Martin”s Garden Notes
Here are a few tips for using greens for your holiday decorating. Greens used for outdoors last through the season until you are ready to plant your containers for the spring. Balsam fir branches are inexpensive and take up a lot of room. Add some greens from Oregon like silver and noble fir, blueberry juniper or holly which can be used in small quantities for variety. Winterberry branches are nice too. When using greens indoors, most things will hold their color for several weeks.
We have found that laurel and princess pine roping hold their color for at least a month but will dry out quite fast. Just use it where the traffic that can brush against it is limited. Needled evergreens like pine and fir need to be fresh and be in water to keep. Holly, even if it is in water will keep about a week, so keep a few branches in water in a cool but not freezing place to replenish the holly in your arrangements.
Boxwood is one of the best keeping greens for the holidays. One of our specialties is a holiday arrangements and wreaths made of boxwood which last many weeks. Stop by, Island Garden Shop Portsmouth RI.,to select one of our designer’s creations for your table