November 5, 2024
Decorate with Fresh Greens!
Did you know that you can decorate your outdoor spaces all year long, even during our cold Canadian winters? And it’s all thanks to our friends, the evergreens! There are plenty of varieties out there that hold on to their foliage regardless of the chilly weather, which means lots of options when it comes to decorating your homes for the winter holiday season.
A festive wreath made from fresh evergreen boughs is a simple yet stunning addition to your front door, and that woodsy fragrance is a pleasant surprise with every entrance and exit! And of course, outdoor decorating means planters and containers. Fresh cut evergreen boughs are a perfect choice to create a festive arrangement for your front porches and pathways, and they can last outdoors all winter long. Select one of Belgian’s fresh greens pots (made on site) or create your own wintry holiday planter for all your holiday guests to enjoy! Here are some tips to make your own fresh greens arrangements:
When to Start
Early to mid-November is the ideal time to create your fresh outdoor arrangements, when all the fresh evergreen boughs are available for purchase and the warm weather has (typically) passed. Colder temperatures are essential to fresh greens pots, as any moisture in your containers will freeze and hold the boughs and decorations firmly in place. If the thermometers spike and we find ourselves in a warm spell, be sure to keep your containers well watered to keep the boughs fresh.
Prepare Your Container
Most important: make sure that your containers are fit for winter use! Plastic, metal, Veradek, and even fibre pots are all beautiful options that can handle the frost and snow. For new or empty containers, add a thick layer of sand or stones to the bottom before filling the cavity with soil as evergreen planters can easily get top-heavy. If you have an existing planter or large urn from your summer arrangements, you’re already halfway there! Just pull out any plants and top up with extra soil if needed; try to keep those old roots in place so they can act as a stable foundation for your boughs and branches.
Select Your Greens
Pine, cedar, and fir boughs are some of the most common evergreen varieties, but there are lots of beautiful options out there to discover. Try a mixture of different branches to add a range of green hues and textures. Magnolia bunches are a two-for-one dream, with their shiny green leaves and leathery copper undersides. Eucalyptus offers a silvery contrast to the overall look, and Juniper branches sometimes have tiny berries for extra interest!
Time to Create!
Before you start, grab some thick gardening gloves to protect your hands from all those evergreen needles; some branches can also have very sticky sap or even small thorns that can poke and irritate your skin.
First, place your container in its desired location, or at least close to it as these projects can get quite heavy. Start from the highest point of your arrangement and works your way down; if your planter is against a wall, the tallest elements should be at the very back of the container, while a 360° view will look best with the height in the center of the pot.
If you’re planning to use tall birch poles, which tend to be extra thick, start by placing these pieces before your greens to help determine the overall look.
Cut your greens to the desired length and insert them firmly into the soil. By starting at the tallest point, you’ll be able to control your branch heights and mix your bough varieties according to your tastes. Feel free to step back and check the bough placements from different angles; readjust if necessary.
Add Some Extra Touches
Once you’ve got all your greens in place, you can add some finishing touches for that extra ‘WOW’ factor. Holly, eucalyptus, and magnolia branches always look great, and there’s also curly willow and bright red dogwood branches for even more colour and texture. You can even dress it up with glittering Christmas ornaments and a large mesh bow! Just make sure that the ornaments are specified as outdoor use – shatterproof plastic is best, but at minimum they should be UV and water resistant.
Keep Your Fresh Greens Looking Fresh
Once you’ve checked all your angles and are happy with your final showing, water in and around the whole arrangement to help keep all the pieces in place. As stated above, your arrangement will need to be kept well watered until the soil freezes; be sure to water around all the branches during any warm spells to keep everything looking fresh and green. Once the deep freeze hits, all those branches will be secure and look even more amazing with a dusting of fresh snow. They’ll even last all the way until the spring thaw!
But What About Indoor Fresh Greens?
If you’re planning on using your fresh greens for indoor décor, keep in mind that they will have a shorter lifespan than outside in the cold and snow. With average house temperatures, evergreen boughs and wreaths can last about 5 to 7 days; misting them at least once a day can help increase their lifespan, or you can keep your boughs in fresh water to keep them green for about a month. For best results, keep your evergreen arrangements outside until the day of your party or for as long as possible—your boughs will stay fresh, and your guests will think that you hired a professional decorator!
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