How to Make Winter Decor With What's Available

Nature Hills Nursery | February 14, 2026

It’s that most wonderful time of the year where holiday decorations are in full swing! Truly, it’s not well executed Christmas home decor without vases full of frosted pine cones, Styrofoam cranberries and plastic evergreen needles.

But this year, ditch the cliche store-bought winter decor and make your own with plants from your outdoor winter landscape wonderland. You won’t regret bringing the freshness of the garden inside this holiday season. Bonus: you have something to really brag about at Christmas get-togethers!

You’re probably thinking where do I start when decorating with plants? No worries-- Nature Hills will walk you through how to make winter decor with what’s available!

Setting The Base With Evergreens
Types Of Greenery To Use In Holiday Decor
Pairing In Ornamental Grasses
Using Your Backyard Branches
The Final Accents You’ve Been Looking For

Setting The Base With Evergreens

Greenery is the backbone of all plant decor and it truly can pull a room together. Have you ever wondered why every living room has at least one houseplant? Because the green color brings life!

So, that’s exactly where we’ll start-- with Evergreens and other winter plants that are still green.

Whether you’re making a holiday bouquet that will sit elegantly on your dining room table or creating a pair of guest greeters that border either side of your front door, you’ll want to lay down the base first.

Follow the rule of 3’s when working with greenery:

Coarse texture.
Medium texture.
Fine texture.

Side tip: If you’re creating a holiday arrangement in large pots, place in floral foam so that you can stick in your various plant pieces without having to fill the whole container. The foam will provide support and hold your decor together.

It also provides moisture and hydration for the greenery, especially if being brought indoors where the winter air can be very drying. Want to keep them fresh for as long as possible? Spray a anti-desiccant!

Types Of Greenery To Use In Holiday Decor

Take a look at your winter garden and pinpoint the Evergreen shrubs or trees you have on hand.

Frasier Fir, Spruce Trees and Pine Trees (don’t forget the pine cones!) work well as the taller greens or what the background is composed of.

The evergreens don’t need to be meticulously selected or arranged in a certain order. In fact, placing them in an unspecific pattern will give your holiday decor a full background feeling.

You can use a few Boxwood, Arborvitae or Holly bush clippings as your secondary fillers as they carry that bushy effect the middle of your arrangement is looking for. Even use any extra clippings for fresh wreaths or homemade garland.

The trick to properly picking out the greenery is to pair together various colors and textures! For a different silvery-blue foliage, use Juniper Bushes. They really nail the ‘winter blues’ on the head and offer a unique shade of color.

Lacking Evergreens in your landscape? No worries! A few Perennials also add great texture such as: Baby’s Breath and dried Roses. And don't forget about using the dried Hydrangea flowers! These can be spray painted or left in their natural state.

Pairing In Ornamental Grasses

Now that we have the background and base color set up for your decor, we can get to the fun part: accents! Start with Ornamental Grasses such as Pampas Grass or Feather Reed.

Ornamental Grasses add a touch of volume, glitz and motion, but also can bring a new level of texture. With quick snips of grasses of all different sizes, you can gather bundles of arrangements that resemble the season’s joy.

Decide what your holiday decor is trying to convey as grasses come in all shapes-- upright, arching and even mounded. Maiden Grasses have silky, tassel-like blooms whereas Fountain Grasses are admired for their fuzzy plumes. Choose to roll with only one grass or mix n’ match for an attractive winter bouquet.

Here at Nature Hills, we like to spray paint the grasses silver or gold to really highlight the theme we are chasing that year!

Using Your Backyard Branches

A winter decoration is never complete without the addition of a few backyard tree or bush branches. We know the holiday favorite is the iconic white birch branches-- however, not only can you use the elegant white bark of Birch Trees for a strong coarse color and texture, but there are other branches you may have not thought of using before.

Curly Willow or Harry Lauders Walking Stick branches are ideal for adding in height, drama and thrill to your indoor decoration. They like to twist and turn in every direction possible, which only brings excitement to an indoor decoration.

If your garden has a Bailey Red Twigged Dogwood bush, now is its time to truly shine indoors and out! Anytime from mid to late winter, expect vibrant red stems to appear that can be used indoors for strong vertical elements.

The Final Accents You’ve Been Looking For

Bring on the color that completes an arrangement! Christmas decorations and winter vases almost always incorporate a pop of color from Holly Bush berries, cool blue Juniper berries, or Viburnum Bush fruit.

When the Winter Jewel Winterberry Holly loses its leaves in the fall season, the stems are covered in bright red berries that are perfect in a seasonal display.

You can use dried Christmas roses and Hydrangea blooms, cones and even seed pods for additional color too! How you use these is only limited by your own creativity.

Ditch the faux winter plant decorations and make your own season after season! It brings the outdoor freshness inside, saves you money during the holidays and is a great annual family activity that all can participate in.

Be sure to brag about your decor at get-togethers too!

Happy Planting!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use what is already growing in my yard to create winter decorations without buying anything new?

Your outdoor winter landscape is full of decorating potential, and the key is layering textures using the rule of threes: coarse, medium, and fine greenery. Start by cutting stems from evergreens like Frasier Fir, Spruce, Pine, Boxwood, Arborvitae, or Holly, which form the backbone of any arrangement. Collect pine cones, interesting branches, and ornamental grasses as accent pieces to add depth and variety. Place your cuttings in floral foam to keep them supported and hydrated, and finish with an anti-desiccant spray to keep everything fresh longer, especially indoors where dry winter air can quickly wilt your greenery.

