Nothing compares to the rich colors and aroma that a fresh evergreen garland brings to a space. A live garland instantly elevates your decor and makes your home feel extra cozy all winter long. In this final installment of our Holiday Evergreen Series, we’ll cover everything you’ll need to know to make your own evergreen garland this holiday season.
What You’ll Need
The first step to building your garland is to collect supplies! Start with these for beautiful results.
Evergreen Boughs
Live evergreens are the star of the show here. Pine, spruce, fir, and juniper are all great options, but use whatever you have available! The amount of greenery you’ll need will depend on the garland length. 20–25 large boughs will give you about a nine-foot garland.
Twine and Floral Wire
Twine is the backbone of your garland, and floral wire holds all the pieces together! We recommend a heavier twine with 24 gauge floral wire.
Natural Accents and Ornaments
Your fresh garland won’t feel complete without some natural accents. Winterberry and red dogwood twigs, poinsettia cuttings, pinecones, and berries are all great additions that’ll give your garland a fuller, more dynamic look. Spruce up your garland even more by adding other decorations like Christmas ornaments, feathers, and LED lights!
Hangers and Fishing Wire
Finally, you’ll want to pick up some supplies to hang your DIY garland. We like using fishing wire and invisible hangers that stick right onto the wall for a clean, finished look!
Assembling Your DIY Garland
1. Prepare Your Evergreen Sections
Once you’ve gathered your evergreen boughs, clip them into six-inch-long cuttings or longer, depending on your desired aesthetic. Next, sort your cuttings into bunches of around 2–3 pieces each. You can add berry branches or other decorative elements to each bundle as well.
2. Start Attaching Your Bunches
Starting at one end of your garland base, place the ends of a single bunch of greenery at the end of your twine length, then wrap with floral wire to attach. Make sure it’s nice and tight so that the pieces don’t fall off!
Continue tying evergreen bunches until you reach the end of your twine, overlapping each section so that the dense foliage covers the previous bunch’s wire wrap. Leave a greenery overhang of 3-4 inches on either end of your garland to ensure your base won’t peek through!
3. Add In Your Decorations and Natural Accents
Finally, give your garland a bit of pizazz by adding in your decorations and natural accents! Secure them amongst the live greenery using floral wire or a bit of extra twine. If LED lights are part of your design, wrap them around your garland as you would a Christmas tree.
4. Hanging Your Live Garland
Now that your garland’s all built, it’s time to display it! Here are a few tips to help you hang your DIY masterpiece simply and effectively:
- Arrange several clear or white removable hooks evenly above where you want your garland to hang.
- To align the hooks with the garland, secure fishing wire around your garland at even intervals, ensuring the wire lines up with your hooks.
- Hang your garland by tying the fishing wire tightly around the hooks.
Keeping Your Garland Fresh
With the proper care, your fresh evergreen garland will last in your home for up to 3-4 weeks. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of it this holiday season:
- Treat them with an anti-transpirant or anti-desiccant spray to help them retain moisture.
- Hang your garland away from heat sources like air vents, heaters, and direct sunlight, as these will dry your cuttings out quicker.
- Spritz your garland with a spray bottle of water every day or two to keep it quenched and happy.
As our 2022 holiday evergreen series comes to an end, we hope you find it helpful while making your own live decor this holiday season. Visit us today at Plant Perfect in Bismarck to see our gorgeous selection of fresh greens for sale.