Gardening Tips - December
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Holly Wreaths by Leslie Cowton
 
Why not make your own traditional wreath for the churchyard \ cemetery or to display on your front door at Christmas.
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You will require;
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8 or 10 inch wire frame (from garden centre)
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Garden twine or florists wire.
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About 50, 6 inch stub wires (from garden centre)
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Some moss from your lawn or garden centre.
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Green (non prickly) holly.
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Cuppressus or fern.
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About 12 pieces of variegated holly.
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Five artificial flowers or baubles for door wreath.
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Step 1
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To make up. Tie the end of the string to the frame.
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Take a handful of moss and form it into a roll.
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Place moss on the frame and secure it by wrapping string round it.
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Continue round the frame and tie off where you started.
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This is your base.
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Step 2
 
Cut the cupressus into 6 inch lengths and tie three pieces together with wire leaving a short tail.
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Cut the holly into 3 inch lengths and tie two or three pieces together leaving a tail.
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Step 3
 
Hold the frame with one hand and fix the cuppressus sprigs around the edge pushing the wire tail through the moss base and bending it over to secure. Photo
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Step 3
 
Now place cuppressus and holly sprigs alternately around the top of the moss and secure as before.
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Step 4
 
Next using holly sprigs only complete another circuit between the first two
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Complete the basic wreath with another row of alternate cuppressus and holly.
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You can now add your flowers or baubles by wiring and securing as before.
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Job done, best of luck and Oh! Merry Christmas.
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