Three Tips For Choosing Cut Tree Branches for Decor

My morning ritual before heading to the Artefact Design and Salvage showroom each week is to clip decorative branches from around my wooded property or along the road, throw them in the car and then use them in the Artefact Curator Table Mounts and Wall Mounts arrangements we have displayed around the showroom.

So what are the best tips for collecting cut tree branches?

1. Experiment to find which of your local tree branches hold up best. Softer leaves will wilt almost immediately, but don’t give up on them yet. After my 30 minute commute, for example, Big Leaf Maple leaves will be badly wilted, but they will usually perk up by the next morning if left overnight in water. 

Tougher leaves are easier and tend to be longer lasting. In my area, Bay Laurel, Alder and Coastal Live Oak are some of the hardier branches for decorative display. 

2. Carry clippers in the car at all times, and keep your eyes open for roadside opportunities. I do not formally advocate theft, but there are lots of easy pickings, particularly when you are going for tree branches, and not flowers. We recommend being a good neighbor and asking for permission to cut a branch that is not on your property if possible. 

3. When selecting your branch, keep in mind the orientation of the leaves and the angle at which it will be displayed. It is disappointing to bring in a nice branch, only to find that the orientation of the leaves makes your display just look wrong. Often the easiest to reach drooping branches of larger trees orient the wrong way, because once the stem is oriented upright in your display, the leaves face downward.

4. Don’t shy away from bare branches, particularly those about to bud. They may not look like much from a distance, but up close these are often the most amazing to watch. Often the bright green new growth will emerge.

5. Always give the stem a fresh cut before putting it in water. Increase water uptake of woody stems by cutting a X with your clippers at the bottom of the stem, splitting the stem into four quarter stems for no more than an inch.

Bonus: Old florist trick - Extend the life of your branch with a couple drops of bleach in the water. This kills bacteria that clog water uptake.

Once you have your tree branch and have designed a display, remember to keep the water changed regularly for fresh branches. If you would like to dry the branch and retain the leaf color you can preserve them with a mixture of glycerin and water or let them dry naturally. 

So get out there and explore! We would love to see what you find!