Tundraco's Daily Living Guide to Home & Garden Topiaries

Topiaries are plants that have been manipulated, by training and by the use of judicious pruning, to look like a particular shape.

• In many formal gardens, boxwood hedges are shaped into geometric forms.
• In less formal settings, trees and bushes have been transformed into every shape imaginable including elephants, space ships, and Elvis.

Traditionally, topiaries were created from pre-existing plants. However, modern artisans also create topiaries by growing plants on pre-shaped frames.

• This type of topiary is called sphagnum topiary because the frames are stuffed with sphagnum moss in order to create a medium in which the plants can grow.

• With frames, it is possible to create larger and more complicated shaped topiaries than it would when working with a single plant.

Commonly, outdoor shrub topiaries are created from boxwoods, yews, and dwarf spruces.

• Often they are used as borders along walkways and lanes.
• They are also used as accent pieces around homes and as sentinels on either side of doors and gates.
• Large or fanciful topiaries are used as focal points in many landscape designs.

While topiaries are customarily used outdoors, they can also be brought 'in'.

• Indoor topiaries can be as large as a tree to tabletop sized. The only controlling factor is how much space you have.
• For a change of space, indoor topiaries can be moved outdoors in the summer. Care must be taken, however, not to let them burn.

Like any potted plant, how you care for your topiary will depend in part upon what type of plant it is constructed from. Indoor topiaries can be used in any location suitable for that particular species of plant.

• Ivy topiaries are popular indoors. They are created by growing ivy around a shaped frame. They are fast growing and tolerant of a wide range of indoor conditions. As well, they do not need direct sunlight.
• Herb topiaries are not only artistic, but are practical as well. Most herb plants can be trained into topiary shapes. As a bonus, you can use the trimmings in your cooking.

When used indoors, topiaries can be used as both accent and focal point pieces. In most instances, they should be alloted their own space and not grouped with 'normal' indoor plants.

• Separating them from other plants allows their distinctive shapes to be highlighted.

Indoor or potted topiaries can be purchased from many garden and flower stores. In-ground, outdoor pieces, however, need to be created on the spot. When creating outdoor topiaries, you can do the work yourself or hire a gardener to do the work for you.

• Indoors, or out, topiaries are well suited for the do-it-yourselfer. The only real requirement is patience, as it can take upwards of five years for outdoor topiaries to take on their final shape.
• Whether purchased or homemade, all topiaries require regular trimmings in order to maintain their shape.