Decorate the entrance for Christmas
A nicely decorated entrance can put your guests in a good mood even before they have crossed the doorstep. Create Christmas atmosphere at first sight.
In the transition from autumn to winter, refreshing the entrance can work wonders. Combine wintergreen bushes and seasonal flowers with lanterns and light strings to brighten up the darkest months of the year.
Green spruce trees for Christmas
Evergreen shrubs remain fresh and green all year round. For Christmas, there are many beautiful evergreen conifers you can decorate with at the entrance, on the balcony, and terrace. The most popular are cypress, juniper, spruce, and cedar.
Cypress 'Ellwoodii' is a slow-growing cypress with a broad, columnar growth and soft, blue-gray needles.
Chinese juniper 'Stricta' is a conical and compact juniper with blue-green, prickly needles. It is hardy and grows slowly, 5–10 cm per year.
Dwarf spruce is a slow-growing spruce with a dense, cone-shaped growth form. It is hardy and low-maintenance.
Spruce is the classic Christmas tree with a lovely scent of needles and resin that brings Christmas spirit into the home. Spruces can be narrow or wide, densely grown or with more spaced branches. It has short, narrow, green needles.
Nordmann fir is known for its shiny, lush green needles and is a popular Christmas tree variety. The needles are attached differently compared to regular spruce, which reduces needle shedding.
Serbian spruce is slender with a columnar growth habit and grows quickly. The bark is brownish and flaky, with young shoots that are hairy. The needles are flat and soft, green with white stripes on the underside and rounded tips that are non-prickly.
Blue spruce has a beautiful steel-blue color. It is a hardy and easy-care spruce with a strong, conical growth form. Pruning encourages denser growth and more blue shoots. It tolerates urban environments, wind, and coastal conditions.
Blue Atlas cedar is a highly valued plant for its characteristic steel-blue needles that grow along beautiful, drooping branches. Cedar has become particularly popular for Christmas as a modern alternative to the classic Christmas tree.You don't need to water evergreen conifers as long as temperatures are below freezing, but if they overwinter, it's important to start watering them when spring arrives. If you bring them indoors, remember to water well throughout the winter. String lights around the evergreens brighten the entrance and add extra ambiance.
Helleborus
The Helleborus is a perennial with beautiful flowers and evergreen leaves that will bring you joy throughout late autumn and winter. It can withstand a few degrees below freezing and makes a lovely welcome decoration on the porch or at the entrance for Christmas. For example, plant some Helleborus in a pot or basket, and decorate with green moss and spruce branches. Place them alongside evergreen conifers in pots on the porch or by the front door.
Since the Helleborus is a perennial, it can live in the garden year-round. There are approximately 20 different species of Helleborus today. These also have many hybrids, bred not only to add more colors but also to withstand even tougher conditions. Find the variety you like and get started.
Create atmosphere with lanterns, santas and a door wreath
Place a charming Santa or two alongside evergreen conifers, Christmas roses, and lanterns at the entrance. Finish the look with a door wreath.
It’s especially nice to welcome family and friends to both everyday visits and holiday gatherings with an inviting entrance. Simply say, "Welcome! It's Christmas here!" to your guests and to yourself when you come home.
More tips and advice
How to succeed with evergreen shrubs
All about Christmas at Plantasjen