An age-old artform
The art of topiary has been around for thousands of years, right back to ancient Egypt. But the height of topiary madness must surely go to decadent King Henry VIII’s garden at Hampton Court Palace, which boasted cypress clipped into greyhounds, deer, bears, urns, vases and boats.
French and Italian gardens of this period also boasted amazing ornate topiary set in grand formal gardens – but in stylish geometric forms rather than wacky shapes. These gardens are still famous for their topiary.
If you like the art, however, a grand garden is not a prerequisite. A well-placed, well-styled single topiary specimen makes a perfect focal point in even the smallest garden. Geometric shapes produce the best effect and provide a strong structural element. They’re useful to frame a vista, flank an entranceway, denote steps or form an avenue in a larger garden.
And although topiary is generally associated with formal landscapes, it can be equally valuable in informal settings to introduce soft landscaping (planting) structure and create strong textural contrasts through shape and form.
**Starting out
**For gardeners who prefer more instant gratification, there are several different types of topiary available in garden centres. But more patient gardeners will no doubt start from scratch and perhaps select something a little more ambitious than box or box honeysuckle.
A cone or ball are the easiest shapes to create. For a cone, select a plant that has a a strong leader (main stem). Trim it to shape by eye. As it grows and the desired height is obtained, use a wire frame to perfect the conical shape. other shapes can evolve from a simple cone, including a pyramid, column, square or pillar.
Confident topiarians can then move on to more complicated spirals! To make a ball-shaped topiary, select a plant that naturally displays a well-balanced, bushy branch structure. Trim by eye or use a topiary globe. Topiary cave Clipping is obviously the big one here. Frequency depends entirely on the type of plant.
For instance, box honeysuckle (Lonicera) requires fortnightly clipping over summer. A slower-growing plant such as totara or yew would only require clipping once or twice a year – take note before you choose which plant to topiary!
Secondly is feeding. Constant clipping takes its toll on a plant’s vigour, so frequent feeding is essential. Fertilise with slow-release fertiliser in early spring and midsummer. Frequent and consistent watering, especially during dry spells, is also essential to prevent leaf drop as this would completely annihilate your beautiful topiary!
Lastly, if you have topiary in a container, ensure the plant is in proportion to the size of the container. As a guide, a pot holding a ball-shaped topiary should be roughly two-thirds the diameter of the topiary ball. Repot or trim plant as required to maintain proportions.
Topiary tricks
Don’t trim until all danger of frost is over.
Use clean, well-sharpened secateurs and hedge shears.
Don’t use electric hedge shears – they clip fast and it’s easy to slip!
Place a wire frame of the desired shape around young plants and train to the shape of the frame.
Use a topiary globe when clipping ball shapes.
Trim on a dull day to avoid scorching newly cut foliage.
Water consistently through dry spells to prevent leaf drop.
Trim large-leafed specimens on stems, close to their leaves – don’t cut through large leaves as this creates a “chomped” effect.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
