Fall is my favorite time of year — and not just because it’s cozy sweater weather and pumpkin season. It’s also a time of year when foliage starts to dry out and some truly special plants come to life. I absolutely love foraging for flowers and foliage, especially now that we live in the North Cascades. There’s literally a treasure trove of wildflowers, branches, and brambles in the area around our house — it’s the absolute perfect spot to forage for fall flowers. So today I wanted to share tips with you to inspire you to save money by foraging for fall decor in your yard or near your home.
General Rules To Help You Forage for Flowers Like a Pro
Before we dig into my tips, there are a few rules for foraging that are good practice in general:
- Know who owns the land – if you’re in a city, I do not recommend going into someone’s yard and clipping branches! And in my opinion, that extends to parking strips, too. I’ve often found that if the owner is outside, you can ask and they are usually ok with it if you’re planning to cut just a few stems. If you’re foraging in a national forest or park, make sure you’re clear on the rules.
- Be prepared – Keep a set of pruning shears and a bucket of water in your car if you’re planning to make a big foraging trip! When I’m walking the dogs, I bring my shears and make sure to get everything in water asap to avoid wilting.
- Use an app to identify plants – this way you don’t touch something potentially toxic or poisonous that will irritate your skin
- Check for bugs – this is especially important if you’re foraging for flowers during tick season. I like to give my finds a good shake before bringing them inside and then I shower pretty much immediately.
- Forage in the morning – this is when plants are at their most hydrated, so if you don’t have water on you, foraging in the morning will buy you a bit more time.
- Cut intentionally – be sure to cut the foliage below where a few stems branch off. This will help keep the plant happy and allow it to continue flowering for future seasons.
Styling Tips for Your Foraged Fall Decor
Dry the foliage
One of my favorite things to do with anything I forage is to dry it. It’s so easy and means that you can enjoy what you’ve found a longer than if it is kept fresh. To dry foliage, I create small bundles of each type of plant that I’ve found and tie them with a bit of twine. Then I hang the bundles in a place that’s dry like our garage. After a few weeks, they will have dried out and you can use them in bouquets and arrangements.
Show off the texture
Fall flowers are typically dried out, but there is always a plethora of amazing textured plants that you can forage. I love looking for ferns, large leaves, pine boughs, dry grasses, and anything with funny little seed pods. These non-flower elements will bring a gorgeous texture to your floral arrangement.
Make a centerpiece
I’ve shared MANY a centerpiece here on the blog and typically they incorporate dried elements. Remember this moody Halloween inspired centerpiece? Foraged and dried flowers, pots, and branches are perfect for that!
Make a bough
Boughs are usually thought of for Christmas time, but I love the idea of a textural fall-inspired bough made entirely of foraged elements. Here’s a quick tutorial on how to make your own bough (it’s so easy).
Create a floral installation in your own home
Because foraging for flowers is free, it’s a great time to PLAY! I love using foraged stems in unexpected ways around the home. It’s the perfect time to bring in some dramatic flower arrangements.
Combine with something storebought
I love when someone sends me flowers, so to extend the life of any bouquets I’m sent, I will often add foraged elements as it ages. When I change the water every couple of days, I remove anything that’s past it’s prime and replace with something foraged from the yard. This is basically a free way to extend the life of your flowers!
What do you think of these tips and tricks? I hope you’ve enjoyed them!
What do you think of these tips and tricks? I hope you’ve enjoyed them!
You might also enjoy:
How to Make a Hanging Floral Installation with Dried Botanicals | DIY
The key to achieving a wild, overgrown-looking hanging floral installation is to find interesting dried materials that will hold their shape. Choosing foliage with stiffness to it is a very important element for creating this sort of ethereal design because it provides structure.
A Dark & Moody Halloween Centerpiece DIY
In this low, dramatic Halloween centerpiece arrangement, I combine these dried floral elements with freshly bloomed dahlias to create an effect that reminds us all of the circle of life and how these seed pods will result in new flowers next year… plus, it is the perfect way to bring a floral element into your next Halloween-themed gathering!
