A quick boxwood wreath

When it comes to the holidays, I’m all about using my garden to provide me with greenery, branches, berries, pinecones and other tidbits for my decorating. Admittedly, I’m not super crafty, but even I can make a quick boxwood wreath with clippings from my boxwood hedge.

I consider this wreath quite rustic because I wasn’t concerned with forming a perfect circle or trimming the boxwood to a smooth, clipped finish. I’m thrilled with the end result and the best part is that this project only took me 30 minutes from start to finish. Stylish and simple!

Materials for a boxwood wreath:

• Boxwood clippings – I gathered trimmings from one of my mature boxwoods, clipping to shape and thin the shrub. This will improve the overall health of the plant as well as provide me with plenty of 8 to 10 inch clippings for the wreath.
• Wire – I used bonsai wire as it was the closest thing at hand. You can also use another type of sturdy wire, a grapevine wreath, or a wreath ring.
• Garden twine – Plain ol’ garden twine cut into about 20 six-inch long strips.

The instructions:

• For my wreath, I cut a 4 1/2 foot piece of the bonsai wire, twisting the two ends together to form a rough circle. This proved to be the perfect size for my front door. Before you start adding boxwood, I’d suggest placing the wire circle where you will hang your wreath to be sure you’ve got the right size.
• Start tying boxwood boughs to the wreath with twine, overlapping as you go. If certain areas seem a bit thin, add more boxwood to thicken it up.
• Once you’re satisfied with the thickness of the wreath and it looks even all the way around, trim off any excess twine.
• Attach a festive bow (or some berry sprigs, pinecones, or other natural accessories) and hang it with pride! A homegrown boxwood wreath – in 30 minutes or less.

What are your favourite materials for a homemade wreath?