DIY Topiary

Hello all!
Just wondering if any of you fine gardeners out there have tried DIY topiary?

I want to have a go myself as I wish to do a little formal garden at the side of our house as a memorial garden for our beloved Dude who we lost last year.

I know you can get ready made cages to train Buxus or even ready trained Buxus for that matter, but I want to go the hole hog and do everything myself to make it more special.

I have found a design for a cockrell on the internet and just wondered if you guys / girls know or some more on the internet? Helen.xxx.

 

I have had a few attempts with box and yew (which self seed around my garden freely) but I saw a chap on TV who was a topiary maniac and thought lonicera was the best plant to go with - he had done all sorts of animals. I have a few lonicera self seeds so I have potted them up for when I have time............ do us gardeners ever!

 

I made a star bed last sprig and edged it with lonicera, it is now a small hedge. 6" tall and about 4" wide. Needs cutting every 4-6wks, But I am also in the midst of making some topiary's, A central stem about 2' tall witha spiral climbing up similar to a helter skelter. They are also coming along nicely, I have decided to stick with lonicera nitida or bagenses gold as it grows that much quicker. I plan to make some animals, farm yard, but will create the basic frame myself, using chicken wire. If you plan to use a design to make a frame, why not use a picture, not alot different really. Have fun

 

Thanks guys, nice to know that there are some more people like myself having a go at topiary.

If you have any pictures of your efforts I would love to see them! Helen.xxx.

 

sorry helen, unable to post pics from photobucket, there seems to be a problem, but maybe one day.

 

I have a lonicera hedge too, it has a very lax habit, so every year I cut bits of it right back and this seems to stop it spliting open. I do love the texture of the hedge though, and the gold is a good strong colour.

 

That's a great shame Compostee.Helen.xxx.

 

Where this Cotoneaster is growing was once a flower bed and we left it in when the area was converted to a sand pit! :D ... I have messed with it for several years now and it's rather a strange shape.. but the kiddies like it..

As you can see by the trunk the cat likes it too So I've had to wrap wire around it to stop the blinkin thing from killing the bush!

 

Pal, I absolutely love it.

 

Paladin that's a nice bit of topiary you have there and all the more special as it's your own design.
Hope I am able to do something as nice for my own garden.

Great picture too, always like to see what others are doing in their gardens thank you for posting it Helen.xxx.

 

Work of art Pal....Well done.

 

That is really lovely, Pal. Love the unique design.

Is that a Tamarisk in the background? I'm fascinated by them but t'other half isn't too keen. There are a lot in the Vilamoura (rich) area here.

 

Thanks folks..
Yes it is Lady,and it's forever breaking its branches when it gets heavy with rain.

 

The Tamarisk are massive here and bow down to the ground.

Our smaller Jacaranda is the favourite scratching post for all our past and present cats and is very scarred like your tree. It certainly has not deterred it's growing / blooming capabilites if you've seen my Jacaranda thread.

 

Hi all, I was feeling quite enthusiastic about topiary until wednesday...............I have just spent 2 days, 16hrs in all cutting back a conifer MAZE............it's about 7' high and boy is it ever so green. It took about 10hrs to cut the top sections from a wobbly step ladder. Hasn't been cut for about 12-15 mths. Boy oh boy, my arms ache, especially as I have strimmers / hedge trimmers elbows. But i enjoyed it. and the owner was so pleased i got the job regularly 3 times a year. Who knows I may design a 3' maze in my orchard, out of lonicera. Just gotta find a design. MAYBE