How to Make a Dried Hydrangea Wreath for Fall

Hi friends! Fall is in full swing, and I don’t know about you, but this time of year always makes me want to be extra crafty. And with all the beautiful hydrangeas beginning to fade in the garden, I thought, why not put those gorgeous blooms to good use and make a dried hydrangea wreath for fall?

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Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers. From their beautiful full blooms in the summer to their soft, faded muted colors in the fall, they just keep on giving.

Instead of tossing those gorgeous blooms, I love finding ways to bring them inside and enjoy them a little longer.

If you have hydrangeas growing in your garden, or know someone willing to share a few blooms (like my mom, who is kind enough to do so when I run short!), you can use them in so many ways in your home.

I also love placing dried hydrangeas in a large floor vase. It’s such a simple way to draw the eye to different areas of the room and add a little warmth and charm to an empty corner.

My mantel was the perfect spot to display these soft, delicate blooms. I just love how their muted colors add a little warmth and natural beauty to my fall decor.

With just a few supplies, you can turn those fading blooms into a beautiful wreath that brings a touch of nature and cozy fall charm into your home.

And honestly, making a dried hydrangea wreath might be one of the easiest wreaths I’ve ever made.

You don’t need many supplies, and there are no complicated steps. The hydrangeas really do all the work!

Their big, fluffy blooms quickly fill out the wreath and create that beautiful, slightly imperfect look that I love. I literally made this wreath in 10 minutes.

Mine dried into the prettiest mix of soft green, dusty pink, burgundy, and warm brown. I think the faded colors are what make this wreath so pretty for fall.

Why Hydrangeas Are Perfect for a Fall Wreath

I love decorating with natural elements, especially in the fall, and dried hydrangeas fit right in!

As hydrangeas age, their bright summer colors begin to soften. Depending on the variety, you can end up with beautiful shades of green, mauve, pink, burgundy, tan, purple, and brown.

Rather than trying to make every bloom look exactly the same, I like the variation. It gives the wreath so much more texture and character.

Plus, because hydrangea blooms are so large, you don’t need dozens and dozens of flowers to create a full wreath.

Supplies You’ll Need to Make a Hydrangea Wreath

• Fresh hydrangeas that are beginning to dry on the plant
• Wire wreath form or grapevine wreath form
• Pruning shears or scissors
• Floral wire
• Ribbon, optional
• Glue gun

Tip: You can use grapevine wreath form as well, it works especially well because you can tuck the hydrangea stems between the vines without wrapping every stem with floral wire.

When Should You Cut Hydrangeas for a Wreath?

Timing makes a big difference when you’re making a dried hydrangea wreath.

I like to wait until the blooms start drying naturally on the plant, rather than cutting them when they’re fresh and at their peak.

Look for petals that feel slightly papery rather than soft and delicate. The colors will usually have started fading too.

These older blooms tend to hold their shape much better as they continue to dry.

If you cut hydrangeas too early, they can wilt instead of drying nicely.

How to Make a Dried Hydrangea Wreath

Step 1. Cut Your Hydrangeas

Start by cutting your hydrangea blooms, leave several inches of the stems. You can always cut the stems back to the size you need to attach to the wreath.

Don’t worry if some flowers are greener and others have already turned pink, burgundy, or brown. That’s actually what gives the finished wreath such a pretty, natural look.

Remove all the leaves from the stems before adding the flowers to your wreath.

Step 2: Attach the First Hydrangea to the Wire Wreath Form

Place your largest hydrangea bloom on top of the wire wreath form, with the flower facing outward and the stem resting along the metal rings.

Using a piece of floral wire, wrap the stem around the wreath form a few times to hold it securely in place.

Be careful not to pull too tightly against the flower head, since the petals can be delicate.

I like to start with attaching the largest blooms first around the wreath and keeping the blooms fairly close together.

Step 3. Continue Filling in the Wreath

Fill any spaces with smaller hydrangea blooms around the wreath until it looks full and balanced.

Turn each flower slightly as you work so they aren’t all facing exactly the same direction.

