How to Preserve Greenery

There are certain plants in my garden that I always wait until holidays to prune. These hollies are perfect example. There’s nothing like the aroma and look of fresh holiday greenery this time of the year. Some of my favorites are balms of pines, cedar and spews along with mistletoe and boxwood. But you know once it’s cut, there’s some things you can do to make it last much longer. The first thing I do is re-cut the stem and soak the greenery in water overnight. I even completely submerge garlands and reeds. If you don’t have a gallon nice tub like this one, just do in your bath tub.

In keeping the greenery fresh, it’s all about maintaining moisture in the stem and leaves of the plant. But before we go any further, it’s important to know that some plants actually hold up better than others. For instance, hemlock and sprews tend to shed their needles while western cedar and this snowball fur have a reputation for retaining theirs. Once you’ve soaked the greenery, you’re ready to make an arrangement. There’s something else you can do to help the stems take up more water. What you want to do is always re-cut the stem. But sometimes it’s recommended to pound the stems with a hammer. I’ve tried this and I really had not seen much difference. Another thing you can do to keep the needles soft and pliable is to add glycerin. Now if you do this, be generous. I recommend 1 part of glycerin to 1 part water. And to top it all, if you can spray the greenery with an anti-transpirant which will further help keep the moisture in. This will keep you greenery looking fresher longer through the holidays. From the garden, I’m Allen Smith.

Now if you’d like more information on this topic or other information, just check out my website PAllenSmith.com.


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