Using fresh pine to create your own Christmas wreath is one way to add a wonderful aroma and a special touch of holiday festivities to your home. You can learn how to make a fresh Christmas wreath following our simple directions and using fresh pine branches from Alpha Fern Company. When you are finished, you’ll have a beautiful advent wreath to hang on your door, your porch, or any other place that needs some Christmas cheer. A homemade Christmas wreath is also a wonderful gift to give a friend, family member, or neighbor.
The holidays are a wonderful time to decorate your home with festive wreaths made from fresh pine branches. The earthy fragrance of pine fills the air, evoking the spirit of the season. Making your own fresh pine wreath is surprisingly easy, and a rewarding DIY project you can do for free with materials found in nature. Follow these simple steps to craft a gorgeous wreath to display on your front door or above the mantel this holiday season.
Gather Your Materials
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Fresh pine branches – Collect pine branches from your yard or ask neighbors for their trimmings. You’ll need about 8-10 branches around 18-24 inches long. Make sure they are flexible with lots of full, green needles.
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Wreath form – Purchase a 12-16 inch round metal wreath form from a craft store.
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Floral wire – 22 gauge wire works best
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Wire cutters
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Heavy twine or jute
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Pruners or scissors
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Decorations (optional) – Pine cones, berries, ornaments
Prepare the Pine Branches
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Use the pruners to cut the branches into varying lengths between 4-12 inches. The different sizes will give the wreath a natural look.
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Group 3-5 branches together into small bundles. Try mixing up textures and shades of green for interest.
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Soak the bundles for 10 minutes to make them more pliable for bending and shaping.
Construct the Wreath Frame
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Take one bundle and bend it around the top of the wreath frame. Secure it by tightly wrapping floral wire around the base several times.
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Continue attaching bundles around the frame, overlapping them slightly and securing each one with wire. Make sure there are no gaps.
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When back at the starting point, tuck the end bundle underneath the first. Wrap wire around the entire frame to hold everything together.
Add Decorations and Finishing Touches
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Adorn with pine cones, berries, ornaments, etc. using hot glue or by wiring them into place. Cluster in small groups for a natural look.
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Use twine/jute to create a hanger. Tie into a loop and attach to the back.
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Mist with hairspray to help secure any delicate decorations.
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Let dry fully before hanging on a wreath hanger or wall hook.
Design Ideas and Variations
Get creative with your fresh pine wreath! Here are some fun ways to make it your own:
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Go all natural with just pine, pinecones, and red winterberries.
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Choose a color scheme like red and gold ornaments for Christmas.
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Accent with pops of glitter, metallics, or faux fur for some shimmer and texture.
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Weave in greenery like eucalyptus, magnolia leaves, or cedar for contrast.
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Add cinnamon sticks, citrus slices, or fresh herbs for wonderful scent.
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Make a smaller version for tabletop or wall using a 10-12 inch frame.
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Shape it into a heart, oval, square or tree instead of a round wreath.
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Use battery-powered fairy lights for a magical glow.
Care and Handling Tips
Follow these tips to help your wreath last longer:
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Store spare clippings in the fridge to stay fresh for other projects.
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Mist with water and keep out of direct sunlight and heat.
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Apply hairspray again if decorations start loosening.
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Bring indoors in extreme weather to protect from rain, snow, and wind.
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Expect fresh wreaths to last 3-6 weeks with proper care and hydration.
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Compost when needles start falling to say farewell to your fragrant creation!
Crafting a wreath from foraged pine branches is a beautiful way to celebrate the season. Let your creativity run wild and make a gorgeous handmade wreath that welcomes the holidays in style.
Step Three: Position Pine Boughs.
Place a single pine bough at an angle on your wreath form. Twist some floral wire around the bough and part of the form to secure it tightly. Place another pine bough at an angle, overlapping the bottom part of the first bough. Secure it tightly to the form with the wire.
Continue to overlap and secure boughs to the form until you have completed the circle. They should all be going the same direction. The final bough will have to be tucked under the top of the first bough.
This is the base of the wreath. It’s okay if some of your wreath form still shows through. We’ll cover it up in the next steps.
Why Make a Fresh Christmas Wreath?
Fresh wreaths made with real pine look beautiful and smell great. Making your own ensures you get the unique Christmas wreath you have always wanted. Plus, it’s fun to make a Christmas wreath! Try it yourself. You might never go back to buying a wreath from a store.
How to make a Christmas wreath with fresh pine:
Wreath Making Basics! ❤️ // Garden Answer
FAQ
How long will a fresh pine wreath last?
Cold helps to preserve your wreath in the same manner that refrigeration keeps produce fresh. Inversely, this is why wreaths decay the fastest in a warm room. Evergreen centerpieces and indoor wreaths tend to last about three weeks. You may want to plan replacement wreaths for fresh decorations all season long.
How to preserve a fresh pine wreath?
By protecting the needles from desiccation with a wax spray and tending to the water needs of your wreath, you can enjoy your wreath for days and weeks longer.Aug 15, 2021
How to make pine leaves last longer?
Keep Them Hydrated
You can also use an anti-desiccant spray that is organic and biodegradable. These hydrating sprays add a shield-like coating around evergreen needles in order to slow down the rate of water loss.
What is the best pine for wreaths?
Note: This technique can also be used with other plants, such as, rosemary, lavender, and thyme for making an herbal wreath! Juniper, white pine and Douglas fir are all good choices for an evergreen wreath. They will hold their needles for a long time without shattering.
How do you make a pine wreath?
Link to pine wreath video is here. Unless you want a huge pine wreath, use the 12-inch form because it will end up being twice the size of your expectation after you finish. Take a hand full of pine leaves (cut at 6-inch or at a length of your desire) and bundle them together. Lay the bundle slightly diagonally on the wreath form.
Can you make a pine wreath for free?
A DIY Pine Wreath you can make yourself, for free, without going out to buy any materials. This is the ultimate budget Christmas decorating project. All it takes is time and a few materials from Mother Nature. Anyone can make these evergreen wreaths; the step-by-step tutorial couldn’t be more straightforward.
How do you make a Christmas wreath?
Step 1: Gather materials and greenery to make fresh Christmas wreath. A 12 to 18 inch wire wreath frame and some natural jute twine. Evergreen branches: different kinds of conifers with foliage color variations such as bright green, blue green, yellow green, etc. Spruce, cedar and boxwood are longer lasting than pine and fir. Pin it!
How long does a pine tree wreath last?
Tuck in extras like magnolia leaves, pine cones, ribbons, and ornaments to have the wreaths match your decor. If you keep the wreaths indoors, mist them every other day to keep them from drying out. The wreaths last a few weeks (longer if you use cedar branches), but once the pine starts to dry, the needles will drop.
Can you use pine trimmings for a wreath?
Save all your pine trimmings because you will use them for your wreath. Making your wreath form is fairly easy. You need two straight branches measuring 1/2 -3/4 inch wide and about 30 inches long. You can trim them down to any size you want, but it’s best to grab them around that long to start out.
How do you make a textured wreath?
Mix different types of fresh greenery for a heavily textured wreath. Tuck in extras like magnolia leaves, pine cones, ribbons, and ornaments to have the wreaths match your decor. If you keep the wreaths indoors, mist them every other day to keep them from drying out.