You also don’t have to make it perfectly symmetrical. I actually prefer a wreath that’s a little loose and organic rather than one that looks too perfect.

I personally love mixing different shades of dried hydrangeas.

The combination of muted greens, dusty pinks, and soft browns creates such a beautiful fall color palette.

Once you’ve covered the wreath, step back and take a look.

This is where mixing all those different hydrangea colors really starts to look so beautiful together.

Step 4. Secure Loose Flowers

If any of the blooms feel a little loose, simply secure the stems with a small piece of floral wire. I also added a drop of hot glue here and there for a little extra hold, especially since I planned to hang my wreath on the front door.

Living by the coast, we get our fair share of windy days, so I wanted to make sure those pretty blooms stayed right where they belonged!

Step 5: Seal the wreath

Once your wreath is finished, the hydrangeas will continue drying right on the wreath.

If you’re worried about your dried hydrangeas becoming too fragile, you can try giving them a very light mist of hairspray to help keep the delicate petals in place.

A preservative spray made specifically for dried flowers is another great option.

And if you’re hanging your wreath outdoors like I did, try to keep it protected from rain and strong winds. After all, we want those pretty blooms to last as long as possible!

As they dry, the colors may change even more and become softer and more muted. That is all part of the charm of these beautiful hydrangea blooms!

How Many Hydrangeas Do You Need for a Wreath?

The number will depend on the size of your wreath and the size of your hydrangea blooms.

For a full wreath, I recommend starting with about 12-20 hydrangea blooms.

If your blooms are smaller, you’ll probably need more.

I always like to cut a few extras because inevitably there will be one little spot that needs filling in.

Do You Have to Dry Hydrangeas Before Making a Wreath?

No, in fact, I prefer using hydrangeas that have started to dry naturally on the plant but aren’t completely dried yet.

They’re usually easier to work with because the stems still have a little flexibility.

Once you tuck them into the wreath, they can finish drying naturally.

How to Keep a Dried Hydrangea Wreath Looking Pretty

Dried hydrangeas are delicate, so I wouldn’t hang this wreath somewhere that’s completely exposed to rain or harsh weather.

A covered porch is much better than an uncovered front door.

You can also hang it indoors over a mantel, on an interior door, over a mirror, or even lean it against a shelf as part of your fall decor.

Try to keep it away from moisture and excessive handling. Once the flowers are completely dry, the petals can become brittle.

A Simple Way to Decorate for Fall

What I love most about this dried hydrangea wreath is that it is just the beautiful muted colors that the flowers naturally develop at the end of the season

And sometimes those simple seasonal touches are my favorite.

I especially love simple projects like this because they are so easy, and I already have beautiful blooms growing instead of buying another seasonal decoration.

Every wreath will turn out a little different depending on your hydrangeas, and I think that’s exactly what makes them so beautiful.

If you have hydrangeas that are beginning to fade in your garden, don’t throw them away just yet. Grab a wreath form and give this easy DIY a try.

Or

Here are a few other ways to decorate with your dried hydrangeas:

You can find 11 Ways To Decorate With Dried Hydrangeas For Fall at Vintage Home Designs.

This beautiful garland embellishing this mantel was made with a base of different types of pine, birch catkin twigs, and dried hydrangeas to create a dramatic fireplace.

I’ve used dried hydrangeas in my Thanksgiving tablescape; their soft, muted colors blend so beautifully and add a natural, cozy touch to the table.

I love how something so simple can make a table setting feel even more special without a lot of fuss.

I also added a few dried hydrangeas to my pumpkin flower arrangement, and I just love how it turned out! If you’d like to create something similar, you can see how I made this beautiful pumpkin centerpiece in my step-by-step tutorial.

Have you ever tried drying hydrangeas or making a wreath with them? I’d love to hear how yours turned out!

And if you enjoyed this DIY project, be sure to save it to Pinterest so you can come back to it when your hydrangeas are ready to harvest.

Happy decorating!

Thank you for stopping by!