How to Keep Your Live Wreaths, Swags and Garlands Alive Through the Holidays (2024)

FAQs

How to Keep Your Live Wreaths, Swags and Garlands Alive Through the Holidays? ›

Keep your fresh greens away from direct sunlight and heat will ensure the longest life. Misting with a water or even setting them under a shower for a bit will help them last.

Keep your fresh greens away from direct sunlight and heat will ensure the longest life. Misting with a water or even setting them under a shower for a bit will help them last.

How Long Does Fresh Greenery Last? The longevity depends on a few factors, including location, light level, moisture in the air, and temperature. Fresh garlands and wreaths can last 4 to 6 weeks, and up to 8 weeks in cooler climates.

There are several leading anti-transpirant preservative sprays, including Wilt-Pruf Anti-Transpirant Plant Protection Spray. We've had people tell us about their success with them, but we recommend misting with water for a more natural and chemical free method.

Tip: if you want to keep your wreath looking new year after year, spray it with scotchgard outdoor sun & water shield! This will help prevent damage from UV rays and harsh weather!

Answer: The foliage used in the wedding garland should last a full day. Direct sun exposure will cause it to dry more quickly. If it is outdoors in the cool shade and not too warm it will often look fresh for a couple days. Much like flowers, without a water source greens will wilt and dry.

In order to preserve long-lasting evergreens, try choosing varieties that stay fresh for longer. These include pine, cedar, and fir. Indoors, these varieties will preserve for just over two to three weeks with proper care. It is possible for them to last much longer outside in cooler climates like Ontario, however!

How to keep Christmas wreaths from drying out? ›

You can reduce the drying effect on your wreaths by placing them in cool and dim places. Keep your wreath out of direct rays of sunlight or the sun will dry it out faster. The same goes for wreaths above the fireplace soaking up hot, dry air and perhaps hanging on a hot chimney.

Use Varieties That Last the Entire Season

Short-needled pines, such as spruce and hemlock, are very attractive, but a few days after they are cut they will begin to lose leaves. If you need something that will last from late November until Christmas, buy long-needled pines, such as princess pine or cedar.

Keep It Fresh

Let it air dry completely before placing it on your mantel, railing or other woodwork. Once your greenery is in place, spritz it daily with water, avoiding pieces placed in direct sunlight.

Fresh wreaths last between three and eight weeks, depending on the storage conditions. Refrigerated or outdoors in the cold, your wreath will last the longest. Indoors or outdoors in warm weather, your wreath will last the shortest. A well-hydrated and waxed wreath lasts longer while a hot and dry wreath decays faster.

Wrap each strand around a piece of rigid cardboard to prevent tangling. Then, place the individually wrapped strings inside a durable Ziploc or plastic bag to protect them from getting scratched. Avoid storing multiple garlands in a single container as this could cause tangles and damage.

Don't throw it out! Instead update an old wreath by adding some more greens and embellishments and a big pretty bow! You won't believe how nice it can look! Today let's save a wreath and make it Christmas ready!

No problem. Abrahams says you can just as easily hang multiple wreaths on hangers inside a closet or on a rolling rack. "Hang them on individual hangers using ribbon, roping, or carabiners, and you can even cover each with a clear plastic bag to keep them free of dust," she says.