Henry’s top TOPIARY TIPS

PLANT TOPIARY SMALL It will establish better and save lots of money.

CHOOSE PLANTS SUITABLE for your local conditions. Avoid yew on heavy, waterlogged ground. Juniper does well on dry soils. Box is pretty bomb-proof except where blight or box tree moth are a problem. CONSIDER BOX ‘HANDSWORTHIENSIS’ It’s tough and resists blight, especially when grown as freestanding topiary.

USE TOPBOXUS HEALTH MIX (topbuxus.com) if established box plants develop blight. THINK OUT OF THE BOX A couple of good alternatives to box are Ilex crenata and Euonymus japonicus.

PRODUCE IDENTICAL PLANTS with topiary cuttings; if grown from seed, there will be variability in habit.

TRIM AND SHAPE TOPIARY in August or September in dry weather.

YOU CAN SHAPE YOUR PLANTS with topiary frames, which are available to buy. USE THE SHARPEST AND LIGHTEST TOOL for the job, whether shears or electric hedge trimmers, and clean the blades regularly to remove build-up of sap.