How to Keep Christmas Garland Fresh (and Off the Floor)

Fresh garland is the most romantic decorating choice you can make. It's also the most perishable. You hang it on December 1st, and by December 12th the mantel looks like it's shedding for winter and you're vacuuming needles out of the sofa cushions.

It doesn't have to go that way. Garland dries out for three reasons: heat, sun and thirst. Handle those and it stays green and smells like a forest instead of a fire hazard. Here's how, spot by spot: mantel, stair rail, front door and porch.

Wreaths, centerpieces and branches in a vase have their own guide: How to Keep Holiday Greenery Fresh.

Start With Garland That's Actually Fresh

No amount of misting will save garland that was half-dead when you bought it. Before you hand over your money, do the checks:

• Bend a needle. Fresh fir needles bend. Dry ones snap like a breadstick.
• Run your hand down a section. A few needles letting go is normal. A needle shower means walk away.
  
• Look at the color. You want deep green, not gray-green or brown at the tips.
  
• Sniff it. Fresh garland smells like a forest. If it smells like nothing, it's been sitting around a while.
  

Ask the seller when it was cut. A tree lot that gets weekly deliveries beats a big-box store pallet that's been parked by the automatic doors since Halloween.

Pick a Variety That Can Take the Heat

Not all evergreens are built for living rooms.

• Noble fir and Fraser fir hold their needles best indoors. They're the go-to for a mantel.
• Boxwood is tough, tidy and lasts a long time.
  
• Cedar smells wonderful and drapes beautifully. It browns sooner in a warm room, so put it outside or somewhere cool.
  
• White pine is soft and lush, and it sheds. Lovely on the porch. Less lovely on the carpet.
  
• Spruce drops needles fast indoors. Keep it outside.
  

Mixed garlands are usually pine or cedar with some fir. Read the tag.

Don't Buy It Too Early

Fresh garland is a perishable, like a bag of salad. Buy it the first week of December, hang it, and enjoy it through Christmas. Buy it the weekend after Thanksgiving and expect to be shopping again before New Year's. There's no prize for first garland on the block.

If you love decorating early, start with artificial garland and save the fresh stuff for a second round. Your front door won't mind a mid-season upgrade.

Keep It Cool Until You Hang It

The minute you get it home, garland wants the coldest shady spot you have: a garage, a covered porch, the side of the house that never gets sun. Not the trunk of the car. Not the laundry room next to the dryer.

If you won't hang it for a few days, mist it, slip it loosely into a plastic bag (don't seal it), and keep it cold.

Give It a Long Drink Before You Hang It

This is the single best thing you can do, and almost nobody does it.

1.     Run a few inches of cool water in the bathtub or a big plastic tub.

2.     Submerge the garland and leave it overnight.

3.     Shake it out, lay it on old towels, and let it drip dry for a few hours before it goes anywhere near paint or wood.

Skip the soak if the garland has dried flowers, glued-on pinecones, ribbon, flocking, painted accents or battery lights built in. Water and glue are not friends. Mist those instead.

Seal In the Moisture With an Anti-Desiccant Spray

An anti-desiccant spray (Wilt-Pruf is the one most garden centers carry) coats the needles with a thin film that slows moisture loss. It's the closest thing to a fountain of youth for garland.

• Spray it outside, after the soak, once the garland is dry.

• Let it dry completely, a few hours, before you bring it in.

• Spray before you add lights, never after. Keep it off cords and plugs.

• Follow the label. More is not better. One even coat does the job.
  

Where to Hang It: The Spot-by-Spot Guide

Where garland hangs matters more than anything else on this page. Cold porch, happy garland. Hot mantel, crispy garland.

Mantel Garland

The mantel is the hardest job in the house: warm air rises, and that's exactly where the garland is.

• If you light fires, don't put fresh garland on that mantel. Heat dries it fast, and dry evergreens catch fire fast. Use artificial garland labeled flame-resistant, keep it on top of the mantel, and don't let anything dangle toward the opening.

• If you don't use the fireplace, go ahead. Do keep it off the heating vents, and out of the afternoon sun from a nearby window.

• Protect the wood. Lay a strip of felt, a cut-up shelf liner or a runner under the garland so sap and moisture don't mark the finish.

• Check it every two or three days. The mantel garland is the one that retires first.
  

Stair Rail Garland

A garland-wrapped banister is gorgeous. A banister nobody can hold is a problem, especially with guests, kids and older relatives going up and down all month. Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and older, according to the CDC.

• Attach garland to the balusters (the spindles), not around the top of the handrail. Zip ties or soft florist wire work well. Use enough of them so the garland doesn't sag into the steps.

• Keep the top of the rail clear so a hand can wrap all the way around it.

• No cords across the steps. If there are lights in the garland, run the cord along the rail and plug it in at the top or bottom, out of the walkway.

• Sweep the stairs often. Needles on wood steps are slippery.
  

Front Door Garland

• Open and close the door before you call it done. Garland caught in the hinge side gets crushed, and the door won't seal.

• Use over-the-door hooks or adhesive hooks rated for the weight, not nails through the trim.

• Keep it away from the lock, the handle and the doorbell camera. Your delivery driver would like to see something besides fir.

• A covered door that faces north or east gets the least sun and keeps garland green the longest.
  

