Our Hopeful Home: DIY Fresh Christmas Boxwood Wreath

Today I'm sharing how to make a fresh boxwood wreath that should last you well beyond the Christmas season.

A few years ago I purchased three boxwood plants at a local garden center. Fast forward to today and we have three healthy boxwood bushes that have grown by leaps and bounds with no help from us.

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Seriously, we did not give them any special treatment -- we didn't even water them. Hearty little devils, I must say. While I've read that boxwoods don't do well in midwest winters, they've done beautifully here in Zone 5 in Illinois.

And while I love preserved boxwood wreaths, they are very difficult to make at home* -- so today's project will be made with fresh boxwood. If treated properly, your fresh boxwood should last you at least through the winter season .

*Preserving boxwood at home entails dye, glycerin, citric acid and buckets of water -- not to mention a few weeks' time for the leaves to absorb all those ingredients. Um, no thanks. I'd rather pay the premium and buy my boxwood wreaths already preserved by someone else. Back to fresh boxwood . . . . . . . .

SUPPLIES FOR MAKING A FRESH BOXWOOD WREATH

fresh boxwood stems garden shears wire cutter floral wire red velvet ribbon

1. Fresh boxwood stems

2. garden shears

3. floral wire

4. wire cutters

5. red velvet ribbon (or any ribbon of choice)

Dollar Tree Crafter's Choice wood bead wreath

6. wood bead wreath (I got mine at Dollar Tree) or any wreath form of your choice

fresh green boxwood stems red velvet ribbon

How To Make A Fresh Boxwood Wreath

NOTE: After cutting your fresh boxwood stems and bringing them inside, it helps to place them in a vase of water just like you would a bunch of flowers from the garden. Let them soak up the water overnight before beginning your wreath project.

Also, every few days you should spritz them with water which will hopefully extend their life indoors throughout the winter season. (Cut fresh boxwood stems actually do better outside where it's cooler and moister than inside your home. So keep that in mind. Maybe you can make an indoor and outdoor wreath as well!)

1. Cut your fresh stems down to manageable lengths, i.e., 1-3 inches long, and gather three of those equally long stems together.

three bunches green boxwood stems wood bead wreath

2. Wire each set of three stems together at their base. Above are three separate groups of stems I wired together.

3. Wire one group of stems to the wood bead wreath, beginning at the bottom center position of the wreath. Work your way out and up each side.

4. Carefully bend and then wire down each grouping of stems, one at a time, adding more groupings as you go, until you've covered however much of the wreath you want covered.

wood bead wreath hanging on cathedral arch with red ribbon

5. Tie a loose knot at the top middle of the wreath with your velvet ribbon, and let it flow down over the wreath.

6. Hang in a window or over a mirror or even on your kitchen cabinets (personally one of my favorite Christmas decorating tricks). I decided to hang mine over a cathedral arch that was already trimmed in faux greenery that actually looks a little bit like boxwood.

Christmas garland red velvet ribbon farmhouse ladder

Initially I hung it on my vintage farmhouse ladder before moving it to the cathedral arch. I chose to make a half wreath because I love the look of the plain farmhouse wood beads. But you can totally cover the entire wreath with boxwood stems as well.

chippy white cathedral arch boxwood garland

I love the rustic combination of a chippy arch, fresh greens and a wood bead wreath form.

Just below the cathedral arch is a vintage porcelain nativity set I picked up at Goodwill a few years ago.

vintage-inspired Christmas boxwood wreath

I think the chippy cathedral arch really sets the wreath off beautifully.

Christmas boxwood wreath red white toile Christmas stockingy

I placed the nativity scene atop a rustic round wooden tray and then placed that in the middle of a vintage handmade wooden trug.

You can always stain or paint the plain wood beads to match your decor. I, however, was happy with the beads as they were, providing that neutral, rustic look.

Super simple, and inexpensive as well. Just my kind of Christmas DIY.

Well, that's it for today, friends!

I hope you've enjoyed reading about my

DIY Fresh Christmas Boxwood Wreath

and that I've inspired you in some way.

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