While traditional trees and shrubs add color and texture to a yard, topiary plants offer a whimsical look that makes your home stand out. Trimmed to form-specific shapes, like cubes and pyramids or fanciful figures like rabbits and cows, topiaries can dress up even the most drab yard. To ensure that you wind up with a well-shaped topiary, take the time to familiarize yourself with some basic trimming and shaping techniques before you think about picking up a pair of shears.
Start With the Right Plants
Choosing the right plant is one of the most important steps in creating an attractive topiary. Evergreen trees and shrubs work well for shaping, so consider plants like boxwood (Buxus spp.), hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 8; holly (Illex spp.), hardy in USDA zones 3 to 10; juniper (Juniperus spp.), hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9; or rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), hardy in USDA zones 6 to 10. In addition to choosing the right type of plant for your topiary, it's important to consider its shape. Using a plant that has the same basic shape that you're trying to create makes shaping the topiary easier. For example, if you're planning to cut a pyramid shape, look for a shrub or tree that already has a rough triangular shape. For a globe shape, look for a plant that's already slighted rounded.
Choose the Right Tools
You can't create an attractive topiary if you don't have the right tools to trim and shape it. For rough, initial cuts, long-handled shears are the best option. Look for a pair whose blade has a slight angle, so you can cut in the right direction using either side of the blade. You'll also need a pair of secateurs, which are small pruning shears with a spring at the handle to allow you to use them with one hand, for more detailed work. Keep both tools clean by spraying them with an antibacterial kitchen cleaner after each use, so you don't spread disease from one plant to another. Make sure the pivot point of your shears is oiled regularly, too.
Use a Cutting Guide
Whether you're shaping a simple topiary cube or creating an elaborate animal-shaped shrub, using a metal cutting guide or frame makes the process easier. A guide shows you which areas of the plant you need to trim when shaping a mature plant, but it can also be placed on a young plant as it grows to help it form the right shape. With complex shapes, it's best to place a stake in the center of the plant so the guide doesn't move over time. If you're waiting for your plant to grow laterally to fill the guide, use soft twine to tie the stems to the frame to promote the proper growth. Any stem or foliage that emerges through the openings of the frame should be trimmed away so the plant takes the right shape. For basic shapes, like cubes and globes, you can make your own guides using galvanized wire. For more complex shapes, like rabbits or elephants, buy a pre-formed guide from a garden supply store.
Trim at the Right Time
Trimming your topiaries regularly is essential if you want them to maintain their shape. If you're starting with a young tree or shrub, though, wait until it's a year old before you begin shaping it. With an older tree or shrub, start trimming as soon as you see new growth. Typically, you'll need to trim mostly in the summer. The amount of trimming necessary for your topiaries to maintain their shape depends on the type of shrub or tree you use. In most cases, you'll need to trim an evergreen plant two to three times a year.
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