All About Mailbox Decorations

From high-level overviews to nitty gritty tutorials, here’s everything you need to know about our biggest fundraiser of the year.

What’s on this page

  • Key Dates & Sign-up Forms

  • 10 Steps to Mailbox Decorating

  • Greenery Collection Guide

  • How To Build Arrangements

2024 Key Dates & Sign-up Forms

WED, NOV 20 and THURS, NOV 21
Instructional Sessions

Please plan to attend ONE instructional session to hear the full 2024 process and to learn best practices on cutting, assembly, and delivery. New members are required to attend an instructional session, and returning members are highly encouraged.

SUN, DEC 1 and MON, DEC 2
[Optional] Group Greenery Harvests

Every member is responsible for collecting greenery. To make this easy (and fun!), Greenery Chair Martha Law will lead two group greenery harvests so we can cut and collect together. Sanitize your shears before cutting to keep the trees on the mountain healthy.

Know of a location for White Pine, Magnolia, Holly with berries, Fraser Fir, or Leyland Cypress? Contact Martha at (423) 834-4543.


Individual Greenery Collection

If you’re unable to join a group greenery harvest, you can cut in your yard or in a neighbors’ if you’ve asked. Sanitize your shears before cutting. Aim to cut the amounts listed below in “How to Collect Greenery”.

Need help sourcing White Pine, Magnolia, Holly with berries, Fraser Fir, or Leyland Cypress? Contact Martha at (423) 834-4543.

Each member should bring their greenery to the Arrangement-Making Party they attend. Storing greenery at home beforehand? Keep it outside. Bringing it indoors (even in a garage) can dry it out.

TUES, DEC 3, WED, DEC 4, AND THURS, DEC 5

Arrangement-Making Parties

Please join one party to build arrangements with fellow members. We will have snacks, refreshments, and festive music. Please bring your own drink ware, pruning shears, and GLOVES…the branches can be quite prickly and sticky! You may take home your 2 personal arrangements and bows after your shift.

If you are unable to attend a gathering, contact Mary Alice Brock 423-802-6655.

BY SAT, DEC 7

Mailbox Decoration Delivery & Installation

All members are responsible for delivering and installing their (4) mailbox decorations. Delivery addresses will be assigned in advance so teams can drive their routes and review if any mailboxes are tricky or address any concerns. Please contact lead by Erin Brafford, 901-413-4626, with any questions. Once you have delivered your arrangements, please mark off that arrangement on the delivery sheet.

10 Steps To Mailbox Decorating

First things first: Let’s break down the process at a high level.

  1. Drive around your neighborhood and look for bountiful greenery. Ask neighbors in advance if they mind you trimming some arms’ length branches.

  2. (New Members STRONGLY ENCOURAGED) Attend one instructional session (sign up links above!) and watch the videos below to learn how to make a mailbox decoration.

  3. Register for an Arrangement Party. Please contact Mary Alice Brock 423-802-6655 if you cannot attend a party.

  4. Clean/disinfect your pruning shears before you clip greenery to prevent the spread of disease (see tutorial video).

  5. Gather your greenery according to the guidelines and locations as advised below. Deliver greenery to the designated parking spots at GA Town Hall no later than noon Tuesday, December 3.

  6. Review the arrangement tips and tutorial videos on how to make a mailbox decoration.

  7. Attend an Arrangement Party! Bring your own drinkware, pruning shears, and gloves. Necessary supplies, refreshments, and festivities will be provided!

  8. Take your 2 personal arrangements and your 4 arrangements to be delivered after your shift. Make sure you sign out.

  9. Install your personal arrangements or share with a loved one.

  10. Enjoy the beautiful, festive appearance our hundreds of decorations provide! Please contact Mary Alice Brock if you see any MBD that needs attention within the first week.

Clockwise from top left: Leyland Cypress (can be used instead of Christmas Tree Clippings, if needed), White Pine, Magnolia, Holly with Berries

Greenery Collection Guide

What to collect, where to find it, and how much to cut

Below breaks down roughly how much (and how long of clippings) you need to build 6 arrangements. If you cannot find each variety, cut what you can and aim to fill the equivalent of 2 contractor-size trash bags/large storage tubs. DISINFECT shears first to prevent spreading disease!

  • Ask anywhere that sells real Christmas trees! Be prepared to pay a small fee for clippings unless you’re purchasing a full tree for yourself.

    Your best bet is Lowe’s or Home Depot for clippings (no guarantee that they will be free!) or you can try other nurseries such as The Barn Nursery, Ooltewah Nursery, Green Thumb Nursery in Hixson, Signal Mountain Nursery, Ace Hardware, Linda’s Produce in East Ridge, etc. Some members have had success sourcing some from the Tom Sawyer Pop-Up Tent near Riverside Liquor Store on Manufacturers Road or from Weaver Tree Farm on Signal Mountain Road (be prepared to pay a small fee at each location).

    Please remember: QUALITY, QUALITY, QUALITY!!! Make sure the branches you purchase or gather are the proper length and fullness.

    Leyland Cypress is an acceptable alternative if you can’t find Christmas tree clippings. There are many Leyland Cypress trees on the Mountain, but please ask any neighbors before cutting. These are huge, beautiful trees, often used as a hedge. It would be devastating if we were responsible for killing any of these or damaging someone’s hedge.

    If you are unable to locate one for clipping, please reach out to Greenery Chair, Liza Fowler, for some ideas.

    We recommend a minimum length of 24” for Christmas tree, though it is best to go longer if you can. Plan to use 8-12 pieces of Christmas tree clippings per arrangement (4-6 on each side). If you are making 6 arrangements, that is approximately 72 pieces.

  • There is a ton of White Pine on the mountain, so start looking around in your yard and your neighbor’s yard. Please be sure to ask permission before you cut anything.

