Some small, slow-growing trees are also suitable. Pack the frame from the bottom up with wet sphagnum moss. Next, add your plant to finish your project. How to Make a Topiary Frame Wire Basics. Dwarf Alberta Spruce Trees. Turning a bay tree into that shape requires selection of the correct plant in the first instance. Shrub Topiary 1. A simple … You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website. This also helps keep the soil moist so your topiary won’t get thirsty too quickly. Select an evergreen, dense-leaved, upright-growing shrub as your topiary specimen. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. Simple Frames. Herbs. There’s something about a spiral that makes people smile. Work on one half at a time. You can place the topiary frame over an existing hedge by carefully pulling the branches through the frame and then carefully trimming the hedge to match the frame. Information about the device's operating system, Information about other identifiers assigned to the device, The IP address from which the device accesses a client's website or mobile application, Information about the user's activity on that device, including web pages and mobile apps visited or used, Information about the geographic location of the device when it accesses a website or mobile application. The subject for topiary specimens can range from fairies and mushrooms to horses and people. Trim the plant until it fills the form. Settle the container in the hole to... 3. A simple topiary frame trains vines into various shapes. The best plants to choose for a stand-alone topiary are those with small, dense foliage. They are usually placed over the plant in the early stages of growth, allowing the plant to fill the frame to create the desired shape, acting as a former. Slow and steady wins the race here. Plants Commonly Used for Topiary . Insert succulents or ivy between the wires into the moss. Planting. You CAN MAKE THIS. Water thoroughly, and apply a 2- to 3-inch mulch such as garden compost or leaf mold. Water thoroughly with fertilizer, and place in a shady, sheltered area for three or four days to allow plants to settle in. … Holding the shrub steady with one hand, fill in any gaps with soil. YES you can. Mar 15, 2015 - Topiary is the art of trimming, training and shaping trees, shrubs and plants into specific shapes that are elegant, artistic or whimsical. The aim is to cover as much of the frame as possible with stems. We grow them in the garden here as well as our beloved (and blight-free) Buxus Faulkner; each has its place and does its thing as only it could. Ridging up the soil in a circle two feet from the base of a shrub helps concentrate water around its roots. If you have 'cell pack' sized plants (3/4”-1 ½” sq.) Wire frames are also necessary if you are using an ivy plant. Herbs … Measure an area twice the width of the root ball, and dig the ground over to the root ball's depth. If you are creating a topiary for the first time, start with … Outdoor topiaries, whether in the form of abstract shapes, animal figures or other plant sculpture subjects, add formal grace to home gardens. Fill the container with gravel or sand to create a sturdy base. Curvy-swervy topiary is not just for formal gardens. However, for more intricate shapes, frames are available. Look for one with a straight leader that will grow up a stake to the desired height and leave the foliage on initially to give the stem strength. Our Topiary Frames are the basis for all our Topiary. Eventually the hedge will have enough growth and it will fill out the topiary frame. The second requires you to prune a small to medium-sized shrub into a shape of your choosing. Place a topiary plant against the inside of the frame, and gently pull the stems of the plant through to the outside until the root ball lies against the inside. The stuffed topiary technique requires a frame with an enclosed bottom. you can poke a hole into the damp moss from the outside of the form and insert the plant. With your hands, split it in half gently, then split each half in two; each quarter will make 1 topiary. The orange tint of the terra cotta is such a great compliment to the dark green of the topiaries. Remove the plant from its pot. Small-leaved shrubs are easiest to shape. Continue to place plants in the frame in the same way, along the frame's sides and top. The top of the container soil should be level with the surrounding ground. Double Spiral Evergreen Topiary. If you are doing a shrub topiary, you will be pruning the shrub as it grows to fit within the frame. Planting your cuttings in the prepared frame is … Place a wire topiary structure over the planted shrub, gently pulling the branches through and guiding the shrub's main stem through the main part of the frame. I love a good project that starts with topiary. Begin tightly stuffing it with the wet moss. Check the shrub's roots, and spread them out gently, cutting any broken or circling roots. Secure your frame into the ground or a pot. Place the shrub in the hole, and make sure that it is perfectly upright. Plant 1 quarter in the … Spread out the long trailing stems through the centre of the frame so they grow to fill out the shape. This double spiral topiary takes on the look of a tight helix, and … Fix the root ball in place by gently stuffing moss around it. Step 2. That's where herbs come into the picture. This is the rewarding part of the process. Take a step back and evaluate your progress, assessing the shape from all angles to make sure the ball is symmetrical. Usually nonflowering and evergreen, topiaries need regular clipping to maintain their shape. Spread out, and, using fern picks, gently pin down the flexible plant stems against the frame. Open the topiary frame. Stuff the wire frame with moist sphagnum moss or a mixture of the moss and potting soil, or line the frame with an eye-catching succulent, like princess pine (Crassula muscosa pseudolycopodiodes, Zones 9–11, photo, facing page). When planting topiary frames with a face, plant the face first. Select very young, trailing plants or freshly rooted cuttings. It can transform a deck, a bed or a border from just-OK to picture-perfect without a hint of pretense. If you are using ivy you will be growing the ivy to fit inside the frame. Bend the ends of the wire to form a base to support the frame in the pot. Don't place plants at the bottom of the frame where they will be in shade. A topiary bunny made of trailing plants and sphagnum moss. But other kinds of plants are used, as well. B) Plant from the Inside: Soak the moss filled form … Dig a hole with a garden spade or fork big enough