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O wooden tree, how green are your leaves

26.11.2020

Translation: machine translated

The "Stick & Tree" wooden tree lacks the bushy shape and green colour of a real fir tree. That's why I tested how it can be greened with decorations.

The search for a sustainable alternative to the bulky and traditional Christmas tree has come to an end. I bought the Swiss design from Stick & Tree. The recyclable decorative tree made of European beech hardwood can be assembled in just a few minutes. And yet something is missing at the end: the greenery.

Christmas decorations

CHF65.90

Stick&Tree Tree L 97cm

When set up and hung with baubles, the Sticky & Tree looks nice, but not festive enough for my taste. After all, there's a reason why the leaves are honoured in the song "O Tannenbaum". After a few attempts, I found two ways to make the wooden tree greener using natural means.

First: The wooden tree is only half as beautiful without greenery.

After: It looks fuller and warmer with a garland. — First: The wooden tree is only half as beautiful without greenery.

You can green a wooden tree in two different ways. The first option is even suitable for an already decorated tree (see "after" photo). The second option is perfect if your tree is still in the cupboard. You can also combine both options. Whichever way you choose, buy some eucalyptus and start your DIY project within a week. For processing, it is important that the eucalyptus is still fresh, otherwise it will slowly crumble. Base the quantity on the size of your wooden tree.

Variant one: make a garland

Effort: two to three hours (tree size: 96 centimetres)

Material: Eucalyptus bunch, nylon thread or cord, all-purpose scissors

With a garland of eucalyptus leaves, you can greet your wooden tree without assembly. Separate the leaves from the branch and collect them in a bowl. Then cut a piece of nylon thread about two metres long and make a button at one end. Then you can start threading the individual leaves. I made two stitches per leaf. As if I were threading a button. This provides more support and stabilises the garland.

To make the garland, the leaves should still be fresh so that they don't break.

Finally, drape the garlands around the tree as desired. I used a total of five garlands for my tree (96 centimetres). The larger the eucalyptus leaves, the fewer you need.

With each additional garland, the wooden tree becomes greener.

The highlight: when the festive season is over, there is hardly any waste left over. The dried garlands can be recycled for dining table decorations, for example. If the leaves look too worn, the worst you can do is tear them off the string and dispose of them in the organic waste. You can keep the nylon thread or string for next year.

Variant two: assemble branch by branch

Effort: one hour (tree size: 96 centimetres)

Material: Eucalyptus bunch, grüner Draht und Schneidezange

This technique is quicker than the first one. Simply spread out all the eucalyptus branches on a table and sort them by size. Choose branches with large leaves for the large wooden pieces and cut them to the right length.

Wire can be used to wrap the branches around the branch. Cut it generously and wrap it around the branch several times. Gradually work your way up from the bottom. Thanks to the wire, you can add more eucalyptus to the branches afterwards.

The second variant looks bushier than the first.

This technique also only produces organic waste after Christmas and you can recycle the wire as you wish. Or you can carefully remove the dried branches and make a dried bouquet from them.

Both combined

As I have already made the garlands anyway, I add them to the result of the second option. This makes my tree even greener and denser.

Finally: It smells like Christmas. — A mix of the first and second variant.

After I've put up the fairy lights and Christmas decorations, I consciously take in the scent in the room. Just like a real fir tree, eucalyptus gives off a pleasant odour. This makes the arrangement the perfect Christmas tree alternative for me and I can finally sing "O wooden tree, how green are your leaves". <p

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Pia Seidel

Senior Editor

Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.ch

Like a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.

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