How to Keep Holiday Evergreens Fresh

Evergreens make gorgeous (and compostable!) holiday decor. Wreaths, swags, table runners, or even just a simple vase of fresh pine boughs can be used to brighten your home both inside and out.

How to Harvest Greens For Holiday Decor

Ask first: Unless you are harvesting on your own property, be sure to get landowner permission prior to cutting boughs.

Wait for frost: Don't harvest evergreens until your region has had at least one hard frost. Cold temps tell the tree that it is time to go dormant — this helps retain needles.

Make the right cut:

• Sharp pruners will give a clean cut and minimize damage to both the bough and the main tree.
• Cut just above a node (where branches and leaves/needles join together on a bough) to encourage future growth on the tree.
• Avoid nicking the branch collar (the swollen area of the truck where a new branch forms) to prevent disease from entering the rest of the tree.
• Make cuts at a 45-degreee angle, then place the cut bough in a container of fresh water. An angled cut ensures the bough will be able to take up water and stay hydrated in your container

Add accents: Don't be afraid to experiment! Gather pinecones, berries, red-osier dogwood stems, and seedpods to add texture and colors to your gorgeous greenery.

Tips for Extending the Life of Evergreen Cuttings 

• If you receive a wreath or other evergreens by mail, unpack them immediately.
• Mist the evergreens with water; repeat every week or so.
• Evergreens will deteriorate more rapidly in warm temperatures. Try to display them in a cool place. Indoor displays should be away from heat sources and direct sunlight. The ideal temperature range is 32 to 60 degrees F.
• Holly is more fragile than other evergreens. The leaves will discolor if exposed to very warm or cold temperatures.
• Save cuttings that have a short vase life for arrangements that only need to look good for a few days. For instance, blue spruce (Pinus pungens 'Glauca') is especially beautiful, but it drops needles within a short time.

Good Evergreens for Cutting

• Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris)
• White pine (Pinus strobus)
• Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta)
• Balsam fir (Abies balsamea)
• Fraser fir (Abies fraser)
• Noble fir (Abies procera)
• White fir (Abies concolor)
• Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
• Boxwood (Buxus)
• Western redcedar (Thuja plicata)
• Juniper (Juniperus spp.)

From L to R: juniper, white pine, and balsam fir make for excellent fresh cut evergreens.