How do you keep an evergreen wreath fresh?

Wreaths made from fresh plants need water to stay wilt-free. Here are two ways to counteract dehydration:

Put stems in a bucket of water before making them into bouquets. Cut stems diagonally 1 inch from the bottom, then immerse the stems in a mixture of water and floral food for several hours. Commercially prepared floral food provides the plant with nutrients and discourages the growth of bacteria that eventually rots the plant.

Lightly mist the leaves with water once you have bound the foliage into a wreath. Repeat once a day for up to 2 weeks.

The key to keeping greenery fresh is maintaining moisture in the stems and leaves of the plant. Whether you purchase your greenery or cut it right out of your garden, the first thing you want to do is soak it in water over night. Completely submerge garlands and wreaths in a large galvanized tub that I purchased from a hardware store, but you can use your bathtub just as well.

Once the greenery has soaked over night, take the additional step of spraying it with an anti-transpirant such as Cloud Cover or Wilt-Pruf. Purchase these products at a garden center. Plants naturally lose water through their stems and leaves through a process called transpiration. By using an anti-transpirant, these pores are sealed and water loss is minimized. Just wait a few hours after treatment before you begin decorating. Also some tree lots or nurseries will apply an anti-transpirant for you when you purchase your greenery. If this is the case skip the over night soaking to prevent washing it off.