Do I need to spray or treat cedar branches that I am using to decorate outside to keep them from turning brown?

Hi! spacechallenged, welcome to AMHD :)

Getting ready for the holidays, are you?

There is a product called WiltPruf: Wilt-Pruf > Home (http://www.wiltpruf.com/) That should save the day, and there is a store locator link to the left in the menu.

Now, if you decide you want to be ready for next year, here's a four page PDF from the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service to help you.
I use a similar recipe for landscape materials (trees, bushes, grass) on my model railroad layout, and except for the dust they remain as vibrant as when they were made (for some) ten years ago:
Preserving Decorative Foliage's With Glycerin and Dye (http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/hort2/mf2446.pdf)

To save yourself a trip, double check with a store clerk you should be able to pick up the glycerin also at one of the big box craft stores.

Some sites on making wreaths:
WREATH MAKING (http://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/wreathmaking.htm)
Holiday Decorating With Fresh Greenery : Extension : Clemson University : South Carolina (http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/other/seasonal/hgic1753.html)
UKY.edu ~ wreaths for all occasions (http://www.ca.uky.edu/HES/fcs/FACTSHTS/HF-LRA.092.PDF)
Square Poinsettia Wreath (http://www.michaels.com/art/online/projectsheet?pid=e07295)
Making holiday wreaths site:youtube.com - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=jmX&num=100&ei=QQgIS5rcEM6flAeg8pWFBA&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&ved=0CBIQBSgA&q=Making+holiday+wreaths+site%3Ayoutube.com&spell=1)

More ideas for wreaths:
Google moderate safe search:
Evergreen and Grape Wreath - Google Images (http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=chrome&q=Evergreen+and+Grape+Wreath&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi)

And Instructables:
How to Make holiday wreaths - Instructables search Instructables (http://www.instructables.com/tag/?q=holiday+wreaths&limit%3Atype%3Aid=on&type%3Aid=on&type%3Auser=on&type%3Acomment=on&type%3Agroup=on&type%3AforumTopic=on&type%3AforumTopic=on&sort=none)



Happy Holidays... k