At this time of year, feathery pine boughs, berry-studded branches, woody pinecones and hardy willow twigs are plentiful, and there’s no better or fresher way to decorate
1. Be evergreen
Decorating the house with fresh greenery is one of the oldest holiday traditions. And December is not a time to show restraint – ‘tis the season to deck (or rather decorate) the halls, and the living room, and the bedrooms and every square inch in between. Today, decorating for the holidays with fresh greenery is more prevalent than ever.
2. Branch out
When choosing a Christmas tree, grasp a branch and pull the needles with medium pressure between your fingertips. If the needles stay on the tree, then it’s fresh. Also, check to see if the branches – and needles – are glossy, green and flexible. You can help a tree stay fresh by cutting one inch off the bottom of the trunk just before placing it in your tree stand, and make sure the stand is always filled with water.
3. Get set to trim
Whether you opt for a grey-green Noble fir or a deep-green Douglas, giving the tree a trim before adorning it allows baubles to hang free. Use pruning shears to remove every other ring of branches and then conceal the cuts with dabs of liquid shoe polish. Note that a fully decorated tree is twice as heavy as it is naturally, so once you’ve screwed it into a metal base, rest some of the branches against a wall.
4. Spruce up
Keep any extra greenery that you cut off as you prune the tree: they’re ideal for little arrangements around the house. Short-needled pines, such as spruce and hemlock, are very attractive but after a few days, trimmings will begin to lose their leaves. If you need displays to last the season, buy long-needled pines, such as princess or cedar. A daily misting of water will help to keep evergreens looking fresh.
5. Stay fresh
For table decorations, use aromatic combinations – pine, cedar, eucalyptus, balsam, juniper – and mix them as you would flowers. The scent is pure winter and you will crave it every year. You can also make your own scented pinecones: simply bake the pinecones for 25 minutes or until they are completely dry. Once they’ve cooled, place them in an airtight container and sprinkle them with an essential oil.
6. Do it yourself
You can mark that the year has come full circle by hanging a halo of pine branches and vivid green leaves as a sign of welcome above your door. To make the wreath last the entire season, base it on a water-soaked circle of florist’s foam before decorating it with pinecones and red cotton bows. To make a miniature tree, simply insert short pine branches into a conical-shaped oasis.
7. Decorate safely
Never place fresh greenery near heat sources, such as space heaters, heater vents or sunny windows. Be careful of wreaths used on the front door if there is a glass outer door that receives direct sunlight. Keep greenery away from candles and fireplaces. If you use fairy lights near your green arrangements, make sure that they stay cool, and if outside, that they are rated for exterior use.
8. Dress the tree
When decorating the tree, ask your kids to contribute homemade items, or use items you already have. Tiny toys look cute hanging from branches, as do pinecones that have been sprayed with silver or gold metallic paint. Create more interest by varying the sizes and shapes of ornaments and sticking to a twocolour theme for your tree. And in case you need reminding, the order of decorating a tree is, lights first, garlands next, ornaments and special touches such as holiday nosegays last.
9. Consider children and pets
Some popular plants used in holiday decorating can present poisoning hazards for small children or pets. Poisonous berries are found on holly plants, yews, mistletoe, ivy, Jerusalem cherry, bittersweet and crown of thorns. The pearly white berries of mistletoe are particularly toxic. Keep all these plants out of the reach of children and curious pets.
10. Have it delivered
Here are some of our favourite suppliers, all of whom deliver throughout Hong Kong:
- Abies Danica, 2574 9877
- Anglo Chinese Florist, 2845 4212
- Cheung Kee Garden Ltd, 2526 2138
- Greenhouse Nursery, 2573 3627
- Lily Flowers, 2551 3307
- Mongkok Flower Market, Yau Ma Tei MTR
- Sophies Xmas Trees, 2649 6280
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