Plants You Can Use for Winter Decor

What better way to add natural elements to your planters and wreaths than by using plants from your garden?

 

It’s time to decorate for the holidays, and we love a classic aesthetic that showcases nature. If you want to elevate your decor this year, consider using cuttings from plants in your garden! Of course, we will want your plants to look great in the spring, so here are some great options you can trim from your yard with tips on how to prune it for a gorgeous plant in the spring. 

 

Berry Twigs 

The simplicity of berry shrubs at Christmas is hard to beat. Shrub varieties such as winterberry holly, snowberry, or even rosehips are great for adding a touch of beauty to your wreaths, garlands, and more. 

Above a leaf bud, cut branches back about halfway down with outward-facing diagonal cuts. You can strategically prune to open up congested spaces in your plant or adjust its shape for spring growth.

 

Dried Hydrangeas 

Instead of tossing your pruned hydrangea panicles or mopheads in the compost, consider leaving them on your plant for winter interest to dry out and then trimming some for winter decor! You can incorporate them into your Christmas tree, centerpieces, swags, wreaths, porch pots, and more!

 

Hydrangea arborescens, or “smooth” hydrangeas, are safe to prune in the winter, as are Hydrangea paniculata. They bloom on new wood, which means they will produce buds in the spring. Hydrangea macrophylla and Hydrangea quercifolia bloom on old wood, producing buds in the fall; leave these alone through the winter, or you’ll have no blooms in the spring! 

Prune your stems above a healthy node along the stem, making outward-facing diagonal cuts. We recommend sterilizing your pruners and making clean cuts for the best results.

 

Evergreens 

Evergreens are a natural choice for winter decor, and if you have large trees in your yard, they’re a perfect resource! You can make wreaths, swags, and garlands or incorporate them into gift-wrapping accents. 

When pruning your evergreens, ensure you wait until the plant is dormant. We recommend leaving at least one-third of the new growth so your tree can recover in the spring. Soak in water to hydrate, then spray your clippings with WiltPruf to keep them from drying out. 

 

Winter Jasmine 

This trailing, viny shrub grows from a central crown and is commonly known as winter jasmine. Their light-green stems and buttercup yellow flowers bloom during the late winter for a perfect accent to your winter decor. The vines are great for filling out decorations, and the yellow blooms are gorgeous for outdoor winter decor! The yellow blooms on winter jasmine look particularly stunning alongside hardy winter flowers like violas and mums.

You can propagate cuttings in winter porch pots and raised beds or add stems to water for gorgeous centerpieces. Cut the vines back by about one-third for the best growth in the spring; this plant blooms on old wood, so you don’t need to worry about cutting off buds. 

Forsythia 

While this plant loses its leaves during the winter, you can also force it to grow indoors during the winter to create gorgeous yellow flowers inside your home! You can add these plant cuttings to any holiday display or add them to your New Year’s centerpieces and decorations.

To force indoors, cut the forsythia stems no shorter than three-foot lengths and bring them inside on a day when it is above freezing. Trim another inch off the bottom of the stems by using pruning shears after submerging them in warm water. Soak the forsythia stems in warm water and a full sun environment for several hours. It usually takes two to three weeks to bloom, so keep misting and changing the water as necessary until then.

 

Are you searching for more ways to spruce up your 2022 winter plant decor? Visit us at Primex Garden Center in Glenside, PA, today for holiday decor and plants!