Deck the Halls With a Few Handy Hints

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. Roy L. Smith.

With Christmas just around the corner, I thought I'd bring in a little holiday spirit with a few useful hints for your Christmas decor. I have been recently transfered to Ruthven Nursery and Garden Center for the winter season for their annual 'winter wonderland'. From Christmas trees, to garlands and wreaths, to the most gorgeous display of ornaments you can find from here to Stratford, it's amazing some of the helpful hints you can pick up!

Potted Christmas Trees

An interesting alternative to an artificial or cut Christmas tree, is a potted live evergreen. Having the option of planting the tree after the

holidays as opposed to having to pitch it in the garbage, not only helps to save the beautiful evergreens, but the money you spent on it too. At Ruthven nursery, or other Christmas tree suppliers, a variety of potted Christmas trees are available for purchase, usually including Frasier Firs, Douglas Firs, and Blue Colorado Spruces (to name a few). If this option interests you, there are a few things that you need to consider before purchasing one:

Be sure to dig your hole in November so that you can easily plant your Christmas tree when the ground is hard and frozen. See former blog "Preperations Before you Start Planting" in order to get a keen sense on preparing the soil for adequate root growth in the spring.

You must have an area within your home for your potted Christmas tree that provides cool temperatures, far away from any direct heat. This helps with any seasonal confusion the tree might have if kept in warm temperatures during a winter season.

Be sure to have a large drainage tray that the tree can sit in when you water it during this time. Remember to water it every day until planted.

Make sure that the indoor lights you use on a live plant produces little heat.

This is not a difficult thing to find, in fact, most indoor lights produce minimal heat.

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas

Another interesting idea is trimming holly bushes during December. If you grow your own female and male holly bushes, do some quick trimming before the holiday season, and bring in some of the branches for a little home decor. To prolong the use of any fresh evergreens that you may bring inside your home, spray Wilt-Pruf before bringing indoors. This clear spray coats the evergreens and prolongs their life to get you through the holiday season.

Christmas Wreaths

It is believed, in Christmas traditions, that hanging Christmas wreaths on the door will keep all the evil things away. As with most Christmas decorations, the wreath symbolized Jesus' birth and God's grace. Evergreen wreaths are the most popular, providing a splash of colour among the (usually) white landscape. Pine boughs are the basis of many Christmas wreaths. You can pick up pine boughs at a local garden center, home center, etc. Combine it with dried grape vines, fake apples, and bay leaves (or magnolia leaves have been the new 'hit' this year), for a nature-inspired wreath. Include rosemary boughs for an effective and holiday fragrance. Or, as is popular with our frequent costumers, traditionally design your wreath, adding ribbon and ornaments for a classic and elegant look.

Of course, the holidays puts us in the mood to try out some new home decor ideas, placing us in a "too strapped for cash" position. Hopefully some of these natural and innovative ideas help make your home beautiful and classic for the Christmas holidays, and a little more "cost friendly" too. Happy decorating!