GardenLine | House Plants | Wreath for That special Holiday Greeting

Ward is a staff member with the Department of Horticulture Science. This column is provided as an extension service by the Division of Extension and Community Relations and the Department of Horticulture Science, University of Saskatchewan.

This year why not welcome holiday visitors with a wreath made of holly or other dried or fresh plant material? The "holly," is a traditional Christmas wreath plant that has been associated with both good and bad luck; but in North America it has always been used to express a warm holiday greeting. The wreath itself probably dates back to the crown of thorns which was placed on Christ's head.

You might use wreaths to decorate outdoor locations such as a front door or possibly a gate or lamp post. Inside, hang wreaths on a wall or fireplace. Or plan a fragrant wreath for the kitchen or bathroom .

Making a Wreath

First, make a frame. It can be a flat, wood frame or woven from vines such as grape or Virginia creeper. Wire mesh screening can also be used for the frame, which will be partly or completely hidden. It is important for the frame to have a strong hook. A large wreath may weight up to 30 pounds.

Wreaths for Outdoors

Once you have fashioned your frame, you can begin to assemble the plant material for the wreath. In Saskatchewan, evergreen material can be wired in place, along with native, cold-tolerant fruit. Wreaths fashioned from such materials will remain attractive after months outside; but be sure the plant materials you choose for outdoor wreaths are able to withstand Saskatchewan weather conditions, particularly the winds.

For a fresh outdoor greenery wreath, you might use material from spruce, pine, fir cedar and junipers. For color, choose from the fruit of crab apples, hawthorn, mountain ash, cotoneaster, cranberries, sea buckthorn and possibly Buffalo berry. Woody materials may include birch bush, grape and Virginia creeper vines. You may also include cones, nuts and other dry fruit, poppy and other seed pods, fungus such as mushrooms, bracts, and some of the mosses.

Wreaths Indoors

Indoor wreaths can be delicate or rustic depending on the room, the house and the preferences of the owner, of course. If an evergreen wreath is to be used in a warm climate or indoors, place the cut stems of the greenery in damp peat moss to help prevent the wreath from losing its color and freshness.

As well as the materials described above, you might choose to use everlasting flowers (many kinds available), dried foliage, dried reindeer moss, cinnamon and other spices, and herbs such as rosemary or thyme. It is convenient to use a glue gun to attach dry, delicate material to a wreath.

Indoor wreaths can be very personal and interesting. I have seen wreaths with "color theme" - for example predominantly brown wreaths, using cones, nuts and brown dry foliage and a light brown ribbon. I have also seen some very attractive wreaths for children - wreaths with candy canes and gingerbread men. Another innovative idea is the edible wreath can be made of paper-covered candy.

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Sustainable horticultural information, offered free of charge to the public with the support of the University of Saskatchewan Extension Division, the Department of Plant Sciences and the Provincial Government.