Happy holidays and happy gardening from all of us at Warner’s Nursery! 
I’m asking because I was a little surprised a couple of months ago when I walked into a big retailer in September and saw Christmas lawn decorations being displayed. There they were – inflated and or lighted deer and snowmen and Santas – right next to the Halloween costumes and candy.
It was a little surreal.
For us, the holiday season begins in earnest later this month, when our Christmas trees arrive at Warner’s Nursery. It’s really rewarding to help families find that perfect tree that will be the centerpiece of their holiday décor.
From selecting your tree, to attaching lights, to adding baubles and finally the topper, each step is vital to creating your holiday masterpiece.
If you are looking to change up your look this year, we’ve gathered some of the current trends from the world of professional decorators to create amazingly decked-out trees.
Your first step is picking out your Christmas tree.
And here’s where I’m going to make my annual pitch: a live or freshly cut tree is so much better than an artificial tree. I’ve got lots of reasons why “real” Christmas trees are preferable, but let’s just talk about sustainability.
Real trees are grown on farms in all 50 states. They help preserve open space and are a renewable, recyclable resource. Artificial trees, about 80% of which are manufactured in China, contain non-biodegradable plastics and often use lead to stabilize the plastic. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, there are more than 4,000 Christmas tree recycling programs in the United States, including one right here in Flagstaff.
Warner’s Nursery will be offering a wide variety of trees starting this November, including cut Douglas Firs, with their soft green-blue coloring and sweet scent, and Noble Firs, known for their gorgeous green color and sturdy branches that can easily hold heavy ornaments.
There’s also the option of potted live trees that you can plant on your property after the holiday season. Warner’s Nursery will be offering potted Austrian pines as well as Colorado Blue, Baby Blue and Fat Albert spruces.
When you get your tree home, you’ll want to give it a day or so to let the branches settle.
Then, you’ll need to think about your theme. If you need some inspiration, I’d suggest Pinterest or the internet, but here are the trends we are seeing in 2022:
Rustic and Traditional
The dominant colors for this are pine green with deep berries (like holly) and natural materials like pinecones and flowers. Bringing the outdoors in means your tree can have a woodland theme with lots of animal ornaments, like deer, bird, mice and one of my favorites, hedgehogs. Touches of gold, silver or copper will add a little sparkle.
Snowy or Winter White
There’s nothing quite so dramatic as a tree of rich green decked out entirely with white ornaments, snowmen and icicles. In 2022, one of the looks is described as “frost and mint,” using the light green to add a little more depth of color while keeping the theme cool and stylish.
Purple
While this isn’t the color we naturally think of for Christmas, Pantone’s color of the year for 2022 is “Very Peri” (as in periwinkle), a dusky violet hue. That’s opened up a whole slew of new colors for designers to consider this holiday season, and you can dress your tree up with shades from plum to lavender to amethyst. Different, trendy and a lot of fun.
Metallics
Nothing looks as luxurious as a tree glistening with gold, silver, copper and bronze ornaments. And with this look, you can go traditional or sleekly modern with your decorations.
Your theme is only limited by your imagination. There are seaside trees full of starfish and seahorses; garden trees that feature lots of flowers; and retro trees with those totally groovy bubble lights that look like candles.
Once you’ve got your theme decided and ornaments selected, it’s time to build your tree.
Start with the lights. Your best bet is to start at the bottom. with your plug as the starting point. Wrap the lights around your tree’s trunk and work your way up the center of the tree. Then, continue wrapping the lights evenly around the branches, weaving the lights so that you alternate under one branch and over the next. (And here’s another pro tip: test the lights before you put them on the tree! In fact, test them a day or two before, so you have time to get more if needed.)
Then move on to your ornaments. Simple reflective balls should be stationed closer to the trunk so they can help amplify the lights, and more decorative items should be closer to the branch ends where they can be seen. For effect, you might want to cluster your baubles in small groups. Make sure that your tree decorations are balanced and spread out to your liking.
To add another layer of decoration, use decorative ribbons, garland or “tree picks” (decorative branches with bendable stems you can lay into your tree).
Finally, it’s time for your topper. Whether it’s an angel, a star or large showy flowers, make sure the decoration crowning your tree complements both your theme and the size of your tree.
And while your tree is the showstopper for your holiday décor, you don’t have to stop there. Poinsettias, live garland and stockings will help complete the holiday scene and make the season even merrier in your home. Happy holidays and happy gardening from all of us at Warner’s Nursery! FBN
By Misti Warner-Andersen
Misti Warner-Andersen is the manager of Warner’s Nursery & Landscape Co., located at 1101 E. Butler Ave. in Flagstaff. To contact Warner’s Nursery, call 928-774-1983.
