How to make a mistletoe and box Christmas ball

Home
How to
DIY
How to make a mistletoe and box Christmas ball

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Wednesday, 24 April 2019 at 3:00 pm

Create a beautiful Christmas decoration from mistletoe and box, with the help of our step-by-step guide.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTo Doyes

Save

Creating homemade Christmas decorations is both easy and rewarding. With just a few plants from your garden or local hedgerows, you can have your own festive greenery in no time at all.

This large sphere of hanging mistletoe and box enhanced with twinkly lights is striking, yet simple to make. It's perfect for decorating a hall or porch and is just the thing to welcome your Christmas guests. If you'd rather not use mistletoe, you could try creating a Christmas miscanthus wreath, holly and ivy star, or a more traditional birch and pine Christmas wreath.

Find out how to make a mistletoe and box Christmas ball in just three easy steps, below.

You Will Need

Floral foam sphere (12cm)
White ribbon (1m)
Box springs
Mistletoe
Secateurs
Battery-operated fairy lights

Total time: 1 hour

Step 1

Mistletoe and box Christmas ball - tying ribbon around the sphere

Soak the floral foam in water for 30 minutes. Tie the ribbon around it, as though wrapping a present. Use the long lengths of ribbon to hang the sphere from a doorway or similar structure, so you can work at a comfortable working height.

Step 2

Mistletoe and box Christmas ball - adding box

Hold the sphere steady and push in the box sprigs into it, taking care to ensure you work evenly all the way round. Try to cover as much of the foam and ribbon as possible.

Step 3

Mistletoe and box Christmas ball - adding mistletoe

Add the mistletoe to the sphere. Don’t worry if it looks a bit rustic and haphazard - that’s part of the charm of this style of natural decoration. Sit the battery pack for the lights on top of the sphere and weave the bulbs through the greenery, spacing them evenly. Carefully hang the ball in your chosen spot.

Don't miss out this Winter

Enjoy expert advice on what to plant and grow this winter, and how to prepare your plot for the year ahead. Enjoy, 6 months for just £31.99

Subscribe now

Great gardening savings - straight to your inbox

Sign up to the BBC Gardeners’ World offers newsletter for exclusive deals, seasonal savings, and early access to special promotions.