Planting a Living Wreath

This is an easy project that takes less than an hour to create. The finished product will be a beautiful viola wreath that will look fabulous hanging on your front door or perhaps on your garden gate! Any shady but readily seen area in your garden will work. Other varieties of plants such as impatiens, succulents or black mondo grass could be substituted.

Early spring is the best time to start these wreaths, although I have planted some succulent wreaths during the lazy days of summer and they still turned out fine. Just be sure to lay them flat for a few weeks in a protected spot so the plugs can ‘root on’ before hanging them upright.

Wreath supplies:
Wire wreath form 16 inch, large bag of fresh sphagnum moss, light potting mix, 12-16 ‘plugs’ (starter size plants)

Step 1: Take the back piece off the form and lay upside down on a flat surface. Begin stuffing handfuls of moss inside the ring. Don’t skimp on the moss because it has to hold the upcoming soil (next step) in and the plant plugs.

Step 2: Fill the inner ring with soil. You don’t need a whole lot, so don’t worry if there isn’t much room. Moisten the soil lightly.

Step 3: Cover the soil layer with additional moss and replace the wire back piece. Flip it back to the top side.

Step 4: Separate your violas into individual plants being sure to cut away any excess roots. Make holes with your fingers in the moss just large enough to squeeze your plants roots in. Insert the plant. Firm the moss around each plant as you go. Try to alternate your plantings between the inner ring and outer side of the ring.

Step 5: When finished planting the wreath (remember it will fill in as it grows so don’t plant it too thickly) lightly spray with water. Now lay it flat protected from heavy rains for 2-4 weeks to allow new root growth that will anchor the plugs. Mine rests in my unheated greenhouse.

Maintenance of your living wreath involves deadheading spent blooms and occasional waterings. If it is hung where rainfall reaches it, you will only have to water during dry, warm spells. Spray lightly with a garden hose. If it is hung on your front door and there is an overhang, check more often for dryness. It should be kept moist at all times. Feeding will be minimal. You can lay it flat in a sink or plastic tub filled with a mild fish fertilizer mixture for approximately 15 minutes. Immediately hang
back up. This wreath will bloom through until fall at which time the violas will be finished. If you use succulents instead of violas, it will last indefinitely.

Happy Gardening, Shelagh