Annette MaCoy, Penn State Master Gardener,
shared tips for decorating with greens in December, 2014.
One of our nicest
winter holiday traditions is decorating with fresh greenery. Evergreens such as
cedar, ivy, pine and holly add a natural look and fresh fragrance to our homes;
for many, they represent life everlasting and the coming renewal of spring. Your
own landscape is a great place to look for holiday greenery. You may have a
variety of materials unavailable at a store, and what you gather will be much
fresher. Just remember that you are actually pruning the plants as you gather
greenery, so consider carefully which branches you can trim to preserve the
natural form of the tree or shrub.
Properly conditioned greens will
last for quite a while in arrangements.
- Immerse entire evergreen branch
in warm water for 12 hours or overnight. This will prolong the life of the
branch and also clean the foliage.
- Remove all lower leaves to
ensure that there is no soft material below the water level where it can
rot and form bacteria.
- Re-cut the stem ends at an
angle to provide a large surface area for the maximum absorption of water.
- Stand all branches in water in
a cool, dark place until ready to use.
- Change the water every 2-3 days. A few drops of bleach
may be added to the water to prevent bacteria formation.
Check your decorations often, replacing any that become dry, and keep them away from heat sources and out of direct sunlight. Some popular decorating materials have toxic berries or leaves, so keep holiday decorations out of the reach of children and pets.
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| Magnolia leaves-an elegant touch |
Some greens are better for
decorating than others. Here are some suggestions from Macoy. Needled and
broadleaf evergreens include white pine, juniper, Douglas fir, cedar, fir,
spruce, ivy, holly, mountain laurel, boxwood, evergreen magnolia, arborvitae, evergreen
viburnum, Leyland cypress, nandina, Japanese cedar, hemlock, and false cypress.
Other plant parts such as berries, dried flowers, cones, seed pods, and twigs add color and texture to holiday arrangements. Some possibilities are acorns, bittersweet, holly berries, hydrangea blossoms, magnolia pods, nandina berries, pine cones, pyracantha berries, rose hips, sweet gum balls, bayberry, redtwig dogwood, and fruits such as lemons, limes, crabapples, seckel pears, kumquats, and pineapple. Milkweed pods make excellent additions to wreaths or arrangements and can be painted gold, silver or other colors for accent.
CKagan, Master Gardener/AMaCoy, Master Gardener
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HERB SAMPLER Second Edition
Buy one for yourself and consider getting a few more as the winter holidays approach – hostess gifts, housewarming and holiday presents.
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