How to Keep Your Holiday Greenery Fresh

We’re thrilled to be brining you some thoughts from our gardening and greenery expert Nonie, of Nonie’s Garden.

Everybody loves the look and fragrance of live seasonal greenery during the Christmas holidays. When decorating my clients’ homes, I try to use live evergreens as often as possible, but keeping it fresh for the four week season can require some additional preparation.

Here is what I have learned, through trial and error, about keeping holiday greenery as fresh as possible through the season:

• Purchase your greenery or wreaths as close to the time you will be using them as possible. Pine, fir, and cedar branches and wreaths last the longest.
• Keep your branches and wreaths outside until needed.
• When using branches, cut or crush the stems. Then, place the stems (or even better) the whole branch in a bucket of water over night. You should soak your wreath in water also.
• Treat with an Anti-Desiccant Spray. Anti-desiccant spray is organic and biodegradable. It adds a protective waxy coating to the needles or leaves of evergreens to slow the process of water loss. It can be purchased at a garden center, nursery, or florist.
• Mist your evergreen branches or wreaths with water as often as possible.
• Keep away from heat and sunlight. If using lighting with your evergreens, use LED lights which are cooler. And, never place lit candles close by.
• Add Glycerin. For arrangements in water, mix 1 par glycerin (found in drugstores) to 1 part water.
• Consider using non-traditional substitutes. Topiary rosemary or boxwood plants, potted ferns or magnolia leaves add greens to your home and will (with proper care) be around longer than traditional greenery.

Find more holiday decorating ideas and how-to’s, or browse or Holiday inspiration on Pinterest.