I made my front door wreaths about 25 years ago, and I made them both from an old Xmas tree (never throw away and old tree) I also still use branches from that tree all around like on photo below and here's my wreaths:

I've done several different DIY wreaths over the years. Having a good wreath form makes it a LOT easier. I like to get mine at BJ's Craft Supplies.

Yeah......I used a hula hoop as a base, wire wrapped it roughly with pine branches, then wired on other decorative pieces of hemlock, holly, arborvitae pine cones and berries. It was lovely and only lasted about 2 weeks before it got really ratty.
I would use fake greens for the base and wire on select few kinds of long lasting greens that don'td rop needles!

I made a wreath for my bathroom. It's not a holiday wreath and I didn't have a clue on how to do it but it worked out fine. Basically I sewed it onto foam board.

I've made lovely ones but interestingly it did not keep me from lusting after ready made ones the following years. Plus homemade most definitely did not save me any $$$. The thrill of making my own is gone so I wouldn't do it again.

I have also made quite a few pine cone wreaths/ Very easy if you have a source of pine cones. Just get a wire wreath form, lay it flat on a baking sheet, fill a big pot full or water and bring it to a simmer. Dump in the pine cones and they will close up. Then place them decorativly in the wreath....put the wreath into a 150 oven to dry out. The pine cones will open back up and wedge themselves between the wires. You can then add more wet cones and dry or hot glue little decorative seed pods and tiny cones on to the wreath.....Add glitter if you wish or tie with a gingham bow or add fake fall leaves for a fllw reath.....easy and fast....if you have a stand of cone bearing trees.

Here are two ways to make a wreath:

Cut out a flat wood wreath form. Staple on long, thin pine cones all around to cover the bottom. From there add on and fill in, using hot glue, with different cones, dried materials, acorns, nuts, whatever you find in the woods that appeals to you, and keep building until you are satisfied it is complete. Can be carefully sprayed gently with brownish tone or thoroughly with hair spray, and will keep indefinitely.

A simpler way is to buy a wreath form, cover with chicken wire and simply fill in with pieces of greens, add a ribbon etc. If one desires, the chicken wire may be filled with damp moss before inserting the greens which should last longer.

Please post again if you have any questions.

Thanks to everyone that's commented on this over the past year.
Moving in a week before last Christmas, we didn't really have time to
make anything but I did spend basically the entire year thinking about
it. I put one together last weekend and it looks halfway decent, now I
just have to see if it holds up through the season. I'm a little
dubious since I used leftover drywall to cut the shape out of, but
hopefully taping the edges will give it a little protection. I'm hoping
where I hang it will protect it a little as well. Four cheap garlands
and some ornaments later and viola, one 4-foot wreath ready to hang.
Fingers crossed!

Here's a pic. of the wreath I just made using a hula hoop for the frame: will take pics. after our lighting Dec. 1st.

Here is one I made YEARS ago..burlap, back in the day.