Once the wreaths start going out of the door in November, the question I'm asked most is "how do I keep it looking like this until Christmas?" The good news is that a fresh wreath wants very little. It needs to be kept cool, kept damp and kept out of the sun. Whether you've bought one from us or made your own with our wreath-making guide, here's how we look after ours.
The Quick Answer
Hang your wreath outside, out of direct sun and away from any heat, and give it a light mist of water every few days. If the weather turns mild and dry, take it down once a week and give the moss at the back a proper drink. Looked after like this, a fresh wreath on a moss base will look its best for several weeks, which comfortably covers Christmas and often takes it into the new year.
When to Hang It
Late November or the first week of December is the sweet spot. Hang it then and it will still look fresh on Christmas Day. Fresh wreaths aren't something to put up in early November, however tempting. Every week on the door is a week of weather and drying out, so it's better to save that time for the run-up to Christmas.
If your wreath arrives earlier than you want to hang it, keep it somewhere cool and light, like a garage, shed or unheated porch, lying flat with the decorations facing up. Give it a mist every few days there too.
Outside, in the shade and away from the heat of the house: the spot where a fresh wreath lasts longest.
Where It Lasts Longest
Fresh foliage loves the cold. Frost and rain won't hurt it, and they help keep the moss damp. What dries a wreath out is warmth, so the best spot is the one that stays coolest:
- Out of direct sun. A door that gets the afternoon sun is the hardest on a fresh wreath. If yours does, mist it more often, or hang the wreath on a shadier door or gate instead.
- Away from the heat of the house. A front door that gets warm from a radiator in the hall, or an enclosed, heated porch, will dry a wreath out from behind. An open porch is ideal, as it keeps the worst of the weather off while staying cold.
- Secure in the wind. Use a proper over-door hook or a strong nail, and tie the hanging loop tight, so the wreath doesn't bang against the door every time it's opened or the wind picks up. A couple of felt pads on the back will protect your paintwork.
Misting and Watering
The moss base is what keeps your wreath alive. It holds water and feeds the foliage pushed into it, so the aim is simply to keep that moss damp.
- Mist every few days. A plant mister or any clean spray bottle is perfect. Mist the foliage and, most of all, the moss at the back.
- Give it a drink in dry spells. If it's been mild, dry or sunny for a while, take the wreath down, lay it face down on the draining board and slowly pour water over the moss at the back until it's damp all the way through. Let it drip for a few minutes before hanging it back up.
- Go easy on the decorations. Dried orange slices, cinnamon and ribbon are better kept dry, so aim the mister at the foliage and moss rather than straight at them.
- Check by touch. Press the moss at the back. If it feels light and dry, it needs water. If it's cool and damp, leave it be.
A light mist every few days, mainly on the moss at the back, is all a fresh wreath needs outside.
Hanging a Fresh Wreath Indoors
You can hang a fresh wreath indoors, but central heating shortens its life a lot, so expect a week or two rather than several weeks. Hang it in the coolest spot you have, mist it every day, and keep it well away from radiators, open fires, log burners and candles. Fresh foliage becomes very dry indoors, so it should never be near a flame. If you'd like a wreath inside for the whole of December, an artificial one is usually the better choice. Our wreath size guide explains the difference.
How to Perk Up a Tired Wreath
If your wreath is starting to look a bit sorry for itself, it can usually be rescued. The signs it's drying out are needles dropping when you touch it, leaves going crisp at the edges, and the green fading to a dull, greyish colour.
- Give the moss a good drink as described above, and move the wreath somewhere cooler and shadier if you can.
- Snip out anything crisp or brown with sharp scissors.
- Fill the gaps. Cut a few short sprigs of fir, holly, ivy or conifer from the garden and push the stems firmly into the moss, angled the same way as the rest of the foliage. Nobody will ever know.
- Refresh the bow. A ribbon that's been through a few storms can look tired before the foliage does. A new bow makes the whole wreath look fresh again.
Snip out dry pieces and tuck in a few fresh sprigs from the garden to bring a tired wreath back to life.
A Few Things We've Learned
- The back matters more than the front. It's the moss behind the foliage that keeps a wreath going, so that's where the water needs to go.
- Mild spells are the real danger. People worry about frost, but a wreath sails through a cold snap. It's a run of mild, dry, sunny days that dries one out, so keep an eye on it then.
- Take it in during a storm. If a proper gale is forecast, bring the wreath into the garage or shed for the night. It's the one kind of weather that can do real damage.
- Hang it last, not first. If you're decorating the house over a weekend, put the wreath up at the end. It's the one decoration with a clock on it.
After Christmas
Traditionally, Christmas decorations come down by Twelfth Night, in early January. A well-kept fresh wreath often still looks good by then. When you take it down, remove any wire, ribbon and decorations, and the foliage and moss can go in the garden waste or on the compost heap. If you made your own on a wire ring, keep the ring for next year.
Once Christmas is over, take off the wire and decorations, and the foliage and moss can go on the compost.
Haven't Got Your Wreath Yet?
All our fresh wreaths are hand-tied on a moss base in the studio, so they're made to last the season. They start at £10.50 for an 8-inch, and you'll find every size and our 2026 prices on our Christmas wreaths page. Wreaths are the first thing to book up each year, so it's worth getting your order in early. See when to order Christmas flowers for our advice on timing.
Common Questions
How long does a fresh Christmas wreath last?
Hung outside in cool weather and out of direct sun, a fresh wreath on a moss base will look its best for several weeks, and often well into January. Indoors, or on a door that gets warm from the house, expect a week or two before it starts to dry out.
When should I put up a fresh wreath?
Late November or the first week of December. Hung then, outside and looked after, it will still look fresh on Christmas Day. If yours arrives earlier, keep it somewhere cool, like a garage or shed, until you're ready to hang it.
How often should I mist a fresh wreath?
Every few days for a wreath hung outside, and more often in mild, dry or sunny spells. A wreath indoors needs misting every day. Focus on the moss at the back and the foliage, rather than any dried fruit or ribbon.
Will frost or rain damage a fresh wreath?
No. Fresh foliage loves the cold, and frost and rain help keep the moss damp. What dries a wreath out is warmth: direct sun, central heating, or a door that gets warm from the hallway.
Why is my fresh wreath turning brown?
It's drying out, usually from sun, heat or not enough water. Give the moss a good drink, move it somewhere cooler and shadier if you can, and snip out any crisp pieces. Tucking in a few fresh sprigs of fir or holly from the garden hides the gaps.
Order a handmade fresh wreath from our Denby Dale studio, made to last the whole festive season.
See Our Wreaths & Prices