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Plant-Centric Picks for Decking Your Halls This Season

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Looking to liven up your space in the cold of winter? No matter what your interior style is, incorporating plant-centric decor is the best way to make your home look and feel festive, fresh, and fragrant. You might even develop some new holiday traditions with these merry and bright ideas. Go beyond boughs of holly this season, and try out these suggestions for decking your halls, hearth, and home!

 

For a Merry Mantel 

If you have a mantel, now is the time to take advantage of it! A decorated mantel is classically festive, and even the simplest touches can help your space feel extra cozy.

Hanging a locally-created wreath above the mantel is a simple yet charming way to spread some holiday cheer. Wreaths come in many different shapes and varieties, so visit your local tree farm, farmers market, independent garden store, or florist to find something that suits your space. 

Garlands are another classic option for the mantel, and that’s because they provide so much room for customization. Build your garland by blending together clippings of your favorite evergreens, holly, and red berries to create a design as simple or decadent as you wish. Plus, if you’ve been using Espoma Organic Evergreen-Tone on your trees and shrubs, your evergreens will set you steps ahead in quality and appearance! 

 

For a Spruced Up Table

Holidays are the season of hosting. Add a special touch to your gathering by gathering your own fresh and fragrant decor to festively set the table!

Peruse your backyard or local park for pinecones, and use them to create a centerpiece for your dinner table. The key to a strong centerpiece is to create dimension without creating a distraction. Arrange your pinecones in a shallow dish with your choice of candles, pine sprigs, fresh cinnamon sticks, and small birch branches. P.S. If you’re feeling especially crafty, paint the edges of the pinecones white for a snow-frosted look! 

Eucalyptus is an evergreen native to Australia, famous for its fragrance, health benefits, and appearance. It’s also an easy yet classy option for a centerpiece! Trim your eucalyptus houseplant or shop your local garden store for fresh branches, then create a layered arrangement with real or artificial winter fruits. Pomegranates, pears, apples, or cranberries are all great options! Warning: eucalyptus can be toxic to cats and dogs, so be sure to keep this arrangement out of reach if you have pets. 

For a Holly Jolly Home

The lights have been strung, the mantel’s been decked, and the table is set… holiday decor transforms a house into a home! To wrap things up, here are some final plant-centric decorations to jingle the holiday spirit into any room. 

Opt against an artificial tree and forage for a branch that can fill its spot. A Charlie Brown Christmas, anyone? This decor option isn’t for everyone, but with a little white or gold spray paint, an elegant jar as a base, and a few ornaments, the simplest backyard branch can transform into a classy decoration. 

Has your holly tree been thriving thanks to Espoma Organic Holly-Tone? Incorporate that beautiful growth and upgrade your ambient lighting by wrapping sprigs of holly around LED candles using twine or decorative ribbons! You can also mix in eucalyptus leaves for a more well-rounded look. Stagger the height of the candles and arrange in groups on countertops, coffee tables, desks, or any surface that needs a little cheer.

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With these decor suggestions, your space is sure to feel merry, bright, and fresh for the holidays. Have a festive plant-centric decor idea that we missed? 

 

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10 Ways to Repurpose Your Christmas Tree

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Photo by Jimmy Chan from Pexels

Now that the holiday season is coming to a close, you’re probably wondering what to do with that giant, luscious tree in your house. Don’t toss it just yet! There are plenty of earth-friendly ways to dispose of or repurpose it. Here are our top 10 ways to repurpose your Christmas tree!

1.) Mulch

Before having your tree picked up by your usual garbage crew, do a quick Google search to see if there are any mulching programs in your area. Old trees can be great to use as barriers against sand and soil erosion, and can also be used for local water-way stabilization. It’s a great way to help your environment!

 

2.) Compost

There’s always a way to turn your old organic material into compost! Cut the branches to fit the inside of your bin, and layer them in a criss-cross pattern about 6–8 inches high to ensure good airflow through the bottom of the pile. Then add your vegetable scraps, leaf litter, and any other compostable materials. Over time, the branches will break down and turn into compost themselves.

 

3.) Replant

If you live in a mild climate, you probably purchased your living tree either balled and burlapped or in a pot. If you can’t seem to let it go, just plant it in your yard! Dig a large hole in the ground and water it thoroughly. Then add a thick layer of mulch with either wood chips or leaves. Add some extra nutrients to help it get through the rest of winter with Espoma Evergreen-tone.

 

Photo by Devin Justesen on Unsplash

4.) Chip it
If you have access to a chipper (which usually can be rented), feed your tree through it. Come springtime, you can use the wood chips to bring nutrients to your soil!

 

5.) Feed the birds

Did you know that you could turn your old tree into a bird feeder? Remove all of the non-organic decorations like ornaments, hooks, and tinsel. Then place it outside while still in the stand and place it in a spot where you’ll be able to see it from indoors. Next, decorate it again by adding things like orange slices, strung popcorn, little bunches of bird feed, and anything else a bird would like to nibble on. Now you have a wonderful haven for birds to eat and shelter themselves that you can watch all season long from the warmth of your home.

 

6.) Make a wreath

Gather some wire, scissors, and any other pieces of decoration you’d like to add. Snip off individual branches and create a beautiful decorative wreath for your front door! You can keep this up all winter long — no need to take it down after the holidays have gone.

Photo by Kieran White on Unsplash

 

 

7.) Chop firewood

Have a fireplace? Put your tree to good use and heat up the house using the wood! All you have to do is chop it up and keep it handy for when you’re ready to light a fire.

 

8.) Get crafty

There are so many different ways to use the trunk of your tree for crafts! Cut thin slices and turn them into rustic coasters. Cut up multiple slices and add it to your wreath. If it’s big enough, slice it, write a fun saying on it, and turn it into a sign! The possibilities are endless.

 

9.) Make stakes

Got leggy plants? Stake them up with small branches from your tree! No need to go out and buy wire stakes when you can make your own right from home.

 

10.) Toss it properly

If you just want to throw out the tree, start by contacting your local waste provider as they usually pick up trees in the weeks that follow Christmas.

 

 

Keep in mind plastic or flocked trees unfortunately cannot be recycled, and need to be cut into small pieces and disposed of in the regular trash. But if you have a live tree you’re no longer using, consider using some of these nature-friendly tips to give them more uses before finally getting rid of them at the end of the season!

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