greenery wreaths use many natural materials, home or locally grown wherever possible.
Willow, moss and foliage have all been sourced from the UK. Decorative items including synthetic ribbons and spray-painted cones etc have been used in some designs, with the suggestion that these items are reused, rather than thrown away after use. Simply pull them out to leave a base which is 100% biodegradable.
Types of Wreath
Biodegradable designs feature only natural materials including jute twine and seedheads, and are therefore suitable for natural burial grounds, 100% compostable and suitable for your garden waste bin.
Biodegradable bases are biodegradable after the wired decorative items such as ribbons, fruit etc have been removed: please consider keeping these for reuse next year or if you would like to return yours to greenery, please get in touch.
Alternatively, you can turn your entire design into an insect home by simply finding a sheltered spot to hang it in your garden as shown here
Making your own?
If you’ve attended a greenery or other wreath workshop before and intend to go it alone this year, check out these reminders below:
If you aren’t cutting foliage from your own garden, from someone else’s (with permission!) or buying from a retailer, please first make sure you are familiar with the Wildlife and Countryside Act with regards to responsible foraging. There’s a great summary on the Woodland Trust website here, including a link to the full act on the UK government website.
Please note that aside from obviously hard-to-handle plants such as Holly, foliage can occasionally cause skin irritations, and you may wish to wear gloves to handle these materials.
Strong, clean, and sharp tools are the safest
Ensure that all materials are kept away from food and drink and that you wash hands thoroughly before eating or drinking.
How to care for your wreath
Your wreath is designed to be displayed outside. In normal winter temperatures, your wreath should need very little care, though it is advisable to mist it occasionally if there is no rainfall or if it is entirely protected from the elements. Alternatively, you can lay the whole design on a damp lawn to absorb the dew, or lay it flat and gently pour a small amount of water over it (avoiding decorative items especially fruit where possible): please do this outside or on a draining board and drain well before repositioning. Foliage on an external door wreath in cool weather will last about a month so long as regular watering is maintained whenever the moss is dry rather than moist to the touch.
Displaying a mossed wreath indoors shortens its life considerably, and if you intend to do so, please be aware that it is not backed and therefore is unsuitable for a decorated wall.
If being laid flat, it will need to be placed on a large plate or similar to protect the table surface. It will also stay fresh for longer if you can put it outside or in a cool room overnight.
You can lay a memorial wreath outside from the start of December and it will last well until Christmas particularly if exposed to some rain. Pine cones may temporarily close in heavy rain.
Fruit is popular on festive wreaths, but please note that when exposed to moist air, it will begin to soften and will likely darken in colour.
Please be aware that a small amount of needle or leaf loss may occur during transit but will not detract from the overall design.
I hope you are pleased with your greenery wreath, but if you have any questions please email me on kate@greeneryflowers.co.uk
Seasons’ Greetings