Which plants from my garden hold up best when cut and used in winter arrangements or displays?

Evergreens are your most reliable candidates for cut winter arrangements, including Fraser Fir, Spruce, Pine, Boxwood, Arborvitae, and Holly, as their waxy or resinous foliage resists moisture loss far better than deciduous material. To extend their freshness indoors where dry winter air accelerates wilting, place stems in floral foam and spray with an anti-desiccant product immediately after cutting. Head outside and gather a mix of coarse, medium, and fine textured evergreen clippings to build a full, layered arrangement that holds up beautifully through the holiday season.

How do I make a winter centerpiece using evergreen branches, pinecones, berries, and other cuttings from my yard?

To make a winter centerpiece from yard cuttings, start by placing floral foam in your container to anchor stems and keep greenery hydrated, then build your base using the rule of threes: one coarse-textured evergreen like Fraser Fir or Spruce, one medium-textured option like Boxwood or Arborvitae, and one fine-textured green like Holly. Layer in pine cones, berry sprigs, and ornamental grass plumes as accent pieces once your evergreen foundation is established. Spray the finished arrangement with an anti-desiccant to prevent drying, especially if displayed indoors where winter air tends to be low in humidity.

How do I put together a wreath, garland, or swag using materials gathered from my own garden?

Start by gathering evergreen clippings from plants like Fraser Fir, Spruce, Pine, Boxwood, Arborvitae, or Holly, then layer them using the rule of threes: coarse, medium, and fine textures for a full, professional look. Add visual interest and structure by weaving in ornamental grass plumes and interesting backyard branches, then finish with natural accents like pine cones, berries, or seed heads. To keep your creation fresh as long as possible, especially if displayed indoors where dry winter air can cause wilting, spray the finished piece with an anti-desiccant. Begin gathering materials in late fall before hard freezes set in, and use floral wire to secure bundles to your wreath form or garland base as you work in sections.

Which hardy plants can I keep growing in outdoor pots or containers as part of my winter display?

Many evergreen shrubs like Boxwood, Arborvitae, and Holly are excellent candidates for outdoor container displays during winter, as they are cold-hardy and hold their color and structure throughout the season. In colder zones, choose plants rated at least one hardiness zone tougher than your region to account for the extra exposure containers experience compared to in-ground planting. Ornamental grasses also add striking texture and movement to outdoor pots and generally persist well into winter before needing a cutback in late February or early March. Select a large, frost-resistant container, use a quality potting mix, and position your display in a sheltered spot to protect roots from the most extreme freeze-thaw cycles.

How do I choose plants that will still look attractive and colorful during cold winter weather?

For winter color and visual interest, focus on evergreens like Boxwood, Arborvitae, Holly, Fraser Fir, Spruce, and Pine, which hold their color and structure through the coldest months. Ornamental grasses also add texture and movement to winter landscapes and can be harvested for arrangements. Holly is especially valuable for its bright red berries against deep green foliage, making it one of the best dual-purpose plants for both garden interest and cut decor. Start by walking your property and identifying what evergreens and berry-producing shrubs you already have, then plan future plantings around filling in any gaps with cold-hardy varieties suited to your USDA hardiness zone.

Can I use pruned branches, twigs, and cut stems from shrubs and trees as part of my winter decor?

Yes, pruned branches, twigs, and cut stems from your backyard shrubs and trees make excellent material for winter holiday arrangements. Woody branches with interesting structure, colorful berries, or textural bark add natural height and drama to bouquets, wreaths, and container displays. Cut stems at an angle and place them in floral foam to keep arrangements looking fresh longer, and apply an anti-desiccant spray to slow moisture loss, especially for greens brought indoors where dry winter air accelerates wilting. Walk your yard and collect a variety of materials with contrasting textures and colors to build a layered, professional-looking display.

When should I prune shrubs, perennials, and trees so I can save the trimmings for winter arrangements?

The best time to gather trimmings for winter arrangements is during your late fall pruning session, typically after the first hard frost when plants have gone dormant, which generally occurs between October and December depending on your USDA hardiness zone. For evergreens like boxwood, arborvitae, and holly, light pruning in early to mid-November works well for most zones 4 through 8, yielding fresh, firm cuttings that hold up beautifully in arrangements. Avoid heavy pruning of spring-blooming shrubs at this time, as you risk removing next year's buds. Store your cuttings in a cool garage or shed in water until you are ready to arrange them, and treat finished arrangements with an anti-desiccant spray to extend their freshness indoors.

How do I keep container plants healthy through winter when I am using them for seasonal decoration?

To keep container plants healthy during winter decorating, use floral foam as your base when arranging greenery in large pots, as it provides structural support while delivering moisture and hydration to your cuttings. This is especially important when bringing arrangements indoors, where dry winter air can quickly desiccate fresh greenery. Spray your arrangements with an anti-desiccant product to seal in moisture and extend the life of your display significantly.

What are some simple ways to create natural winter decor using only what I can find or grow in my own garden?

Start by clipping evergreens like Fraser Fir, Spruce, Pine, Boxwood, Arborvitae, or Holly from your landscape to form the backbone of any arrangement. Follow the rule of threes by layering coarse, medium, and fine textures together for a full, professional look. Add ornamental grasses and interesting backyard branches for height and contrast, then finish with natural accents like pinecones. Place your clippings in floral foam to keep them supported and hydrated, and spray with an anti-desiccant to extend their freshness indoors.