How to Make a Herb Wreath

Step-by-Step: How to Make a Wreath Out of Fragrant Herbs

A handmade herb wreath is a refreshing and inexpensive homemade gift idea!

...There is a wholesomeness to creating gifts out of the natural materials available, that makes these handmade wreaths a joy to make... and to give.

My favorite time to make a wreath using homegrown herbs is late spring, when the herbs in your garden have had a growth spurt, and you're not sure what to do with the extra abundance.

Herb wreaths make fragrant and unique hostess gifts. Try bringing one the next time you visit someone's house for a summer party.

They can also be decorated with ribbon to honor 4th of July and other spring or summer holidays.

Extra Benefits to Making Herb Wreaths?

If you have an herb garden, you know that each year your herb plants get bigger and bigger, leaving you with way more fresh and dried herbs than you can possibly ever use. This is where herb wreaths come in handy!

...Learn how to make a wreath with herbs and you'll turn those excess herbs into lovely fragrant gifts for your home and the homes of friends and family.

Plus, if you use your own homegrown herbs, one of these cute homemade gifts cost a little over a dollar to make (another fun thrifty homemade gift idea).

Need Herbs? If you don't have an herb garden, I recommend you start one right away. Herbs grow great in containers so no excuses... in fact, here's a few tips for growing herbs in containers if you'd like to start.

...and in the mean time, to get your hands on some fresh herbs right now, you can purchase them at the grocery store or farmers market... or even better, try to find a friend with extras in their own garden. They may be happy to prune for good use.

How to Make a Wreath With Herbs...

Herbs make awesome wreaths, with their wholesome beauty and pleasing fragrances (they will scent a room or even a small house) or they can also be functional: hang your herb wreath in a cool dark place in the house and you can pick herbs for cooking once they dry.

Best Herbs for Making Herb Wreaths: Sage, Rosemary, Lavender, Thyme, Oregano, Bay Leaf, Marjoram, Chive Flowers... especially anything thick and/or woody will be your best options because they dry well.

Basil in particular and some other delicate herbs actually wilt and turn brown very quickly in a not-so-attractive way... those can still be used decoratively in herb bouquets that will be kept in a vase of water (always out of direct sunlight) plus the fresh lasting leaves can be picked for a few days as needed.

Materials Used Here:

• Sage
• Rosemary
• Lavender
• Oregano (Flowering)
• 9" Wooden Wreath Base (or whatever base you choose)
• Green Florist Wire

Tools:

• Scissors
• Jars (for holding water and herb bundles)
• Wire Cutters (I just use the little ones I keep for jewelry making)

Note About Base I Used: I use an attractive wood wrapped wreath base here because I like the look of it and I get them at my local dollar store for...you guessed it...$1. You can use any small base for this project. If the base needs to be fully covered, you can either pump up the volume of the herbs you use (really layer it up, keeping in mind that the herbs will shrink a little when they dry out) or use a bit of dried green moss (such as sphagnum moss) to cover it first, then proceed with the herbs.

Handmade Wreath Steps:

• Pick herbs and place each bundle in a jar of water.
• Remove any yellowing, old, dead or damaged leaves from the sprigs you plan to use.
• Starting with the rosemary (it makes a nice base here), lay the herbs down on the base until it looks full and even.

• Tip: When possible, make your wreath nice and full since the herbs will shrink as they dry, you don't want the dried wreath to look sparse.
• Secure the first bundle of rosemary by wrapping florists wire around herb's base and the wreath base (alternatively you could use green raffia or something similar for securing the herbs to the wreath).
• Working backwards, secure several bundles of rosemary the same way until the wreath base is covered.
• Position the sage where you'd like it (I chose quantities of 3 for the rest of the herb sprigs) and secure wire around sage's base and the wreath base - you can use individual pieces of wire for each one or keep the same wire going by wrapping around and around as needed.

• Now add little bundles of lavender and flowering oregano, securing with wire - use the bundles to hide any wire that shows.
• Add a loop of wire for hanging when you're sure which end will be the top.
• Design Note...
  After laying down a base of rosemary, I chose 3 large sprigs/bundles of each herb and placed them equal distances from each other - sets of 3 can be pleasing to the eye but don't hesitate to get creative with other layouts.

• Tip...
  Be sure to hide any wire wrapped areas with herbs as you go.
• Bow? ...You could always add a raffia bow or some other embellishment but I like the simplicity of this 100% herbs from the garden handmade wreath gift, it speaks to me as I hope it will speak to you...

Final touches:

• Add a homemade gift tag if desired - feel free to use any of these free printable gift tags or use my printable gift tag templates to make your gift tags.
• Be sure to give the recipient verbal or written instructions to keep herb wreath in cool place out of direct sunlight if they plan to use the herbs for cooking once dried.

If you like herb and lavender flower crafts:

If you have lots of fresh lavender, make lavender bottles. Lavender bottles are a traditional lavender flower craft dating back to Victorian times and they're easier to make than they look!

Related Pages...

Make Rose Water for a Fun and Unique Gift

These Lavender Bottles Smell so GOOD

Homemade Bath Salts for Easy Homemade Gifts