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FeedHABITAT: Expert Advice
Your design questions answered.
Published November 21, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Your design questions answered.Question: I love decorating my house with fresh greens for the holidays. What’s the best way to keep them looking great throughout the season?
Answer: Michael Petrie, vice-president of J. Franklin Styer Nurseries, Concordville (styers.com) Be aware of the types of greens you’re purchasing. Frasier fir, boxwood and western cedar are more durable than hemlock or spruce. Give the greens a fresh cut. And if they have a woody stem, smash it with a hammer. Let the greens soak in warm water for a day or so to allow them to re-hydrate.
After your arrangement is made, spray it with an anti-desiccant like Wilt-Pruf. Boxwoods do particularly well when sprayed with a clear, acrylic floor polish.
If you decorate over Thanksgiving weekend, realize that your greenery may not last through the New Year. You may want to make fresh greens one of the last decorations you put up, along with your fresh tree.
Have a question for an expert? E-mail tbehan@mainlinetoday.com.