Outdoor Garland

Good news: outside is where garland is happiest. Cold air slows drying, and outdoor garland often stays green for four weeks or more.

• Sun and wind are the enemies. A covered porch beats a south-facing wall.

• Mist it on dry days if you haven't had rain or snow, with the lights unplugged.

• Use outdoor-rated lights and extension cords, and plug them into a GFCI outlet.
  

Keep It Away From Heat, Flames and the Afternoon Sun

The National Fire Protection Association recommends keeping holiday greenery at least 3 feet from heat sources: fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, heat vents and candles. And December is the peak month for home candle fires.

• No real candles in or near garland. Ever. Use flameless candles. Fake flame, real garland, no drama.

• Close the blinds on the window that bakes the garland every afternoon.

• Turn down the heat a degree or two. Your garland, and your heating bill, will thank you.
  

Light It With LEDs, and Check the Lights First

LED lights run cooler and use less electricity than old incandescent strands, which is better for the garland and the house.

Before any lights go in, check every strand for cracked sockets, frayed wires and loose bulbs. Toss anything that fails. Buy lights with a UL, ETL or CSA mark from a recognized testing lab, and use outdoor-rated lights outside. Unplug everything when you go to bed or leave the house. A timer makes this automatic.

Keep It Away From Pets and Little Kids

Fir and pine needles can irritate a dog's or cat's mouth and stomach, and the needles themselves are sharp going down.

Holly berries and mistletoe are toxic to pets, and yew, which sometimes turns up in mixed greenery, is toxic to pets and people. Florist wire, glued-on berries and tiny ornaments are choking hazards for toddlers.

•      Keep garland high on the stair rail and the mantel if you have a chewer.

•      Pick up dropped berries and needles daily.

•      If a pet eats something, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. For a child, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

Mist It Sometimes, but Don't Count on It

Misting adds a little humidity. It does not rehydrate garland that's already drying out. Mist only with the lights unplugged. Never spray cords or outlets.

Keep water off painted walls, wood finishes and upholstery. Once every few days is plenty, and outdoor garland in damp weather doesn't need it at all.

Check It Every Few Days

Walk past each garland with your eyes open twice a week. Look for:

• Brown or gray tips

• Needles that snap instead of bend

• A needle shower when you touch it

• Sagging or loose ties

• Lights that have slipped out
  

If one section dies early (it's always the section over the vent), cut it out and tuck in fresh cuttings. Snip them from the back of the garland, from an extra bundle, or from your own shrubs.

Know When It's Done

When the garland is brittle, brown and raining needles, take it down. Especially if it's anywhere near the mantel, lights or a heat source. It had a good run.

Don't burn it in the fireplace. Dry evergreens flare up fast and can throw sparks. Put it in the yard-waste bin or the compost, and pull out the wire and ties first.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does fresh Christmas garland last?

Indoors, about two to three weeks, less in a warm room or near a vent. Outdoors in cool weather, four weeks or more. Soaking it, spraying it with an anti-desiccant and keeping it out of the heat all buy you time.

Should you soak fresh garland before hanging it?

Yes. Soak plain evergreen garland overnight in cool water, then let it drip dry before you hang it. Skip the soak for garland with glued-on decorations, flocking, dried flowers or built-in lights. Mist those instead.

Should you spray garland with water every day?

No. Every few days is plenty indoors, and only with the lights unplugged. Daily spraying won't keep garland fresh, and it's hard on wood, paint and electrical connections.

Can you bring dried-out garland back to life?

No. Once it's brittle, it's done. A soak can perk up garland that's only a little limp, but crispy garland is a fire hazard, not a project. Replace the worst sections or take it down.

What's the best fresh garland for indoors?

Noble fir, Fraser fir and boxwood hold up best inside. Save cedar, white pine and spruce for the porch.

Is fresh garland safe for pets?

Not entirely. Fir and pine can upset a pet's stomach, and holly, mistletoe and yew are toxic. Keep garland out of reach, and call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 if your pet eats any.

The Five Rules for Garland That Lasts

1.     Buy it fresh, and buy it late. First week of December.

2.     Soak it overnight, then spray it with an anti-desiccant.

3.     Hang it somewhere cool. Outside is best, and never over a fire you're burning.

4.     Keep it 3 feet from heat and nowhere near real candles.

5.     Check it twice a week and take it down when it's crispy.

Keep Going

Fresh garland is up and staying green. Keep the rest of the holidays running smoothly with these related guides:

•      How to Keep Holiday Greenery Fresh: Wreaths, centerpieces and branches in a vase: how to keep them green and safe for pets and food.

•      Elegant Christmas Decorating Ideas: Pretty, put-together holiday decorating that doesn't take over your whole December.

•      Holiday Safety Tips for Entertaining: Candles, cords, kitchen fires and guests on the stairs, handled before the party starts.

•      Easy Christmas Holiday Tips: Do less, enjoy more, and stop treating December like a competition.

•      Holiday Home Cleaning Hacks: Fast fixes for a guest-ready house, including the needles on the floor.

•      How to Organize Your Holiday Life: A simple planning system for gifts, cards, food and decorating.

•      Green Holiday Entertaining Tips: Eco-friendly hosting that doesn't fill three trash bags.

•      After-Holiday Green Cleaning: How to clean up after the holidays, garland and needles included, without harsh chemicals.