Christmas decorations for your garden
Decorating your home for the holidays helps get into the festive spirit. And we need it so much right now!
Even though you could buy everything at the store, it’s so much more fun and also environmentally friendly to create your own decorations using foraged materials from the garden or forest.
Using twigs, pine cones, fir, ivy, and other natural materials will bring beauty and the loveliest aromas to your home.
And after the holidays you simply compost them without creating any waste!
Here are some tips on how to create Christmas decorations from your garden.
Fir
You can find at least some type of fir in almost all gardens. Pine, conifer, yew are all traditional Christmas decorations, and you can make your own by cutting some branches off (or collect the fallen ones).
You can create the most beautiful wreaths by using a thick wire as a base and elements like cones, ribbons, dried berries and fruit (e.g. dried orange slices) to adorn.
If you don’t want a wreath, you can always simply tie a few fir bunches with a nice ribbon and hang them on the walls, doors or place a few branches on your holiday table as centrepieces.
Holly
We almost can’t imagine Christmas decorations without the iconic Christmas plat holly with its bright red berries and spiky leaves.
Even its name stems from the word “holy”. It’s been used since Roman times and today is the florists’ seasonal favourite.
It’s very simple to use. You can create table centrepieces, add it to garlands, wreaths, candle arrangements and fruit baskets.
Holly doesn’t require much else, but if you’d like, you can always add some ribbon or fairy lights.
Crab apples
Old-timey yet making a comeback with the zero-waste movement, crab apples can become the centrepiece of any arrangement.
You can use them instead of glass baubles for your tree, hang from the windows or shelves using beautiful ribbon or place in the middle of your holiday dinner table with a few fir branches around for a clean, minimalistic look.
Make sure you get healthy and bright apples and avoid injured ones as they’ll start rotting quickly.
Seedheads
After the summer some plants are left with dried flowering or fruiting part of the plant which contains the seeds and has a beautiful and fluffy exterior.
According to Gardensillustrated.com, Clematis Vitalba (also called old man’s beard) seedheads are very versatile when it comes to creating natural decorations for Christmas as they emulate the effect of snow or heavy frost.
You can use seedheads to create wreaths and add some flowers, mistletoe, dried berries and ribbon for a finished look.
Ivy
Another classic and widely available in most gardens, ivy is perfect for table decorations and wreaths.
Cut off a few long tendrils and incorporate in a wreath, then add baubles or dried berries. You’ll receive many compliments from your friends and neighbours!
TheMiddlesizedGarden.co.uk suggests creating the table decorations using tangerines and fairy lights ahead of time as the arrangements can last for a few days. This way you won’t be overwhelmed on Christmas day.
Twigs
Twigs are one of the cheapest and easiest ways to create Christmas decorations.
Cut a few off the trees or bushes in your garden or collect some in the forest or park. Take some time, find twigs in different colours and make sure all of them are healthy and firm.
Simply stick a few twigs in a vase, hang a couple of crab apples, vintage baubles or other ornaments and you’re all set!
If you have the time and will, you can also spray-paint the twigs in red, gold or silver for a modern twist.
Pinecones
Who doesn’t love pinecones? They’re so much fun to collect and add festive spirit with minimum effort.
The possibilities are endless – put them in bowls, jars with some fairy lights or tinsel, add to wreaths and garlands and just place them around the house!
If you want a Christmas project, you can always glue some ribbon on pinecones and hang them on the tree, add some glitter or have your kids come up with something creative.
Succulents
Evergreen succulents are like ornaments themselves. They’ve become extremely popular in modern floristry recently and no wonder – you can create beautiful decorations with them.
Succulents come in different shapes and sizes giving you the freedom to create.
Place a few succulent pots and incorporate dried red berries and herbs for a fresh look. If you’re using cut succulents, they will be a beautiful addition to any wreath and garland.
Mistletoe
Last but not least, the iconic mistletoe used as decoration since pagan times.
With beautiful white berries and green leaves, mistletoe symbolises fertility.
If you have some in the garden, don’t forget to cut off a few sprigs, tie them with ribbon and hang them from the lights or doorways.
Mistletoe can also bring luck: who knows if you don’t win the jackpot or guess the winner of TwinSpires Kentucky Derby?
Gardening course for beginners from GardenAdvice
One day gardening courses especially created for beginners run in your own garden by the GardenAdvice expert gardeners. Available as a gift voucher for the gardener in your life.
Become a gardener with the GardenAdvice Gardening Course.
If you are new to gardening it can all seem a bit complicated at first with all the Latin names and the gardening terminology. GardenAdvice.co.uk have developed a especially designed short one day course to be able to teach you all the basic skills of gardening to get you started.
The courses in your own garden cover such basic skills as pruning, correct digging methods, growing your own shrubs and creating the perfect lawn. See some of our clients our gardening course and our MyGardenTeam service on Instagram and the client section on the GardenAdvice website.
For further information visit or gardening courses section.
