Topiary

Topiary has a dictionary definition of, "Characterising by trimming or training trees or bushes into animals, artificial geometric and other shapes."

My definition is to have fun with a particular plant or plants in the garden and see what you can create.  The great part is that the plant is really just having a haircut, so if you get it wrong then nature is good at recovering most misshapes, given time.

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If you are wanting to create a particular shape then it’s best to make a wire frame of the shape that you are going to train this plant into.

Position this frame over the plant and any parts of the plant that stick out of your shape can be cut off back to the wire, or tied back into the frame.

The act of cutting this off will encourage the plant to thicken from within and fill up your three dimensional wire shape over time.  Regularly visit and inspect the progress, especially in the growing season as a plant that is regularly trained or trimmed will be a much better, denser shape than one that is trained less frequently.

There are many types of tree and shrub that are suitable for Topiary and as a rule the slower the plant is to grow then the naturally thicker it will be.

The plant ideally should be evergreen and hold its leaves all year round, this is because the plant shape will hold its definition much better.

Smaller leaf types should be used for more intricate designs.  

Some varieties you may already have in the garden  to start playing with, and as the years go by  you will see a new part of the garden develop.

Ilex (Holly), this may often be spiky, but the plant is fantastic for shaping. There are many varieties, some with excellent variegation.

Taxus (Yew), very poisonous, so not good around young children.  The Yews are dark green or golden and fantastically
versatile,

Viburnum tinus (Laurastinus) is related to Honeysuckle and very resilient.

Cotoneasters are very useful for training and trimming.  Often grown into lollipops with varieties that start off as small trees.

Ligustrum (Privet), there are again better varieties, depending on the purpose

If you have a sheltered, warm, sunny position, here in the UK, then you could try Myrtus (Myrtle) which would have been used in Ancient Rome.

Topiary was really becoming popular, with Versailles in 1700's and then it improved in popularity from Victorian times through to present day.

Why not start thinking of something to create and begin by making the shape out of wire.