Decorating With Fresh Greens

Fresh greens have the ability to transform our living space into a winter wonderland giving a fresh natural appearance and filling the air with the wonderful fragrances of the season. Decorating with fresh greens is one of the oldest holiday traditions. Evergreens are used to represent eternal life and hope for the return of spring.

Types of Greens

A variety of greens may be used for holiday decorations. Pines, firs and cedars are good to use for indoor decoration since they dry out slowly and have the ability to hold onto their needles in warm interior temperatures. They may last for several weeks if properly treated and cared for. Hemlock, spruces and most broadleaf evergreens will last longer outdoors in cooler temperatures.

Staying Fresh

When dried, evergreens can be flammable. Make sure that all wreaths, roping and garlands that you bring indoors are as fresh as possible. Check needles by bending them. They should be flexible and not break. Avoid greenery that is already loosing it’s needles or that dry or brown needle tips.

Before decorating with your greens it is best to soak them in water overnight to rehydrate them. First, crush the stems of your woody green, this allows them to take up more water. Soak in cold water. Your bath or utility tubs are both fine places to accomplish this task. After soaking, allow the greens to drip dry, out of the sun, before spraying with an anti-transpirant like Wilt-Pruf (Note: an anti-transpirant will help your greens to retain moisture but will seal their natural scent and turn blue needles green). Spray greens in a well ventilated area to the point of run-off. Allow greens to dry thoroughly before using in decorations.

Never place fresh greens near heat sources, such as a fireplace, space heater, heating vent or sunny window. Keep greenery away from lit candles. If using lights in your decorating, use mini-lights as they run cooler. Make certain to unplug lights when leaving the house or going to bed at night.

Check the freshness of your decorations frequently. Every. If your greens are beginning to dry, remove or replace the dry portion.

Decorating

Many different types of decorations can be made using fresh greens, this includes; roping, garland, wreaths, swags, centerpieces, kissing balls and topiaries, to name a few. When purchasing these items already made, the addition your own assortment of greenery may be added to the piece to give it your own personal flair. You may also want to consider using other plant parts such as berries, fresh or dried fruit and flowers, cones and seed pods to supply additional color and texture to your creation.