Making a wreath Follow our Gardeners' World step-by-step guide and choose from our different colour schemes. Watch our video clip to see Sarah Raven make her own unique table decoration.

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Step-by-step guide Ideas to inspire

The garden is full of suitable plants, from evergreen leaves to winter berries and flowers. If you don't have any flowers growing in the garden, treat yourself to roses and chrysanthemums from your local florist.

Foliage

The main material used for wreaths is evergreen foliage. There are many different types and silver and gold variegated forms can add that extra seasonal flourish. Try a combination of two or three variegated forms of holly or ivy for example - but be careful not to throw in too many as this will look messy.

Suggested plants:

• Ilex x altaclerensis 'Golden King': for holly leaves with a golden splash of colour. An added bonus is that the leaves are free of spines.
• Ilex 'Silver Queen': holly for green foliage with a silver edge. This is a male plant though, so it won't produce any berries.
• Hedera helix: the traditional English ivy. If you don't have any in your garden, ask your friends. It grows in abundance and it should be easy to find a few leafy branches.
• Hedera colchica 'Sulphur Heart': Persian ivy with large, variegated leaves.
• Eucalyptus gunnii: attractive blue-green scented, round leaves.
• Picea abies, Norway spruce: branches from this traditional Christmas tree will give your wreath a very festive feel.

If you don't have any of these foliage plants in your garden, try your local florist as many stock a good selection of Christmas greenery.

Berries

No wreath is complete without berries. If you cut the branches before the birds get to them you can store them in the fridge for a few weeks. You don't have to stick to the traditional red holly berries though, as there are many alternatives.

• Ilex aquifolium, common holly: traditional red berries.
• Viburnum opulus: orangey-red berries.
• Symphoricarpos x doorenbosii 'Mother of Pearl', snowberry: has a whitish-pink berry that will make your wreath look as if it has flecks of snow on it.
• Ilex opaca, holly: this holly has attractive yellow berries.
• Skimmia japonica subsp. Reevesiana: a good alternative to holly with bright red berries and attractive glossy leaves.
• Rose hips: for a dramatic touch.

Flowers

Seasonal flowers can be used from your garden, although it is worth remembering that these won't last as long as the other materials on your wreath, particularly if the wreath is hung indoors. However, if you have a plentiful supply of flowers in the garden, they can be replaced during the festive period.

Suggested flowers to try:

• Skimmia japonica 'Rubella' : this is a male plant, and so doesn't produce berries, but it does produce attractive purplish clusters of flower buds around Christmas time.
• Jasminum nudiflorum, winter jasmine: small yellow flowers that grow in abundance at Christmas time.
• Hamamelis mollis, Chinese witch hazel: these unusual-looking flowers will give your wreath an individualised and quirky appearance.
• Mahonia x media 'Charity', lily of the valley bush: large, scented yellow flowers.

Make your own Christmas wreath using our easy, how-to guide.

1. Take a circular metal frame, which can be bought from most floristry shops and garden centres. (An alternative frame could be a wire coat hanger bent into a circle or even the metalwork from an old lamp shade)
2. Pack the area between the two outer rings full of florists' moss, using green wire or string to hold the moss in place.
3. Next build up the foliage levels adding green foliage such as ivy, camellia or holly.
4. Add a splash of colour by attaching berries, sticking the stalks through the sphagnum moss. You don't have to use just holly berries: rose hips or viburnum berries make an attractive alternative.
5. Add more colour and texture to the wreath by using chillies. Wire the the ends of the stalks together to make them easier to insert into the wreath.
6. If you are adding roses, make sure the stems are cut fairly short (5cm / 1.5in) so that they should look good for a long time without water.
7. Attach string or wire to the back and hang it on your front door. The cold temperatures outside should keep the roses looking fresh for longer than if they are inside.