Begin by collecting evergreen "tips"-pieces of evergreen branches that are between 14 and 16 inches long. (Make sure you ask permission from landowners before tipping trees.)

Using wire cutters or gardening shears, trim these "tips" into hand-sized pieces. Pile three or four small pieces together to create "hands" or "palms" of greenery that will be wired to the wreath form. Work proceeds quickly if you have several "hands" prepared at a time.

Attach one end of your floral wire to the wreath frame. Hold a "palm" of greenery in place on the front of the wire wreath frame. Wind the floral wire around the end of the boughs and the frame. A couple of twists should secure the palm in place. Do not cut the floral wire, you will be using one continuous length of wire to secure all the palms to the wreath form.

Place a second palm of greenery on the back of the frame, a few inches further along the wreath form. Secure it in place with the floral wire.

 

Secure a third palm of greenery on the front, overlapping the first, a fourth on the back, overlapping the second and so on. The fullness of your wreath will be determined by how closely you place the palms and the number of pieces in each palm. Proceed along the wreath form, layering your palms. Secure the final palm with an extra wind and cut floral wire. Insert small pieces of greenery beneath wire to fill out this area.

Trim uneven pieces of greenery with wire cutters. Decorate with berries, pine cones, ribbons or other items.

Tips For Making Your Wreath

Wreath making can be a messy process, thanks to falling needles. Build your wreath in a basement, a garage, barn or some other place that can easily be swept out.

Wear old clothes. Evergreen boughs can be gummy.

Do not use large, unwieldy pieces. Cut boughs into palm-sized "hands." If you are looking for a fuller wreath, use four pieces of greenery per "hand" instead of three. For a wreath that will lie flat against a door, cover only the front side of the wreath form.