Tips on Making Grapevine Wreaths

by Deborah H. Schreiben

Overview

By harvesting grapevines, you can make lovely rustic grapevines wreathes that don't cost a cent. Wild grapevines are considered an invasive species, which means that once they have taken root somewhere, they will spread and take over an area. Wild grapes grow in wooded areas, and once you find a source, you will likely have more vines than you can use. Many people also grow and harvest grapes and might be willing to share their wealth of vines.
Harvesting

Use a pruning shears to clip the vines close to the base. Choose fresh, actively growing vines if possible, as they are the most pliable and easy to work with. You can use dead vines, but they will be very brittle. You probably will be able to harvest only short segments. Grapevines that have wrapped around a tree or other object are going to be quite tangled and will take some muscle and patience to free. As you cut the vines, lay the fresh vines out in a relatively straight line on the ground or in the bed of a pickup truck to prevent excessively tangling during transport. Don't attempt to straighten brittle vines at this point. Simply pile them as they are formed. Before attempting to bend dry vines into a wreath shape, soak them in a tub of warm water to make them pliable. Whether to trim off leaves is a matter of personal preference. Grapevines also contain curly tendrils. Most people choose to leave these in place, as they add interest and charm to the wreath.

Forming the Wreath

Form the wreath either freeform or on a base. Freeform is the easiest method, but the shape might not be as precise as if you use a base. To begin a freeform wreath, grasp the thicker ends of two long, pliable vines and twist them loosely to intertwine like a rope. Bend the vines to form a circle slightly smaller than the desired finished size of your wreath. Twist the thinner end of the vines around and tuck the ends into an open space to hold the circular shape. Add individual vines to the circle by tucking the base into any opening and weaving the vine through open spaces on the wreath. Vary the starting point of each vine to keep the width of your wreath balanced. To make a wreath on a base, insert long screws into a piece of plywood, positioning the screws to make the shape of the wreath. Loosely wrap the vines around the screws. When the wreath is complete, carefully work the vines off the screws. Use method to make a wreath in a star or other shape.
Decorating

Leave finished wreath bare or decorate it. Consider tucking greenery and dried or silk flowers in colors to match your décor into the spaces of the wreath. Wrap the wreath with gingham ribbon for a country look. A wreath containing tiny white lights looks attractive when the lights twinkle in the darkness. Use your imagination to create any number of different looks.