Cottage Style Spring Wreath With a White Picket Fence

It’s time for spring wreaths.

I don’t care that the weather forecast is calling for a polar vortex with temperatures reaching -30 with the wind chill this weekend. In my world, spring is around the corner, and soon I will be outside watching patiently for my tulips to make an appearance.

Soon – soon.

pink and white tulip sprigs spread on a wooden board

In the meantime, I am getting ready to celebrate the start of spring by adding some spring decor, changing a few decorative cushions and finally getting around to creating a spring wreath for the front door.

I found these pretty little tulip sprigs at Michael’s and knew I had to buy them but had no idea what to do with them. I tucked them away hoping inspiration would eventually hit. They might be fake, but they were so pretty I kept taking pictures.

I’m in desperate need of real flowers. Spring needs to hurry up already!

So what was the inspiration for this little DIY project?

One night while I was planning this year’s garden I turned to my husband and asked him how he felt about adding a white picket fence to the front of the house.

He didn’t answer me, so I took that as a hint that he wasn’t interested in adding that to the summer renovation list.

So I made this spring wreath to tide me over until I convince him otherwise.

A pretty cottage style door wreath for spring

White picket fence wreath filled with pink and white tulips

This build was easy; I managed to make it myself without prodding my husband to give me a hand.

I did manage to break his saw – but that’s another story for another day.

You could make this with hand tools. It would take a bit longer, but it is doable. I used a miter saw and a nail gun, and without knowing what the hell I was doing, I managed to make this in less than an hour.

This spring wreath is 16.25 inches wide and 22 inches high.

Supplies

2 -1×2’s x 8 feet
1 -1×3 x 8 feet
1 -florist foam for artificial flowers
Carpenters glue
Artifical flowers
Paint & paint brushes

Tools required

Mitre Saw
Nail gun
Sharp knife
Eye protection

Cut list

8-22 inch (1×2’s)
2-16.25 inch (1×2’s)
2- 4 inch (1×2’s)
2- 16.25 inch (1×3’s)

Step 1 – Cutting your pickets to make your fence

My apologies. I had this idea at 2:00 in the morning, so it was bleak and dark outside and the pictures, of course, didn’t exactly turn out well. I need to get these ideas at 8:00 in the morning.

Before you even start cutting anything, be sure to wear your eye protection.

Cut 8 22 inch lengths from your 1×2’s. You will have a few scrap pieces left over, do not toss them.

To get the point on the picket set your miter to 45 degrees and cut it once. Then flip it over and cut it again.

Step 2- Easy spacing to keep everything straight

Pickets laid out with wood spacers between them.

The scrap pieces that were left over make excellent spacers. Cut them to create 14 pieces. Length doesn’t matter here because we just need the width.

Once you have your spacers, place them between the bottom and top of your boards and squeeze the outside pieces together. The spacers should make everything perfectly square.

Step 3 – Adding the top fence piece to your pickets

The top rail of the 'fence' it laid on top to ensure fit.

Add glue 4 inches from the top of your pickets, adding a drop on all eight posts. Add your 16.25 inch 1×2 across the front over the glue keeping it even on both sides. You can eyeball it, but my eyeballs are wonky, so I always measure.

Step 4 – How to attach the front fence piece

Using a nail gun to attach the top rail to the pickets.

I used a nail gun and added two small finishing nails to each board.

Step 5 – Creating the pocket at the bottom of the wreath

The bottom rail laid out on the pickets to ensure fit.

Add your second 1.25 inch 1×2 to the bottom and stand it on its side. This will create the bottom of your raised bed and the pocket to hold your oasis.

This part s a bit tricky. You want to add the glue to the eight pickets on the bottom and then nail from the back side.

I added the glue, flipped the whole thing over and then placed my 1×2 underneath. If you have a few scrap 1×2’s left over you can slide a piece temporarily underneath at the top. This creates a level surface so you can use the nail gun to attach the piece.

That sounds complicated, but once you flip it over you will see what I mean.

Step 6 – Adding the sides of the front pocket

Add glue to your 4-inch 1×2 side pieces and gently slide them underneath. Then add nails down the side to fasten them together.

Step 7 – Fastening the front pocket to the wreath

Flip the whole thing over and add glue to the edges all around the front face.

The full fence and planter box assembled but not yet painted.

Add your 16.25-inch 1×3’s to the front and use your nail gun to fasten them in place.

Finishing up your spring wreath

This is what your spring wreath should look like when you’ve completed it. The front pocket is only 1.5 inches wide. I did not make the pocket wide, so it didn’t protrude out too far. It’s the perfect width for two layers of artificial flowers.

I had some holes and gaps to fill, the wood I used wasn’t the best. Once my filler was dry, I gave it a quick sand and added two coats of white paint.

It would look sweet stained as well!

How to add the floral foam to your wreath

You only need one floral foam. Be sure that it’s the dry version.

Slice the foam down the center creating two pieces 1.5 inches thick. You will only need to trim a small bit off the second piece, but the two pieces will fit into the pocket very comfortably.

Adding your flowers and finishing up your spring wreath

White picket fence wreath with one row of tulips inserted into the foam.

I did two rows of mini tulip stems in shades of pink and white. I set them at different heights, so the wreath looked fluffy and full.

This sweet little spring wreath would look cute with daisies or zinnias, or anything! In the summer or fall just switch out your flowers, and you have a wreath you can use through the seasons.

This spring wreath is definitely something different, not your standard round wreath, but it is cute, and it reminds me every day that my husband needs to put in a white picket fence this summer.

(pssst – don’t tell him I said that)

If you’re on the hunt for another DIY wreath for your door this spring, I stumbled on a great round-up post over at Lifestyle for Real Life. Marybeth put together a beautiful list of DIY spring wreaths that makes me wish I had a few extra doors. She was generous to add my little white picket fence wreath in the list! Also check out my $15 Halloween wreath made from dollar store materials!

Head on over to check out the post here: 13 DIY SPRING WREATHS YOU CAN DIY

Pinterest formatted image showing two different DIY wreaths.

If you love flowers and things that grow check out these posts:

A Fun Spring Wreath with a White Picket Fence