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A lush, living wreath is easy to make and is a wonderful way to celebrate your favorite herbs.
Intro
Step 1: Give It a Good Soak
Step 2: Get Planting
Step 3: Pin, Nip and Tuck
Written by Crystal Rennicke
Available all year in any sort of arrangement imaginable, preassembled wreaths can be found in almost any home and garden aisle—from your favorite big box store to that boutique on the corner. But instead of buying one this spring, take a fresh approach and try growing your own.
All you need are a few supplies, your favorite herbs or flowers, and our simple step-by-step instructions. In just an hour or two, you can have a stunning piece of living art to enjoy throughout the growing season.
You should be able to find everything you need at your local garden or floral shop. As for plants, experiment with color and texture. Good edible choices include chives, purple basil, sweet basil, Cuban oregano, feverfew, tricolor sage and even dwarf tomato plants. Succulents are a perfect ornamental option and are easy to care for, too. Hang your wreath from a garden gate, on a backyard fence or on any outdoor wall that needs rejuvenating.
Fill a large basin or tub halfway with water and set it up on a flat, sturdy surface. Dip a premade sphagnum peat moss wreath inside and splash water on it. Let the wreath soak until it's damp (not soggy) enough for planting.
If you'd like to design your own wreath, buy sphagnum peat moss and pack it into any preshaped wire form. This way, you can experiment with different shapes and sizes. Just make sure the hanging hardware supports the weight of the finished wreath.
Before you begin planting, arrange the plants according to color and size around the wreath. This will give you a good idea of what the finished product will look like.
When you're satisfied, use your thumbs to create small holes where you can insert plants. For this wreath, we planted chives first, around the edge of the wreath. Bushier herbs, such as basil and oregano, were added next. Then, more plants added until the wreath looked lush and full.
Secure plants with topiary pins. The pins keep the plants in place and allow you to position foliage to help cover up bare spots. The plants grow while still maintaining the shape of the wreath. Snip any unruly plants with shears, and hang your finished wreath where it can be seen, or in a handy spot, if you'll want to cut fresh herbs from it.