How to Make Wire for Wreaths From Chicken Wire
Wreaths are a beautiful, traditional decoration that can add flair to any room of your home. Some wreaths are specifically for autumn or winter holidays, while others are suitable to celebrate spring and summer.
You can find pre-made wreaths for sale in many stores, but a wreath made by hand can save you money and add a personal touch that money cannot buy. This article will tell you how to make a living wreath with chicken wire; you may also use the chicken wire frame to make other types of wreaths.
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Things You'll Need
- Chicken wire (8-by-24 inches)
- Sphagnum moss
- Clean spray bottle
- Water
- Potting soil
- Wire shears
- Needle-nose pliers
- Cuttings from succulent plants (such as Delosperma, Sempervivum, Sedum, Orostachys or Jovibarba)
- Florist's wire
- Chopstick
Instructions
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1
Lay the chicken wire flat.
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2
Wet enough moss to cover the chicken wire (the moss should be damp but not soaking wet). A spray bottle works well for wetting.
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3
Cover the chicken wire with a layer of moss, about 2 inches deep.
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4
Make a "stripe" of potting soil down the center of the moss, about ½-inch deep, covering about ... of the width of the moss.
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5
Roll the chicken wire into a long tube with the moss and potting soil inside. Use the needle-nose pliers to bend the ends of the wire together where the sides meet.
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6
Turn the tube over, with the wired-together side face-down. Gently squeeze the tube to compress the filling a little.
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7
Start in the middle of the roll, and gradually bend the roll into a circle until the two ends meet.
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8
Wire the ends of the roll together with florist's wire; trim the ends of the florist's wire with wire shears.
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9
Attach a loop of florist's wire to the top of the wreath to make a hanger.
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10
Poke holes in the moss with the chopstick and insert the root end of the succulent plants in the holes.
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11
Hang the wreath where the plants will receive adequate sunlight.
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Tips & Warnings
Space the plants out; this will give them room to grow so that they won't out-grow the wreath too soon.
Keep the moss damp.
Keep the wreath indoors during the winter.
