Festive tips for winter garden and greenhouse enthusiasts

14:12 30th November 2009

Christmas is just a few short weeks away and Brits will soon be starting to look out the decorations, but one website has suggested that garden and greenhouse lovers try making their own.

According to BBC Berkshire, horticulture enthusiasts can build a wreath or garland using trimmings from their own plants.

It advised growers to go about their winter clean-up of the garden, greenhouse and shed while looking out for useful stems, which should be protected from the elements until cut.

Traditional choices include holy, branches of fir trees and ivy, which the online resource claims is useful for adding bulk to wreaths and garlands.

It is also a good base around which to weave other trimmings when building the Christmas door hanging.

The website also explained that the greenhouse can be useful in winter for growing everything from roses to vegetables, such as sweet peas.

It said that vents should be opened on warmer days, but always closed at night to protect the plants from frost.

However, the Met Office has said there is a 50 per cent chance of having a warmer than average winter, with just a 20 per cent chance of a colder one than normal.