How to Make a Boxwood Wreath

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Whether fresh, preserved or faux, boxwood is popularly used in home decor, since it coordinates well with many different interior styles. A fresh boxwood wreath is versatile year-round, looking classic or holiday festive, just by switching out the ribbon.

Image Credit: Shades of Blue Interiors

Things You'll Need

  • Boxwood clippings, approximately 75 to 100, 4 to 5-inch lengths

  • Grapevine wreath, 10-inch diameter

  • Floral wire, 22-gauge

  • Wire cutter

Image Credit: Shades of Blue Interiors

Tip

  • When clipping living boxwood from a bush, wait until mid-day so that the leaves are at their peak color.
  • Clipping from new and old growth will give a nice color variation to the wreath.
  • Preserved boxwood clippings may be substituted.

Step 1: Wrap Bundles with Floral Wire

Gather three or four boxwood stem clippings and bundle them together so they are about the same height, with little variation. Use the floral wire to wrap the stems of the bundle together, about four or five times.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

Image Credit: Shades of Blue Interiors

Step 2: Attach Bundle to Perimeter of Grapevine Wreath

Leave about 12 inches of excess floral wire from each wrapped bundle and clip the wire. Position the first bundle on the top or outer perimeter of the grapevine wreath. Hold it in place with one hand. With the other hand, wrap the excess wire around the wreath and around the end of the bundle, about four or five times. Secure the end of the wire by bending it around one of the small grapevines.

Advertisement

Image Credit: Shades of Blue Interiors

Step 3: Attach Bundle to Middle of Grapevine Wreath

With another bundle, position it in the middle of the grapevine wreath (between the outside perimeter and inside perimeter), slightly staggering the stem ends with the previous one attached. Wrap the excess floral wire around the wreath and stem ends, the same way you did in Step 2.

Advertisement

Image Credit: Shades of Blue Interiors

Repeat Steps 2 and 3 all the way around the wreath.

Advertisement

Image Credit: Shades of Blue Interiors

Step 4: Attach Final Bundles

When only 1 to 2 inches of grapevine are visible, lift up the leafy ends of the initial bundles attached, and place the stems of the new bundles underneath. Carefully wrap floral wire around the stem ends and grapevine wreath, being sure to not wrap around the overlapping leafy ends that will cover up the bound stem ends. Attach the bundles on the outer perimeter and the middle with the stem ends so that the wreath's fullness looks even all the way around.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Image Credit: Shades of Blue Interiors

Examine the final product. There should be about 4 inches from the inner perimeter to the outer perimeter of the wreath. Add a small clipping here and there as needed by tucking under wires and grapevines.

Advertisement

Image Credit: Shades of Blue Interiors

Tip

Fresh boxwood that has been clipped will retain its green color for several days and even weeks. As the leaves start to dry, they will slowly lose their vibrant color, but will still remain green and keep most of their shape. Once the wreath is completely dried and the leaves have faded to a dark green, this wreath can be very lightly spray painted with a couple hues of bright, grassy green, and will look beautiful for many more months, if handled carefully.

Step 5: Attach Ribbon and Hang

To hang on a door or a chalkboard, simply wrap a ribbon around the wreath and secure it to the top of the door or the back of a chalkboard.

Advertisement

Optional: To easily attach a bow to the hanging ribbon, cut off a 2 1/2-foot section of ribbon, tie a bow, and then use a quilting pin to attach the back of the bow to the desired location on the hanging ribbon.

Image Credit: Shades of Blue Interiors
Image Credit: Shades of Blue Interiors

A boxwood wreath made from fresh clippings will only cost about $5 in materials and only takes about one hour to assemble. This makes it an inexpensive and lovely addition to one's home that will transition well into the holiday season.

Advertisement

Because the cost of materials is so inexpensive, several of these can be made and hung on a chalkboard, along a staircase banister, on cabinet doors, in gallery walls, and smaller versions can be made and hung on dining chair-backs for an elegant holiday dinner party.

Image Credit: Shades of Blue Interiors

Tip

If using preserved boxwood (which uses glycerin and green plant dye), the boxwood clippings will retain their fresh feel and bright green color indefinitely when lightly spritzed with water once a month.

Advertisement

Video of the Day