How To Make A Christmas Garland
Heres a first for my blog – a Guest Post from the nice people at Dobbies
Evergreens are traditional symbols of Christmas for their steadfast nature in the bleakest of winters, as well as their beautiful colour. Garlands and wreaths transform these resilient and glorious evergreens, into decorative reminders of the winter ahead and our ability to endure. A classical Christmas garland is an elegant way to decorate any home inside or out.
If you want to add a traditional touch to your abode, here’s a guide to making your own Christmas garland:
1. Before you start think about where you want to display your garland. If you need to attach the garland to something, then add in some wire or string at the beginning, middle and end. That way you can easily affix the garland to a mantle-piece or window. Planning ahead will allow you to hide the attachments with the foliage along the way
2. The easiest way to build the base for your garland is to buy a branch of artificial pine. These are available in most garden centres, craft shops and DIY stores.
3. Being green-fingered, you’ll probably want to use real evergreens such as holly, ivy, and pine firs. If so, get some rope and cut yourself a length that is just a fraction shy of the length you require. Then you can affix the evergreen sprigs along the length of the rope using garden wire or twine, covering the whole length so that no rope is left showing.
4. Add your decorations to the garland with wire, making sure they are evenly spaced along the rope and arranged in accordance to the size of the decorations. Try and use seasonal plants, berries and pine cones to achieve that special Christmassy feeling. Alternatively you can buy artificial flowers and decorations from most garden centres.
5. Keep fragile flowers and plants to a minimum as they will eventually droop. Using an odd number is for some strange reason more aesthetically pleasing, so bear this in mind when you are laying decorations out ready to be attached.
6. This is also a good opportunity to do something with all those pine cones you may have piling up in the garden (if not get some from a park, a neighbour, or buy some artificial ones). Using garden wire, dot them along the garland filling the gaps and spaces.
7. When all the evergreen sprigs, berries, pine cones and decorations are arranged and securely in place, you’re ready to hang your garland. You can use the wire or string that you put on at the beginning to fix it in place. For a few finishing touches, consider adding a red bow or two and don’t be afraid to borrow decorations from the Christmas tree.
Handmade Christmas garlands make wonderfully natural and traditional Christmas decorations that will fill your home with festive cheer (and a well deserved sense of pride). So have a go at making your own Christmas garland this winter.
Merry Christmas.
Sorry, Helen, I’m not ready for Christmas yet! Even though I know it is time to begin. I do love real foliage in the house at Christmas, especially garlands around the fire and along the mantle shelf. Christina
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I think adding fresh greenery to a storebought garland is such a great idea..it gives you a fast base, place to attach fresh foliage..Can’t wait to get started.. Income is quite tight this year, I just Know this will kick off my Christmas spirit in Nature Not so much in the mall Thanks alot..and Merry Christmas..Trish NC
How far in advance can you make an ivy garland before it wilts and turns brown?
dear Celia
I’m afraid I don’t know the answer to that. The post you are commenting on was a guest post from a garden centre. I would think a week or so