FINDING ITEMS FOR YOUR HOLIDAY GREENERY CAN BE FOUND IN YOUR YARD
Here we are in the last week of November. Many of us are concentrating on decorating our homes or offices for the holiday season, which is upon us.
Finding fresh greenery to use in decorating is as easy as strolling through your gardens. Personally, I find it so rewarding to use some of my own landscape plants as a source of greenery. Cutting your own greenery as needed is about as fresh as it gets. And talk about cost savings. Boxwood, hollies, pines, yews, cypress, cedar, and other plants all make great cuttings for use in arrangements or wreaths.
What a perfect time to trim our evergreens. I follow the VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION. According to this shrub pruning calendar, November is the prime month for pruning most evergreens. My word of advice needs to be said—remember that you are, in effect, pruning the plant to shape and that it is essential to use proper cutting methods.
I love trimming greens from my plants. I have been doing it for decades with my kids. We then each made our own personal arrangements. It was a fun family project. Now, I am doing the same with my grandkids.
I think this should be obvious: heat and dry air will shorten the life of all cut greens. Keep the cuttings cool and always in water to ensure that your fresh greenery will last through the holiday season.
When making my arrangements, I use an Oasis. The Oasis soaks up water and is strong enough to support my cuttings. Just keep the Oasis wet at all times. Here is a tip: add some Pro-long or Tree Life to the water. Both of these products help cuttings take up more water, lengthening the freshness time.
Here are a few more tips for holiday greenery:
- Protect your furniture by avoiding placing fresh cuttings directly on furniture. Have a cloth or something to prevent sap from your cuttings dripping on the furniture.
- If you use a freshly cut Christmas tree, save the lower cuttings and use some of these fresh cuttings in your arrangements.
- After the holidays: DON’T THROW YOUR TREE OR CUTTINGS INTO THE TRASH. The tree and cuttings can be layered in your perennial beds for an instant, loose mulch. Then, this tree or greenery can be easily removed in the spring.
Bringing evergreen cuttings inside for the holidays is an ancient tradition that will give your home the right festive touch.
ENJOY YOUR CREATION!!!!!!!!