Last week I decided to refresh the living wreath on my front garden gate for spring and took it to Chrissy at Green Gardens Nursery in Pacific Beach.  Chrissy does such a great job and I usually take it to her in the spring to be replanted and then throughout the year, I replace flowers and plants in it to suit the season.  While a good portion of the wreath is “living,” I also adorn it with artificial blooms, seashells, starfish and other decorations as the seasons change. 
The wreaths start as a coated-metal (two-piece) form. Green moss is used to surround the form, which makes a “nest” for the soil, small plants and flowers. The amount of water your wreath will require depends on the type of plants you use and the wreath’s exposure to the sun. Fertilize your wreath lightly, as you would your container plants.  The combinations of plants you can use are endless and with a little creativity, you can have a welcoming wreath to greet you each season. Materials needed
2 piece coated metal wreath frame 
Large bag sphagnum moss
3  4 inch pots of plants or flowers
3  6-packs of different plants and flowers
Several cups of quality potting soil  Step one:  Remove the top portion of the wreath form (base piece) and beginning at the bottom, cover the entire bottom of the form with a thick layer of moss. 
Step two:  Add several inches of potting soil to the top of the moss.  Place the top piece of the wreath form on top. 
Step three: Plant your four-inch plants next, placing them at each corner in a triangle design.  Pack more moss around these plants, which I’ll make a nest for the roots and leave room for the smaller plants to come.
Step four:  Fill in the entire wreath with the 6-packs of flowers, plants and /or succulents and plant the plants very tightly together.  Fill the spaces in-between the plants with more moss, pressing it into the wreath as tightly as you can.  Water your wreath thoroughly and hang it in a place where it can be admired.  If the plants are not full, I fill in spaces with seashells, artificial flowers or seasonal decorations.
All of the materials you need for your wreath can be purchased at Green Gardens Nursery, located at 4910 Cass St. or Chrissy will be happy to make one for you.  On my website www.LindaMarrone.com, the tour of my garden features years of many different versions of living wreaths that have hung on my garden gate.
The owner of a historic La Jolla home and garden, Linda is a local Realtor with Coldwell Banker.  Take a tour of her garden on www.LindaMarrone.com