Deck the halls: Expert shares history and tips for creating beautiful holiday wreaths

With the holiday season quickly approaching, decorating with greenery can bring timeless beauty, warmth and cheer to any home. Wreaths, in particular, are a festive staple rich in history and bursting with creativity. Daphne Williams, horticulturist at the Hahn Horticulture Garden at Virginia Tech, shares some history and tips for creating the perfect holiday wreaths and decor.

The history of wreaths

“Wreaths are said to represent the circle of life. They can be traced all the way back to ancient Greece, where they were once worn as crowns by rulers and monarchs. Wreaths have also been used at funerals in memory of and in respect for the deceased,” Williams says. “Decorative wreaths originated in ancient Greece and were hung on people’s doors in hopes of a fruitful harvest in the coming year. They were predominantly made of wheat.”

“Later, wreaths were used as a symbol during the observation of Advent in Christianity. They were usually constructed of evergreens and were incorporated with four candles. The circle of the wreath represents the eternity of God,” Williams says. “Advent is broken into four weeks, and the four candles signify hope, peace, joy, and love.”

“In modern times, wreaths are no longer confined to seasonal displays or special occasions. They are common and versatile home decorations,” Williams says.

Common mistakes

“Sometimes a person can overthink their holiday decor or compare it to others,” Willams says. “Just have fun and be different!”

“One common mistake is using too many materials. Don’t make your bunches too thick or too long when using evergreen materials. Plan ahead and gather materials ahead of time. Group a few things together before you make the wreath to see what combination of things you like and then pick one or two as a base and then incorporate small amounts of ‘thriller’ items throughout the wreath,” Williams says.

Experimental decorating

“For an unconventional approach, natural materials such as dried flower heads, seed pods or heads, and ornamental grass plumes can be of good use, and you could try experimenting with succulents,” Williams says. 

“For example, you can hot glue succulents to miscellaneous bases for a spectacular wreath design. Incorporate faux things into your live wreath such as feathers, holiday balls, small antiques, trinkets, and wood. Also, experiment with color! You can go bold and use hot pink, emerald green, and cobalt blue or go toward the minimalist design and use browns and whites,” she says. “And don’t forget about spray paint. You can spray paint pinecones, dried flower heads, leaves, or other materials any color you want.”

Leftover greenery can also be used in various ways. “You can piece or tie together greenery and place it on your mantle or cut small sprigs and use it as a decoration on packages,” Williams says. “You can take cuttings of evergreens and stick them into the soil of outdoor planters that no longer look good or drape greenery along stair railings, window sills with candles, or add greenery table vases.”

Preserving wreaths

“To keep your wreath sustainable, you can use sustainable wreath forms such as straw instead of metal. The straw can be re-wrapped and used again instead of buying a new metal form each time. You can also use grape vines or other vines that can be bent to form a circle,” Williams says. She also suggests foraging for materials. “Gather live evergreen materials from a local tree farm, use the clippings from your own evergreens that need a winter pruning, use dried flowers, seed heads, plumes and other materials from your garden that can break down or be composted.”

If you have a dried flower wreath and wish to preserve your wreath for potential reuse, Williams recommends keeping it in a dry, cool location. “Please keep wreaths away from heat and humidity. If possible, place the wreath in a cardboard box or large bag — avoid plastic — to protect it from dust. If your wreath does accumulate some dust, you can use a hair dryer on a low, non-heat setting to remove it. The cut greenery in live wreaths should be removed and thrown out – if possible, compost, reuse, recycle or donate,” she says.

About Williams

Daphne Williams graduated with a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from Virginia Tech and is now a horticulturist at her alma mater in the Hahn Horticulture Garden. She is originally from Newport, Virginia, and now resides on a farm in Pembroke, Virginia. Williams has spent many years in the green industry in numerous roles including public and private gardening, retail nursery, residential and commercial landscaping, and community outreach. She has a passion for plants and people. 

Schedule an interview

If you are interested in scheduling an interview with Williams, please contact Mike Allen in the media relations office at mike.allen@vt.edu or 540-400-1700.