As a Christmas treat this year we wanted to send you all a step-by-step for making a 'dry' wreath, one without any need for a moss or oasis base.
Each wreath lasts well for about a week so there's still time to put one together. The photo above shows the wreath at 10 days old, and it's holding together nicely.
What material you make the wreath from will depend on what you have available either in the garden or along local hedgerows and in woodlands, but I would avoid anything too soft as it will flop without water. The softest material in the one above is the variegated Pittosporum, and the yellow-leaved Euonymus, but both have managed to hold surprisingly well!
STEP 1.
Select three bushy conifer branches about half an arm's length. Any type of conifer is fine, but these will form the main structure of the wreath so the denser the foliage the fuller the eventual wreath will look.
Most will probably be some form of green, but if you do go for the bluer trees this will impact the final design. It shouldn't be a problem but worth bearing in mind when collecting the other accompanying foliage.
STEP 2.
Lay the branches in a triangular shape with the ends close to the tips and secure each joining point with string or twine.
You could use four branches and make a square but I find that the triangle is the stronger shape in the end.
Don't worry about the string showing for now, it will all eventually be covered with other foliage.
STEP 3.
Bend the tips of the branches around the thicker ends and secure with string.
This will thicken-up the ring of the wreath making it look fuller.
It enters a bit of an ugly stage at this point but have faith as it will all pull together.
As you can see it slowly begins to take on a rounder shape. It's up to you as to how much you wish to conform to the traditional round shape.
STEP 4.
You can now begin to add in the other foliage. I find it useful to have an idea of where I wish the eventual top/hanging point of the wreath to be, and I often like to work in two 'sweeping arms' from the bottom leading to the top.
You could alternatively create a uniform circle so that it looks the same from all ways up or create something wholly asymmetrical, it's entirely up to you.
Feed the foliage (here Magnolia branches) in between the conifer fronds and string, adding extra string to secure in place if necessary.
STEP 5.
Start to add in some of the thicker foliage, here Pittosporum. As before feed and weave this in between the conifer fronds, the strings and the other branches making sure to cover the string as you go.
Keep building in the different textures and layers. It will slowly start to look like a finished wreath.
STEP 6.
As you add in different foliage think about the combination of colours.
A mixture of greens is a good base palette to start from, but some brighter elements such as golds, oranges, and reds can add dynamism and interest.
Conversely it may be that whites, browns or plain greens work well as something more restful.
Unless you are particularly seeking an asymmetrical look balance the colours around the wreath so it does not look top/bottom heavy.
STEP 7.
As a final touch I like to add in a few bold shapes or colours as points of interest, in this case I used a mixture of different Hydrangea flower heads arranged around the circle.
They are not all the same as personally I like a little variation and irregularity.
STEP 8.
The wreath is finished and now ready to be hung.
The photo opposite was taken just as the wreath was finished, and you can see that when compared to the initial photo it has held well over 10 days without water!
There are endless combinations of wreaths that can be made using natural materials, and without any framework.
For some years now I have made the wreath for my parents each year from materials found in their garden or in their local neighbourhood (with occasional additions from Blackbrook's garden).
They live in a fairly built-up bit of suburbia in Cambridgeshire, but we always manage to find wreath making material from the various municipal trees, ivy growing on walls or some of the local hedgerows. Any harvesting is done with consideration so it looks as if none has been taken, and the plants are barely disturbed.
I've included a few examples below to illustrate the variety that can be found.
HAPPY WREATH MAKING AND HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM 'GROWING IN THE BORDER'!!
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