Using artificial flowers or foliage can really help to bolster a bunch of fresh flowers and give a longer life to your arrangement.  They have strong stems that can provide structure, they’ll retain their good looks long term and providing that the stems are not paper covered, they will sit happily in water for a while.

You will need:

• Faux greenery
• Fresh flowers
• Wire cutters/scissors
• Vessel
• Optional: florist tape

Start off by gathering your stems, both faux and fresh and you will need some wire cutters or strong scissors. In this example we are using faux eucalyptus, as it also looks beautiful on its own and can continue to be used long after your fresh flowers have wilted, with the addition of fresh yellow roses.

Firstly, you need to create a good base with the artificial greenery. Cut or bend the faux stems so that they fit into your vase.  Work from the outside in and create a ‘dome’ effect with shorter stems at the side and slightly longer ones in the middle.  This adds texture and depth to your arrangement.