By Marta Rusek 

The air is chilly, and the leaves have fallen. We’ve officially entered winter wreath-making season! Whether you have your heart set on making your first-ever winter holiday wreath or you're planning to make a DIY Christmas wreath to give as a gift, we spoke to our friendly neighborhood horticultural experts about everything you need to know for how to make a wreath that looks great and lasts all season long. 

Choose Your Aesthetic  

Before you put leaf to wreath, it’s important to know what kind of look you want to assemble. Do you want a natural, evergreen aesthetic, or are you going all-in on a more bright and ornamental design that involves spray paint, and some craft store-bought elements?  

You can also have the best of both worlds! As Sally McCabe, Associate Director of Community Education for PHS, points out, berries can dry up and fall off quickly, which makes buying fake berries a sensible approach especially since you can reuse them. You can also get creative and spray your berries with dots of gold paint or cover them entirely.  

Once you’ve picked a direction, you can start foraging for materials. 

Gather Your Materials 

Whether you’re taking a stroll around your local park or the wilderness near your home, or scoping out craft store sales, it’s a good idea to gather the materials in advance. Seed pods in particular are harder to come by later in the season. 

Andrew Bunting, PHS VP of Horticulture, suggests harvesting certain native vines as well as unique-looking dried fruits, and seed heads for your materials list.  

Additionally, Sally enthusiastically advises using dried herbs, pinecones, seed pods, acorns, and ribbon to spruce things up (pun intended). Acorns from the ground may have worms in them, but that’s nothing a few hours in your freezer can’t solve.  

Since wreaths require the hardiest and longest-lasting greens, Sally recommends: 

• Firs (think Douglas, Fraser and Concolor), which are the mainstay of the Christmas trees sold in and around the Philadelphia Area. “They are aromatic and hold up well under abuse,” she says. Balsam firs have a marvelous smell but lose their integrity within a week. 
• Junipers, Cyprus, arborvitae and cedars contribute a wide variety of textures and colors and hold up well over time. Head’s up, some have very jagged needles and bracts, so wear long sleeves and gloves if they start to make you itch. 
• White Pine has long needles that hold up well in wreaths and centerpieces, smells delightful, and provides limitless pinecones. But beware, it can be VERY sappy says Sally, which is why it’s important to protect surfaces when working with either the greens or cones. 

In addition to natural or artificial leaves and supporting materials, you’ll need: 

• Box wire wreath frame which can be re-used after the season is over (a 12-inch frame makes a nice-sized wreath)  
• Green floral wire like a strong 24-gauge wire and green floral picks, which are available at any craft store 
• Wire cutters 

Be Sure to Pet-Proof Your Wreaths 

If you’re making wreaths for your home or for loved ones who have a cat, dog, or bunny, look out for materials that are toxic to animals. Poinsettias, Yew berries, and holly berries are definitely on the “Materials to Avoid” list, since they are toxic to furry family members. Pine needles and sharp leaves can also be hazardous for pets to chew on or consume. Another reason to use fake berries and materials in your design! 

Make The Wreath 

Now comes the fun part! We’ve identified the basic steps below: 

• Create bundles with at least one to two pieces of different greenery (get creative, there is no wrong way to do this!). 
• Take a bundle and place it anywhere on your box frame. Tie the bundle together against the wreath frame with a piece of 24-gauge wire and repeat with a few bundles around the frame. 
• Alternate the direction that the bundles are pointing towards. Ensure that one is pointing inward and the next one is pointing outward all the way around for an even wreath. 
• Wrap your bundles all around, and carefully tuck your last bundle underneath your first one. 
• Secure everything with wire. Wind and weave it into the box frame to secure it into place. 
• Personalize your wreath by adding your decorations! Add your creeping vines, pine corns, acorns, and gold-splattered berries to make your wreath stand out.  

Remember – Wreath-Making Is a Year-Round Activity! 

As Sally points out, “The winter holiday season does not have a monopoly on wreaths!” Honing your wreath-making skills now means you can get inspiration and gather materials in the months to come. Gathering materials as the seasons change means you can assemble a stunning goldenrod wreath in the spring, or a wreath made entirely of multi-color leaves in the fall.