How To Make The Perfect Christmas Garland

It’s oficially time to deck your halls with boughs of holly. Whether you’re on the hunt for the perfect Christmas wreaths and garlands, or prefer to make your own, tis the season to give your interiors a festive upgrade. Though many trees are now stripped bare by winter, there’s still plenty of evergreen leaves and berries with which to decorate your home. Want to learn how to turn your garden foliage into a beautiful Christmas garland, wreath or table centre? Rosebie Morton, founder of The Real Flower Company, is here to help with her December gardening guide.

December Gardening Guide 2025

There is a trend this December to put a ‘swag’ on a front door instead of a wreath. Both decorations go back to ancient Greek and Roman days when people put evergreens such as holly, ivy and pine on their doors to embrace the cycle of the seasons, ward off evil spirits and protect them from plagues. In later centuries the tradition became more decorative, used as a sign of hospitality to visitors as flowers, ribbons and ornaments started to be incorporated. In today’s world anything goes, depending on your preference. A swag can be as simple as a bunch of mixed foliage arranged in a bundle and tapered. Pine, spruce, eucalyptus, rosemary, berried ivy and hips all look great arranged together and smell lovely. Tied with a big velvet bow or ribbon, it can really elevate a door and provide a warm welcome to friends and family. 

Obviously, wreaths continue to be a popular choice for a door, using a mix of evergreen foliage on a moss base and then titivating with berries, dried fruits, seed heads and grasses. This year a touch of sparkle seems popular, opt for a sustainable gold paint to give a light dusting to the odd twig or stem.

Garlands can give a wonderful Christmas feel to a mantlepiece or staircase depending on your time and budget. They may look daunting to make but they are really not. All that’s needed is a bit of thick twine or rope, (cut according to the length required) some brown twine or floristry wire and then some evergreen foliages cut into 15-20cm pieces (6-7inches) and grouped into small bundles which you then tie together. Starting at one end, attach the first bundle to the rope and then continue attaching further bundles of foliage so they overlap to create a luxurious looking garland. Have a go at wiring fircones, dried oranges and cinnamon sticks which can be incorporated into the bundles to add interest. The trick is to really make sure that everything is bound really tightly so that once finished and hung in place you don’t have bundles slipping out. 

If you don’t fancy a rope garland but want a sustainable mantlepiece decoration, try packing sphagnum moss into a compostable bag and then tying the end up to to create a tight sausage shape. Place it on a flat container to protect your furniture. Cut whatever foliage or flowers you wish to use on a sharp point so that you can poke them through the bag and let the moss hold them in position. This also works well as a table centre and you can get creative with  putting candles in with the foliage as well. Keep your swags, wreaths and garlands looking fresh by spraying them with a water mister to stop them drying out. 

Finally if you have spare eucalyptus stems, why not mix a few with some rosemary and hang them in the shower to give yourself an invigorating boost. Just what’s required in the run up to Christmas!