My holiday green guide for Guelph should get you excited about holiday decorating like nothing else, and I’m happy to show you what we’ve got in stock this year! If you’ve been visiting Royal City Nursery this past week, you already know that we’ve gone fully-festive with our Winter Wonderland, and with fresh winter greens newly-stocked, let’s take a look at what you can find this year.
Starting with wreaths, the ultimate must-have in front door holiday decor. A tradition stemming from the 16th century and adopted from the ancient world, hanging wreaths is synonymous with the holiday season. Royal City Nursery’s fresh wreaths are made from carefully selected winter greens, including boxwood, and come pre-made in some seriously-stylish arrangements, pictured above!
The best part about these wreaths is that they are not just visually-appealing but also eco-friendly, crafted with care and sustainability in mind. Our greens are sourced responsibly to ensure minimal impact on the environment, making them a great choice for eco-conscious decorators.
When it comes to decking the halls, garlands are a fantastic choice for Guelph, and just like our wreaths, Royal City Nursery’s garlands are made from high-quality winter greens, including white pine, fraser fir, boxwood, and cedar. Fresh garland is really easy to work with; try wrapping it around doorways, railings, pillars, and beams. The best thing about using fresh greens indoors is the down-to-earth feeling of being surrounded by the forest, and the aromas are simply impossible to beat!
For those who enjoy getting extra-creative with their holiday decor, we offer bundles of fresh, sweet-smelling single-branch greenery. They are perfect for crafting your own wreaths with the kids, centrepieces, or for adding texture and festive fragrance to your DIY porch pots. If you’re wondering what we’ve got in stock this year, here’s a list!
We also have Ontario cedar, Ontario red and white pine, and fresh BC cedar to keep those halls decked with festive forest vibes all season-long.
Nothing says bah-humbug like dead branches and pine needles on the floor, so taking care of your fresh greens is a crucial step to a happy holiday. To ensure that your winter greens remain fresh throughout this holiday season, I always recommend keeping a bottle of Wilt-Pruf on hand, a plant anti-transpirant that helps reduce moisture loss from the foliage. Applying Wilt-Pruf to your wreaths, garlands, and DIY creations can extend their lifespan during dry, winter conditions, but you can start using it now even in the warmer weather. It’s also totally organic!
Now you’re a pro on winter green selection and care, so let’s dig into my favourite part of the holidays—the tree! We’ve got three varieties in-store this year—Fraser fir, Balsam fir, and Scotch Pine—and I’ll tell you why I love them.
The Fraser fir is a classic choice for Christmas trees, known for its strong branches that can support a ton of ornaments and lights. With proper care and hydration, a Fraser Fir can last 6-8 weeks. Its needles are soft to the touch and have a beautiful deep-green colour. The Fraser fir also boasts excellent needle retention, meaning fewer needles to clean up during the season.
If you’re looking for a Christmas tree that fills your home with a festive, natural fragrance, the Balsam fir is an excellent choice. Its needles release a fresh, woodsy scent that instantly evokes the spirit of the holidays. Like the Fraser fir, it has sturdy branches and good needle retention, making it a practical and a visually-appealing choice for an Ontario holiday season filled with family events. As long as you ensure enough watering over the holidays, expect this beauty to last 4-6 weeks.
Scotch pine trees are known for their rich, green colour and sturdy branches and are carefully selected and harvested just before the holiday season. With their unique appearance and excellent needle retention, the scotch pine trees provide the perfect canvas for your holiday decorations, allowing you to create a stunning centrepiece that embodies the spirit of the season! It’s best to bring one of these home later, though, as they only last about 2-3 weeks indoors.
To keep your fresh-cut tree looking its best throughout the holiday season, here are my top five care tips:
This holiday season, make fresh greens a part of your decorating traditions with my holiday green guide for Guelph, and come see us for everything you need to deck the halls and trim the tree. Don’t forget we also do custom seasonal arrangements, both residential and commercial, to get your spaces ready for entertaining and leave you with more time to wrap presents.
