Did you know you can buy fake sticks? I was rather astonished to see they are readily available at craft and specialty stores for your decorating convenience. I was aware of fake flowers and fake Christmas trees, but the sticks surprised me.

I’m all for decorating with natural elements, especially this time of year when a boring back porch can be transformed into a festive winter wonderland with the addition of pine roping or a boxwood wreath.

Much of what you need to naturally decorate with can be found in the yard and garden. There is really no need to buy fake sticks if you have a tree in your yard. The same goes for traditional Christmas decorations like garlands and swags.

Look around, you might be surprised what you see when nothing is growing.

Pine is the quintessential Christmas décor element and can easily be used in garlands that are easier than you might think to make.

Using sisal or other flexible roping, cut a piece as long as you would like your garland to be when completed. This sisal will create a stable base for the pine branches to attach onto.

Cut the pine into branches of equal length and size, about 10 inches is good. Using florist’s wire or fishing line, bundle a few branches together. Attach the bundle to the sisal using more wire. Attach the next bundle over the first bundle and wrap the wire securely around both until they are held together.

Repeat the above steps, adding additional pine bundles until the garland is as long as you like.

You can use other plants, too. Various firs and cedar have a Christmas feel to them and smell terrific. Holly is pretty with dark leaves and red berries. Boxwood holds up well and remains green even when it is dry.

Most trees and shrubs will benefit from a late fall or early winter pruning so you need to worry about removing branches for your decorating.

Prune branches that are near the ground. This makes it easier to mow and rake beneath the tree or shrub. You might notice some dead branches near the trunk. Remove those as well and use them in an outdoor fire or simply toss them in the compost pile.

If you are going to remove a large branch, don’t cut too close to the trunk. Cutting too close to the trunk invites pests and disease to enter.

The same plants used for garlands can easily be made into wreaths. Make or purchase a grapevine wreath at a craft store. Grapevine wreaths are easy to work with because elements can be woven into them and a little hot glue will keep them secure.

Get creative. Add dried fruit like citrus or various sizes of pinecones. Cinnamon sticks smell wonderful and look great. Seed pods and dried berries are other options.

When Christmas is over and the decorations come down, it will be as easy as disassembling the garlands and wreaths for the compost pile. Even if these items end up in the trash, they will decompose rapidly and have no environmental impact.