Keeping some berried holly for christmas

pottiepam

Has anyone got any tips for keeping a few sprigs of holly with berries for Christmas. The arctic thrushes are here already feasting on them. In the past I buried some branches and put some in water in the greenhouse but not successful. The birds get the berries through nets too. This year I've tied some old sheets over two berry laden branches, not very slightly but down the field so don't see them often. 

Buttercupdays

I just use artificial berries.

Not quite the same, but useful as you can put them at the exact spot you want them to be. S**'s Law dictates that real ones are always in the wrong place

pottiepam

I might have to do that Buttercup.

Dovefromabove

Cut the legs off old pairs of tights and thread the holly branches into them

pottiepam

Thanks Dove. I'll try that. I've just come back from a walk with the dog down the lanes and there were lots of thrushes on all the holly bushes. I couldn't see if they were fieldfares or redwings.

Lyn

We used to provide a service of wreaths on graves for Christmas, cut the branches with the berries and keep in a bucket of water out of birds way, keeps for ages. 

pottiepam

I'll try that again too, Lyn. I put some cut branches in the greenhouse once but I think mice ate the berries.