How to Make Your Own Christmas Wreath That Lasts Longer

Would you like to learn how to make a natural Christmas wreath that lasts longer? The florists on our Hampshire Farm have a new technique that we are using this year, which helps keeps fresh foliage, herbs and berries looking fresher for longer. We have shared our new method with you here, as an easy step-by-step guide to making your own natural Christmas wreath.

Our wreath-making kit makes creating your own individually styled Christmas wreath fun and easy to do. If you are short on time or would prefer to choose a pre-made wreath you can shop our collection here. (Each of our pre-made wreaths is made to order by the florists on our eco-friendly English flower farm using herbs, berries, flowers and foliage grown on our sustainable farms.

You can also watch a video tutorial of our founder Rosebie Morton guiding you through the process here.

ORDER YOUR WREATH MAKING KIT

INGREDIENTS

Each of our wreath-making kits contains the following ingredients:

Metal wreath ring
Reel wire
Moss
A selection of freshly picked foliage and berries from our sustainable Hampshire farm
Ribbon

You will also need:

Wire cutters (optional)
Scissors or secateurs - we love working with our award-winning secateurs and Japanese floristry scissors - which also make great gifts.

INSTRUCTIONS

Wrap and fix the end of your wire to your metal wreath base (leave the wire attached to the spool).

Next, take a generous handful of moss and compact it by pressing it together between your hands.

Place the compacted moss onto your wreath base and secure it in place by wrapping the wire around it, two or three times.

Continue adding bundles of moss and securing them in place evenly until the whole base is wrapped. Use all of the moss provided to give your base a generous covering. Then fasten off and cut your wire.

Start with the pine branches. Cut a length that is around 20-30cm/8-12” long. Cut the stem of each length at an angle or sharpen to create a point to make it easier to stab it into the base. Then strip the needles off the bottom 3cm/1” using your fingers (you may want to wear gloves). You can either prepare all of your pine in advance or prep as you go. TIP: Cut the stems over the cardboard box to make tidying up at the end quicker. The leftover stems and leaves can then be composted, used to decorate gifts or, if you have young children, you could use leftovers such as scented eucalyptus leaves for sensory play.

Insert the point of a pine length into the outer edge of your wreath at about a 45o degree angle, so that pine lengths sit flat against your table or work surface. Continue to add pieces all around the outside edge, working in the same direction.

Insert the point of a pine length into the outer edge of your wreath at about a 45o degree angle, so that pine lengths sit flat against your table or work surface. Continue to add pieces all around the outside edge, working in the same direction. TIP: You can always come back and add more at any point.

Next add your Viburnum in lengths that are around 20-25cm/8-10” in length. Viburnum works beautifully as it is so full and retains its colour. Insert your Viburnum, (and more pine) into the gaps so that your base has a good covering. Do not forget to make sure all of your stems are facing in the same direction throughout.

Once your base has a good covering, take a step back and check that you are happy with the balance - adjust adding more foliage as needed.

The Senecio with its two toned white and silvery green leaves adds a beautiful contrast and the Rosemary and Eucalyptus have a wonderful aromatic scent. Cut at an angle into 20-25cm/8-10” lengths, strip any leaves off around the bottom 3cm/1” and dot throughout your design. There is no wrong or right here so you can get creative and place these stems where you want.

You can then finish your design by studding with the Pine Cones and Rose Hips. The Pine Cones come on sticks which you can snap to around 10cm/4” in length. The Rose Hips can be snipped into lengths of around 20cm/8” and inserted into your design to add further interest. Watch out for the thorns on the Hips.

Finish with ribbon – you may want to add a bow or just a loop for hanging.

We would recommend placing your wreath in a cold, sheltered spot to help it last even longer. We have found our moss-based wreaths tend to dry beautifully - you can discover more tips for making your natural wreath last longer here. (link to: https://www.realflowers.co.uk/blog/how-to-make-your-natural-christmas-wreath-last-longer/).

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to making your own Christmas wreath so be bold and let your creativity flourish! We would love to see your creations so do email us (link to mailto:info@realflowers.co.uk) or tag us @therealflowerco if you are sharing on Instagram.

You can shop your DIY Christmas Wreath Kit here or click here for our range of pre-made Christmas wreaths with everything from traditional red and green to cool Nordic white.