30-Minute DIY: A Beautifully Wild Wreath for Autumn
Foraged foliage, wisteria cuttings and blackberries from a Tennessee farm make up this wreath inspired by early fall colors
Vibrant orange, deep red and yellow colors often signal the start of fall. But the season’s softer hues, such as faded greens and pale pastels, can also capture the essence of the season’s signature palette. Christie Craig, the owner of The Farmer’s Florist in Nashville and the manager of Whooping Crane Farm in Bells Bend, Tennessee, shows how to create a lovely wreath for early fall using foraged greenery and wildflowers from her backyard.
Follow this step-by-step tutorial to create your own decorative wreath in less than 30 minutes from start to finish, using just a few easy-to-find materials.
Follow this step-by-step tutorial to create your own decorative wreath in less than 30 minutes from start to finish, using just a few easy-to-find materials.
Greenery
- Wisteria greenery (for wreath base)
- Ornamental plum
- Heuchera (coral bells) leaves
- Abelia leaves and faded flower tips
- Dried roses
- Blackberries on stems
- Seeded grasses (Johnson’s grass, foxtails)
- Wisteria seed pods
- Echinacea pods
1. Untwist the hanger’s hook (use pliers if needed) and bend the hanger into a circle to create the frame for the wreath. You can also use a premade metal wreath frame.
2. Cut metal floral wire into 4-inch-long pieces and wrap one around the base of each branch of greenery (here, Craig used wisteria branches). Leave enough unwrapped wire to attach the branch to the frame.
3. Attach branches to the frame one at a time to cover it completely.
4. Overlap the branches as you attach them so there are no gaps.
5. Check your work as you go, but don’t worry about creating a perfect-looking wreath. The more organic and off-centered the appearance, the better.
6. Trim any bulky greenery as needed.
7. Continue to add layered details. Start by creating depth with the dark foliage. Attach a piece of wire to each piece, then thread the wire through the greenery and secure it to the frame.
8. Add small pops of color with berries and flowers. Late-summer berries found on the farm add an organic touch.
9. Add any finishing touches, such as seeded grasses or pods.
10. Finish your wreath by tying a loop of wire on the back of the metal frame so you can hang it from your front door or above your mantel.
The wreath should stay fresh for about a week. Once it has slowly dried, it can be enjoyed for a few more weeks, even up to a month.
See more DIY wreaths
See more DIY wreaths
Tools and Structural Materials