Topiary’s the ideal way to add drama to a garden – and winter’s the best time to enjoy it
ANEATLY clipped piece of topiary will add structure, texture and a dash of elegance to any style of garden all year round, whether it’s in the ground or a container. But for me, the crisp silhouette of a perfectly pruned specimen really comes into its own in winter.
Balls, domes, lollipops, spirals, pyramids, cubes and even a menagerie of animal forms provide a welcome shot of verdant colour when there’s little else of interest outdoors. They are even more treasured reasured when coated with a light dusting ing of snow or sugary hoar frost.
Ready-clipped pieces of f box, yew, privet, phillyrea, bay and a host of other ever-ergreens are perfect in beds,s, borders and as focal l points in the lawn, or displayed in attractive pots – they can be planted at any time, so long as the ground is not frozen or waterlogged.
These living sculptures have never been more popular – and their r status at the top table le has been evident over in gardens created for the Chelsea Flower Show.
Most topiary shapes prefer a sunny spot with well-drainedrained soil, although box can cope with ith lightli ht shade.h d Set them in holes that are slightly deeper than the container and twice as wide. After planting, cover the ground with garden compost, bark mulch or leafmould.
Geometric cubes and similar shapes suit classic, formal spaces and contemporary, minimalistic gardens, while shapes with softer edges will add structure to less formal schemes. Use them as punctuation points among perennials or combine in groups of similar shapes for maximum impact. If you are looking for inspiration, try Hinton Ampner in Hampshire, Packwood House near Solihull, and Blickling Hall in Norfolk.
As an alternative, show off topiary in pots filled with soil-based compost, such as John Innes No3. A pair of pyramids, standard lollipops or spirals placed either side of a front door will give your property kerb appeal, and a group of different shapes arranged together makes a smart feature for a patio.
I’ve been to several gardens where a number of box balls in stone or terracotta pots flank a flight of steps. Apart from softening the hard landscaping materials, these topiary pieces are an important element within the design as they draw the eye upwards to another part of the garden. Topiary is best pruned from late spring onwards when plants are growing. Some fastgrowing plants may need trimming up to six times a year, yet slow-growing yew needs just one trim. Cut box topiary twice, first in early June, followed by a second in late summer. Use long-handled shears to cut large areas, and a pair of hand-held clippers (similar to sheep shears) for detailed work. Secateurs are essential for snipping off thicker branches. It’s possible to snip topiary by eye with practice, but use cutting guides for accuracy when starting out. For ball shapes, take a length of garden wire and twist it into a circle that can be held and moved over the plant as you trim. Make the frame smaller than the mass of foliage to ensure you are left with the perfect sphere. Prune cones by spacing three canes equally around the outer edge of the plant, resting them against its sides at an angle. Push them into the ground, secure at the top to make a wigwam and bind the sides together with garden wire. Use shears to prune around this frame. Complex pieces will need pruning without any aids. To keep spirals in order, work methodically from top to bottom. Prune the upper surface of the spiral, making sure you remove the foliage as far back as the main stem. Finish by trimming the side and lower turn to establish its curved edges.