Make your front door the most cheerful spot at home with this dried orange wreath.
This season, look beyond decor intraditional red and greenand display a fragrant dried orange slice wreath.
We’ll show you how to dry fresh orange slices and arrange them to create a handmade holiday decoration.
Credit: Jacob Fox
All you’ll need to assemble thisinexpensive Christmas craftis a wire wreath frame, assorted greenery, and oranges.
Finish the farmhouse wreath with a gray buffalo check ribbon.
Thread any extra dried orange slices on baker’s twine to create afestive holiday garland.
Credit: Jacob Fox
Dry Oranges
Cut 10 oranges into 1/2-inch thick slices.
Place the slices in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake in a 175F oven for 4 hours, flipping the oranges halfway through.
Credit: Jacob Fox
It’s important to cook the orange slices at a low temperature so they don’t burn or brown.
The oranges are done when they are crisp to the touch and don’t release any moisture when squeezed.
We used navel oranges to create our farmhouse Christmas wreath.
Assemble Orange Bundles
Let dried oranges cool completely.
Gather 3-5 orange slices together and gently poke a piece of florists wire through the center of each slice.
Gently twist the florists wire to secure each bundle and set aside.
You’ll need 12-15 bundles to fill a 16-inch wreath form.
Prepare Greenery
Cut evergreen branches into smaller sections using pruning shears or scissors.
Trimseeded eucalyptusto remove tough stems.
Create bunches ofdried lavenderand brunia berries.
Use florists wire to bundle together.
You will need 6-8 bundles for a 16-inch wreath.
Assemble Wreath
Use florists wire to secure cut evergreen to a 16-inch wire wreath form.
Overlap the evergreen so it completely covers the wreath form.
Next, use florists wire to attach seeded eucalyptus over the evergreen.
Finally, attach the dried orange slices.
Space them so they evenly fill out the wreath.
Loop the ribbon through the top of the wreath and tie a knot to hang.
Indoors, wreaths dry out more quickly with a lifespan of about 2 weeks.
The Royal Horticultural Society.
