• Keep your wreaths and branches outside where its shaded, cool and moist, until you’re ready to use them.
• Soak wreaths overnight in water.
• Treat wreaths and branches with an anti-desiccant (anti-transpirant) spray. De-sign Master Foliage Sealer also works. These sprays add a protective waxy coating to the needles or leaves of evergreens to slow the process of water loss. Spray all sides thoroughly. The exceptions to using one of these sprays include: avoid spraying the undersides of Magnolia leaves as it ruins the beautiful fuzzy texture; avoid juniper berries or blue spruce since the wax coating that gives these plants their distinctive color can be damaged; avoid Eastern Red Cedar (the native juniper) foliage because it will darken the foliage; and only lightly spray fine needles as it can make them stick together.
• Mist your evergreen branches or wreaths with water daily if possible.
• Keep away from heat vents and other heat sources, fire and direct sunlight. Use LED lights if lighting your greenery.
• For cut branches, crush the stems which allows them to take in more water, and immediately place them in a bucket of water overnight. Adding glycerin will extend the greenery life even more. Glycerin is an agent used to preserve ever-greens for several years. For arrangements in water, mix glycerin and water in a 1:1 ratio.
• Be prepared to refresh some greenery during the holidays. Check for freshness by bending the leaves and needles. They should be supple and not break.

For high quality Christmas trees, wreaths, and garland shop Burghardt Christmas Traditions in Jacksonville, Florida.

If you’re making your own wreath or cut greenery arrangement, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Pine, fir, cedar and juniper foliage last the longest indoors of the traditional greenery. They may last for several weeks given the care recommended above. Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) has a beautiful blue cast to its foliage with slight bronzing at the tips this time of year, a wonderful cedar scent and light blue berries. Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata), also called arborvitae, has soft feathery fan shaped foliage which provides a lot of fill. Hemlock and spruce tend to dry out more quickly, losing their needles a little sooner with warm indoor temperatures. Of the spruces, Blue Spruce holds its needles best. Hemlock, spruces and most broadleaf evergreens will last longer if used outdoors. Hollies come in various forms with green or variegated foliage and red berries. Make sure that holly does not freeze after cutting, or the leaves and berries may blacken. Florida Anise Tree (Illicium floridanum) has aromatic foliage but may not last as well as some greenery. True cedars such as Deodar, Blue Atlas, and Cedar-of-Lebanon all have a wonderful fragrance. Small male cones should be sprayed with lacquer or acrylic to prevent the messy release of pollen at room temperature. Boxwood is a very popular small-leafed shrub that adds fine texture to wreaths and garland. Southern Magnolia leaves hold up well even without water. English Ivy may wilt fairly quickly unless in an arrangement with water but it still looks decent in a wreath, lending a very different texture. Some other broadleaf species to consider are ligustrum, pittosporum, podocarpus, viburnum and eucalyptus. Hollies, yews, mistletoe, ivy, Jerusalem cherry, bittersweet, nandina and crown of thorns can all provide attractive berries but some may present a poison hazard to people and pets. Be sure to discard any berries which fall off during decorating.

For longer lasting wreaths and arrangements you can also incorporate branches and natural artifacts such as red or yellow twig dogwood, winterberry holly stems, acorns, magnolia pods, pine cones, reindeer moss, rose hips, dried flowers, dried citrus slices, millet sprays, sweet gum balls and even the interesting twiggy structures that hold the fruits of some palms.

A final option for a long lasting wreath is to create one with minimal greenery, which can be replaced during the holidays.

From our office in Atlantic Beach and satellites throughout Northeast Florida, Rockaway Inc proudly serves both commercial and residential landscape design, maintenance, lawn care, irrigation, and outdoor living carpentry client needs in Jacksonville, St Augustine, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra, Nocatee, St. Johns, and Fernandina Beach.

The post Christmas Wreath and Greenery Care appeared first on Rockaway Sustainable Landscaping.

• First, decide which room you want to display your tree; then measure the height from floor to ceiling.
• Keep in mind that you should always leave 0.5 – 1.5 ft of room between the top of your tree and your ceiling. Remember, you’ll want to leave room for your tree stand and tree topper!
• For best results, it’s best to keep a little bit of room around the entire circumference of your tree. You don’t want it to look crowded, right?

Once you have chosen the perfect spot for your tree, and measured your floor-to-ceiling height and the floor space around the tree, you are ready to decide on the size! Use the helpful guide below to steer you to the ideal tree for your home!

Greg standing in front of a HUGE healthy tree at the farm we partner with in North Carolina!

4 – 5 ft Trees- This size is a little on the smaller side, and could also be used as a secondary or novelty tree on a landing or similar space, or in a child’s room.

6 – 6.5 ft Trees- This size tree is a safe bet if you don’t think you’ll get around to measuring the height of your ceiling. Trees this height would fit and look great in a compact apartment or small home.

7 – 7.5 ft Trees- This size tree qualifies as large and is the most popular size. It should fit in most average-sized rooms. This height is also a good choice because it won’t take up too much room and shouldn’t require an extensive amount of light. (Ideal ceiling height: 8 – 9 ft)

8 ft + Trees- This is the size you want if you have extremely high or vaulted ceilings. If you’ve got it, flaunt it! This height would look best in a large room with ample space. This size will require more lights and decorations, so keep that in mind. (Ideal ceiling height: 10 + ft)

Tips your tree will thank you for:

• Trying to fit a tree in an area that is too small will only make that room look more compact. Choose a size that is realistic for your space.
• Ideally, after getting your tree home, place it in a bucket of water and let it absorb fresh water for several hours before placing it in the tree stand.
• For most Christmas trees, the stand should hold at least 1 gallon of water. A cut tree will absorb a surprising amount of water, particularly during the first week, so replenish the water daily.
• In general, we recommend at least 100 lights per foot of the tree.
• Once the holiday season has passed, dispose of the tree in a safe and appropriate manner. Your city probably has guidelines for disposal.

From our office in Atlantic Beach and satellites throughout Northeast Florida, Rockaway Inc. proudly serves clients in Jacksonville, St Augustine, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra, Nocatee, and Fernandina Beach.

The post Guide to Ordering the Perfect Height Christmas Tree appeared first on Rockaway Sustainable Landscaping.