to fit your shrub's root ball. Picea glauca 'Conica' (zones 3 to 8, full sun, 10 to 12 feet tall and 7 … As the moss is inserted weave and firmly tie nylon fishing line between the wire openings to contain the moss within the frame. Stuff the animal topiary frame with sphagnum moss to create a smaller topiary that is easier to shape and maintain. Trim stray pieces of moss that are hanging through the wire. Place the moss in water to soak. As the plants grow, train the stem by wiring it to the frame, clipping the tips to encourage new growth. Use a pair to frame a vista or to flank a front entrance or garden gate. Place the two frame halves together, and join firmly with plastic ties, cutting off any extra plastic. Then you will just have to maintain the shape. Repeat the process for the other half of the frame. But, in as little as one growing season, you can have a spectacular piece of living art. Poke holes in the moss and insert your plants into the holes. Both halves should be full of moss. Both methods take time. To keep the soil from floating out when you water your new plants, add some neutral-colored pea gravel on top. A) Plant from the outside first: Soak the moss filled form in water and let drain. Take care of your plant! Select an evergreen, dense-leaved, upright-growing shrub as your topiary specimen. Push moss into narrow areas with a pencil. English boxwood is a type of bush commonly used to make certain kinds of shrub topiaries, due to its small leaves, amenability to pruning, its evergreen foliage, and its rounded growth habit. Weird & Wacky, Copyright © 2020 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 Company. if it’s a standing bird or animal shape, try to create just one ‘leg’ at the base. Fill the center of the piece with potting soil. Dig a hole with a garden spade or fork big enough to fit your shrub's root ball. If necessary, use florist's wire to hold plants in the moss. And it’s much prettier than potting soil! Sit your topiary frame over the top of the ivy plants. Place a ball frame over the tree and prune around it. Click Here for Plant Suggestions. Galvanized wire or a wire that doesn't rust works well in the moist environment of a topiary. Push the ends of the frame into the soil and cut the twine. Here’s the topiary definition: I made this topiary this weekend and want to shout it from the rooftops. Especially one with REAL ivy. The classic shape people are often after when they think of topiary is a ball on a stick. Prune excess moss with secateurs. Bend the... Life in 3-D. Feed the topiary with fertilizer regularly, reducing frequency during the winter. Small-leaved shrubs are easiest to... 2. Press gently around the shrub to firm it. Finally, choose your plants -- fast-growing creeping plants, succulents and grasses work well with this type of topiary. There are two different topiary-making methods. Decide which shape you’d like to have. With your frame in the pot, fill the pot with soil and add your transported trailing plants. Boxwoods (Buxus) are ideal for creating these shapes. Frame-style topiary is used mainly for potted plants, whether grown indoors or outdoors. Shape your topiary. Wrap the frame with fishing line or florist's wire to hold the moss in place. Green's work appears in Diva, Whole Life Times, Listverse, Earthtimes, Lamplight, Stupefying Stories and other websites and magazines. How to Make a Wreath and Decorate It With a Bow, Instructions to Make a Topiary Become Bear Shaped Using a Wire Frame, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Plant Properly, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Site Preparation, Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service: Planting & Transplanting Landscape Trees and Shrubs, Los Angeles Times: 3 Ways to Top-Notch Topiaries, How to Make Herb Topiaries & How to Trim the Top. These plants will spread out as they grow, so don't worry about entirely covering your structure. Vine Topiary As the shrub grows, trim the shrub stems to maintain the topiary's shape. Sometimes smaller is better for table tops. It is best to place the plants next to each side of the frame, where you will attach them. Settle the container in the hole to check the size and depth. Topiary Gardens. One you can make in 12.5 minutes. Choose a planting site suitable for its preferred growing conditions. Gather the branches of the topiary shrub so that it forms an upright shape, and tie up the the lower branches with twine. The first involves training a climbing vine to grow over a topiary frame. Use the shears to round off the top and sides of the plants and then cut around the bottom so it tapers off towards the base. Form the largest part of the body using the poultry netting, wire cutters and pliers. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Connect the cut … Topiaries can be clipped and shaped from shrubs planted in the ground, or made from frames stuffed with moss and planted with small, flexible plants. Topiary Animals. Remove the shrub from its container, and cut away any rope or wires. A graduate of Leeds University, Jenny Green completed Master of Arts in English literature in 1998 and has been writing about travel, gardening, science and pets since 2007. Topiary Trees. B. Topiary Frame. Shrubs for topiaries must be well-suited to local growing conditions to be successful. Spiral Topiary. It’s also very easy to prune herbs like rosemary into a geometric topiary. Good plant choices for shrub topiaries include boxwoods, junipers, heavenly bamboo, cyprus trees and a myriad of other choices. Stuff moss into areas of the frame too small to plant -- such as the ears, nose, tail and feet in animal frames -- a piece at a time, squeezing out excess water as you go. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. Table of Contents. Add style to your garden with spiral topiary. Topiary Balls. A simple two-dimensional frame requires heavy wire about the same thickness as a coat hanger. When planning your topiary, keep in mind that the larger the frame, the longer it can take for the vines to cover it completely. If planting bare root plants into the ground, soak the roots in water for 10 to 15 minutes before planting. But first—let’s start with what a topiary even is. These 3 dimensional, hand crafted, one of a kind sculptures are made with varying guages of metal wire which are hand shaped and then welded to form the desired design. In addition to your plants, frame and moss, you'll need potting soil, florist's wire, scissors and a stick or other pointy tool to make holes in your moss. The ivy or other trailing plant will grow around the wire frame.