Wreaths can be crafted from a variety of evergreen plants, but have you ever considered making boxwood wreaths?
Boxwood wreath ideas can include Christmas items for a seasonal decoration, but this lovely greenery isn't holiday specific. The lovely shape of the leaves makes a DIY boxwood wreath suitable for hanging any time of the year, both inside and outside the home.
What is a Boxwood Wreath?
Boxwood is a versatile and popular landscape shrub typically found throughout USDA hardiness zones 5 through 8, with some varieties being cold hardy to zone 3 and others tolerating the heat of zones 9 and 10.
There are approximately 90 species of boxwood and many more cultivars. Common classifications include American boxwood, English boxwood, and Japanese boxwood, with each family varying in leaf shape, foliage density, and rate of growth. English boxwood is often recommended for making boxwood wreaths due to its bright, dense, round leaves.
A DIY boxwood wreath can be made from boughs harvested from your own garden or from store-bought boxwood branches. Use fresh-cut stems for longer-lasting wreaths. Prior to making boxwood wreaths, hydrate the branches by soaking them overnight in water.
How to Make a Boxwood Wreath
To craft a DIY boxwood wreath, you'll need a wire or grapevine wreath form, florist wire, and wire cutters. If a bow is desired, choose approximately 9 feet (3 m.) of ribbon. Once finished, the wreath can be sprayed with an anti-desiccant resin to slow moisture loss.
Patience is also needed when learning how to make a boxwood wreath for the first time. If you're dissatisfied with the results, simply turn the wreath over, cut the wire, remove the greenery, and begin again. To get started, follow these simple steps for making a boxwood wreath:
- Cut four to five sprigs from the boxwood branches and bundle these together using the florist wire. Shorter sprigs of 2 to 4 inches (5-10 cm.) in length will give the wreath a more groomed appearance, while longer sprigs create a more natural-looking wreath.
- Using the ends of the wire, attach the bundle of sprigs to the wreath. Repeat steps one and two as you encircle the wreath frame with bundles of sprigs. Ideally, you want to completely cover the wreath frame. To accomplish this, you may need to attach bundles to the inner, outer, and middle sections of the frame.
- As you near the starting point on the frame, gently work the new sprigs under the first sprig bundle you attached. Once the frame is completely covered, use scissors to trim stray sprigs or to create a more uniform-looking wreath.
- If using an anti-desiccant, follow the package directions for mixing and spraying the product. Allow it to dry as recommended. Untreated foliage can be periodically misted to maintain moisture levels.
- Attach a ribbon and bow, if desired. The wreath is now ready to hang. (A piece of ribbon or florist wire can be used for hanging.)
Please keep in mind-- Boxwood is poisonous to both dogs and cats. Keep a DIY boxwood wreath out of reach of small children and pets. Discard wreaths once they begin to shed. To prevent the spread of boxwood blight, avoid composting boxwood wreaths.