Make an evergreen wreath

A fresh evergreen wreath takes a wire ring, a pile of greenery and a spool of wire, and it fills a room with the smell of the season. You wire small bundles to the ring, overlapping each one over the last, and the shape builds itself. This guide uses the word Christmas because that is how people search for it, but the same wreath works as a general winter wreath too.

Getting greenery

You can only cut greenery you are allowed to. Use branches from your own yard, trimmings a friend offers, or buy them. Tree lots often give away or sell cheaply the lower branches they cut off trees, so it is worth asking. Don’t cut from parks, woodland or other people’s land without permission, because it is often not allowed.

Choose a mix: fir or pine for the base, something with a different texture such as cedar or boxwood for contrast, and a few pinecones or dried orange slices if you like. Soak the cut ends in water for a few hours if you can, so they stay fresh.

What to bring, beyond the list

• Pruning shears or strong scissors for trimming.
• Gloves, because sap is sticky and needles prick.
• Newspaper or an old sheet to work on.
• A ribbon and a small hook or loop to hang it.

Be careful with berries. Holly berries and mistletoe are toxic to pets and children, so keep them out of reach or leave them off.

How to make an evergreen wreath

1. Cut the greenery into bundles. Trim sprigs about 6 to 8 inches long. Gather three or four sprigs into a small bundle with the longest at the back.
2. Attach the wire. Tie the end of the floral wire to the ring. You will use one long piece without cutting it.
3. Lay the first bundle on the ring and wrap the wire around the stems two or three times, pulling it snug.
4. Add the next bundle so it overlaps the first and hides the wire. Wrap again.
5. Keep going around. Point every bundle the same way, angled slightly out from the ring, and add some variety as you go.
6. Close the circle. Tuck the last bundle under the first, so there is no visible start or finish.
7. Fasten off by wrapping the wire around the back of the ring a few times, cutting it and tucking the end in.
8. Add the finishing touches. Tie a ribbon at the top or the bottom, add pinecones or sprigs of something with colour, and attach a loop for hanging.

What goes wrong

• It looks thin. Use more sprigs per bundle, and overlap them more tightly.
• It looks lopsided. Step back every few bundles to check the shape, and fill gaps with extra sprigs.
• Bundles slip. The wire was too loose. Wrap it tighter, and wrap round the ring itself a couple of times.
• Needles drop everywhere. Some dropping is normal. Spraying a little water on the back and keeping it cool helps.
• It dries out. Warm rooms and sun dry a wreath quickly. Hang it outdoors, or in a cool spot.

Keeping and using it

Hang the wreath on a door or wall, away from candles and fireplaces. Dry evergreens can burn easily, so keep flames and heaters well clear. If you put it on an outside door, shelter from direct sun helps. When it dries out and the needles fall, take it down and compost the greenery, saving the ring for next year.

Variations

• One kind of greenery. A wreath made only from fir or only from cedar looks calm and modern.
• A mix of textures. Combine something soft with something spiky and add a few dried orange slices or pinecones.
• A smaller ring. A small ring makes a table wreath. Keep it away from candles.
• Ribbon only. Leave the greenery plain and let a bold ribbon do the decorating.

Make it a winter evening

Make it in the evening with some music on, and hang it when you finish. If you want a tree to go with it, a visit to the tree farm is a good place to collect greenery, and a Christmas market is a nice follow-up to see more wreaths.