    We recommend a minimum length of 18” for white pine clippings, though it is best to go longer if you can. Plan to use 4-6 pieces of white pine clippings per arrangement (2-3 on each side). If you are making 6 arrangements, that is approximately 36 pieces. You may consider increasing the White Pine if your Christmas clippings aren’t bountiful or to help fill out the base of slim arrangements.

  • There are many Magnolia trees on the mountain, but please ask any neighbors before cutting. These are huge, beautiful trees, often used as a hedge. It would be devastating if we were responsible for killing any of these or damaging someone’s hedge. There are a few varieties of Magnolia in our area; be sure to stick with one variety per arrangement.

    Forest Hills Cemetery at the bottom of the mountain in St. Elmo has allowed us to cut if needed. Please wear your LGC shirt. Also, you will likely need a ladder.

    We recommend a minimum length of 16-20” for magnolia clippings, though it is best to go longer if you can. Plan to use 2-4 pieces of Magnolia clippings per arrangement (1-2 full pieces on each side). If you are making 6 arrangements, that is approximately 24 pieces.

  • Holly is easy to find on the mountain—please check with neighbors and ask permission before cutting. Please aim for including pieces with as many red berries as possible!

    Forest Hills Cemetery at the bottom of the mountain in St. Elmo has allowed us to cut. Please wear your LGC shirt. Also you will likely need a ladder.

    Christy Smalley’s wooded lot (515 E Brow Rd). There is a very large holly that has lots of berries. It is a prickly berry tree so bring gloves and wear long sleeves. Please cut ground up. You are welcome anytime. They have 2 large Bernese Mountain dogs who may be out and have access to the wooded lot, but they are harmless. Their names are Roman and Remy and they are super friendly. The tree will be marked with fluorescent orange tape around it.

    We recommend a minimum length of 15” for Holly clippings, though it is best to go longer if you can. Plan to use 4-6 branches of Holly with LOTS of berries for each arrangement (2-3 on each side). If you are making 6 arrangements, that is approximately 36 pieces.

Greenery Tips

  • Identify what you need using the photos above.

  • Choose quality over quantity. Pay attention to the branch length, fullness, and fluffiness. Make sure Magnolia leaves aren’t brown and holly is superbly berried. You know what to do! 

  • Measure your clippings before you cut. Make a cardboard measuring guide (see details below) or aim for branches that are about an arm’s length. Greenery will be trimmed down before building the arrangment.

  • Trim your greenery sustainably and remove any dead/brown leaves.

  • Store greenery outdoors in water buckets until you bring the greenery to your Arrangement Party. DON’T store in your garage or house as they will dry out faster, even in water. If there is a risk of freeze, remove the greenery from water and leave it on the ground.

  • Ask Greenery Chair Martha Law if you have questions about sourcing or the quality of your greenery.

  • Optional but helpful: Create a cardboard template (see photo below) to bring with you to help trim the correct length greenery. These are suggested minimum lengths. Go longer if you can!

How To Build Your Mailbox Decorations

Read through these step-by-step instructions and watch the video tutorials below.

1. Gather your materials

For each arrangement, you’ll need at least:

  • 8-12 branches of Christmas Tree Clippings and/or Leyland Cypress (4-6 branches per side, 24’ in length)

  • 4-6 branches of White Pine (2-3 branches per side, 18” in length)

  • 2-4 branches of Magnolia (depending on fullness, 1-2 branches per side, 16”-20” in length)

  • 4-6 branches of Holly with LOTS of red berries (depending on fullness, 2-3 branches per side, 15” in length)

  • Wire (1 paddle builds 2 arrangements, LGC provides wire)

2. Build your base

Use Christmas tree/Leyland Cypress clippings (about 8-12 pieces). Remember, this is an estimate. Use your best judgment for a full, robust arrangement.

Gently manipulate your greenery so that it hangs around the mailbox.

Wrap your base tightly with paddle wire. No need to clip the wire after you wrap, you’ll keep wrapping new elements using the same paddle.

Review your base, holding it up to determine if there are holes or gaps in the arrangement. If there are, use more pieces of Christmas clippings or White Pine to fill. You do not want to be able to see through the greenery. We are looking for full, fluffy, and substantial bases! 

3. Add secondary greenery

Add the white pine (at least 2-4 pieces) to each side of the front of your base and secure with a few more wraps of paddle wire.

Add the magnolia (about 1-2 pieces) to each side of the front of your base and secure with a few more wraps of paddle wire.

Add the holly with berries (about 2-4 branches) to each side of your arrangement and secure with a few more wraps of paddle wire.

Leave a long strip of wire on your arrangement so that it can easily be secured to the mailbox.

4. Quality control

Hold up your arrangement and take a look. Ideally, the arrangement should be nice and fluffy with lots of texture from the various greenery.  You shouldn’t be able to see through it. At the gathering, you will take it over to the designated area for the QC team to inspect and fluff if needed.

5. Installing an arrangement

Attach the arrangement to the mailbox using plenty of paddle wire. Make sure it is nice and tight. Please remember these are constantly exposed to harsh weather conditions and need to be secure (see videos).

Affix the red bow when you are confident that your mailbox decoration is secure.

Make a final quality check. Take a look at the final product to determine if it looks good (ie: bow is fixated nice and straight, the holly with berries is showing, the arrangement is full and symmetrical). Add/Fluff with extra greenery/berries is needed. You should not be able to see through the arrangement. Trim off any holey or brown leaves.

For our delivery team, place enclosure card in mailbox or follow instructions on your delivery assignment.

6. Include the Thank You note

Please give each MBD recipient one of our pre-printed Thank You notes. If your recipient has a special note, please handwrite on the back. Then make sure to deliver with the arrangement.