more tips from Larry for the perfect fresh foliage Christmas wreath...

1. Cut down on waste

"To cut down on waste when making a wreath, one can be selective over the number of ingredients you include. Try one type of spruce as your base and then consider using responsibly foraged, natural ingredients to add the colour and detail," says Larry.

2. Make your wreath last as long as possible

"To keep your wreath looking wonderful, give it a little spritz of fresh water once a week. Just a light dusting will keep it hydrated and make sure you get maximum enjoyment this winter," advises Larry.

Bloom Christmas Wreaths 2021

3. Rethink your wreath's positioning

"Wreaths do look fabulous on the front door but if you have a double-fronted house, these can also look utterly fabulous suspended in each window bay. Larger versions can be added to garage doors and gates as well to guide your guests as they arrive."

4. Protect your wreath from birds and wildlife

"If you'd like to avoid birds and wildlife getting to your winter wreath, steer away from dried fruits and instead consider some other natural alternatives like dried flowers, lavender and pinecones," says Larry. This could benefit the birds too, making sure they don't nibble on any wire.

The best foliage for a real Christmas wreath

Look out for foliage and interesting natural finds – grasses, teasels and seed heads – to work into a wreath from around September onwards. Holly, ivy, spiky evergreen yew or spruce, rosemary, pine box and privet and other softer evergreen foliage also work well as fillers for creating the bulk of the wreath.

Fruits such as rosehips, berries, crab apples, spindle berries, callicarpa and sloe are perfect for adding colour, as well as deciduous garden shrubs like dogwoods. Try to find bare twigs with pretty lichens or buds like ash and beech and early hazel catkins that form before Christmas. The more variety, texture and colour you can include, the more distinctive your wreath will be.

Trimmings from Christmas trees, shop-bought herbs such as rosemary or a bunch of greenery from a florist can all be incorporated if wild gatherings are not to hand.

Alun Callender

How to make a Christmas wreath with fresh winter foliage

You will need:

A wreath base (35cm-diameter, wire or rattan, see below)
60cm thick garden twine, to hang
Wild evergreen foliage
Dried seed heads such as old man's beard and cow parsley
Hazel twigs with catkins
Fir cones
Florist's wire
Garden scissors or secateurs

Alun Callender

Use several handfuls of tree ivy to cover the base. Snip the stem at an angle into short sections, removing any leaves at the stalk end. Attach to the base using wire, starting on the outside and working into the middle.
When the base is hidden, start to add interesting leaves and twigs. Prepare these in the same way as the ivy and attached with wire: arranging in groups of three or five around the wreath works well.
Use woody stems first, building up to lighter, frothier details such as old man's beard and cow parsley seed heads.
Bind together little bundles of softer materials with florist's wire and attach.
Spike crab apples with a length of wire and twist it behind them before attaching to the base.
Hang up the wreath at intervals to check it looks balanced. Fill in any gaps and finish with berries and hips.
Spritz with water to keep it fresh.

Make your own Christmas wreath

Christmas foliage bundle

SallyWelchFlowers etsy.com

US$12.50

Christmas Wreath Making Kit

TrufflerKerfuffler etsy.com

US$11.00

Eucalyptus and Fir Christmas wreath kit

TheFoliageProject etsy.com

US$32.50

Wreath Making Kit with Dried Flowers

FlorenceAndFlowers etsy.com

US$36.48

Wreath kit with foliage

SallyWelchFlowers etsy.com

US$22.50

Rattan Wreath

PetalsCraft etsy.com

US$9.97

How to make a Christmas wreath with herbs and greenery

Nassima Rothacker

A willow wreath interwoven with herbs and greenery will make a striking statement.

How to make a Christmas wreath with mistletoe

Brent Darby Photography LTD

Create a delicate decoration by arranging sprigs around a wire wreath ring. Secure with fine green florist wire, working around the frame in a clockwise fashion. String mini baubles in the centre and hang with lengths of vibrant ribbon.

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