Allow fronds to dry out and turn brown for an authentic look.
Palm fronds are a good material to use when you're decorating for a pool party or tropical-themed party. The fronds are hung together to cover an umbrella, which makes it look as if the umbrella has a grass roof. This is a fun project that will make your outdoor celebration more authentic and won't take too much of your time. Although you can make the cover by yourself, it is best if you have someone available to help you attach the fronds to the umbrella. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Cut the palm fronds off the trees. Make sure to wear gloves and long sleeve shirts because the fronds are sharp. Use a hack saw to cut the fronds from the tree at their base. Try to pick dead or dying ones. Lay out large palm fronds and trim the stems to make their height even. Trim with the same hack saw.
2. Measure the circumference near the middle of the umbrella. Add 1 foot to your number. Cut a piece of twine to this length.
3. Lay the twine on the floor and place the stems of the fronds over it.
4. Cut more twine to a length of approximately 5 inches.
5. Tie the frond stems to the long piece of twine that is lying beneath the leaves. Use the short pieces of twine that you cut in Step 4.
6. Wrap the palm fronds that are hanging by the long twine around the umbrella. Place the twine at the center of the umbrella (where you took the measurement) and allow the fronds to hang down from it. Once you wrap the twine around the umbrella, tie the twine ends together to hold it in place.
7. Cut shorter palm fronds for the final umbrella layer. Repeat the instructions with the twine, except this time measure the umbrella near the top a couple of inches down from the point of the umbrella. Attach the fronds to the twine and then to the umbrella in the same way as you did in Steps 5 and 6.
Tags: palm fronds, around umbrella, down from, piece twine, twine around