Living garden sculptures

Many people may not have heard the word topiary, but most are familiar with its practice. Simply put, topiary is the art of creating shapes and sculptures in the medium of clipped trees and shrubs.

Done right, it makes a powerful statement in the garden. It is also an immense opportunity for self-expression and gives a unique identity to a garden.

Topiary traces its roots back to ancient Rome, where it characterised palaces and other preserves of the high and mighty.

Carried out by hand pruning, bending, clipping, and cutting to shape, topiary was elevated to a highly-skilled, labour-intensive sculptural art that only a few could afford.

Today, however, thanks to innovation, new methods of going about topiary have been established.

It is now possible for you and me to create these living sculptures in our yards without having to hire a dozen labourers and plant sculptors. If you fancy trimming greenery to suit your shape, here are a few tips to guide you through:

Plants for topiary

Not every plant can be successfully trimmed to your desired shape. The first step will therefore be to pick the right plants for the job. The most ideal candidates are bushy, small-leaved evergreens with slow to medium growth rates.

Species in the cypress family such as juniper and arborvitae are quite common. Other good options that can be found locally include ivy, ficus benjamina and rosemary plants.

Visit your local plant nursery and enquire which other plants suit these parameters and can grow well in your micro-climate.

Also consider the mature size of the plant. Topiary can only control a plant’s growth to a certain extent.

If, for instance, you want a one-metre high cylindrical piece, the plant chosen should not have a mature height of say two metres.

Forced to be much smaller than their mature size, many topiary plants become woody and unsightly.

Define the shapes

The most basic way to start with topiary is to fashion a wire frame in the desired shape. This method greatly reduces the time and effort necessary to create a particular form.

Once the frame is done, it is secured around the plant and adjusted accordingly. The wire frame defines an exoskeleton that guides the growth of plant.

This process will take some time, depending on the size of the plant, its growth rate and the size and complexity of the frame. Continuous training and trimming will be necessary until the plant covers the frame and takes its shape.

There are numerous shapes you can consider - from simple balls to elaborate elephants, peacocks dragons - whatever you want. However, basic geometric shapes are the easiest place for a beginner to start.

Balls, cones and pyramids can be combined to create interesting forms and patterns. Vary different sizes and textures and mass the plants in odd groups of three or five. After you have mastered working with the basic shapes, you can move on to more complex shapes.

Mix and match

Unless you have a really large garden in which you can showcase lots of topiary, you are probably better off using it sparingly for impact. For instance, matching topiaries look elegant flanking the entrance to a house, a patio or a garden.

You can also apply it to a dull corner, to fill in a blank area in the garden, or to cover up an unsightly spot. Additionally, topiary hedges can be applied to define spaces in the garden and to create outdoor rooms.

Too much topiary will also look monotonous and overdone. On its own, the monochromatic colour scheme lacks vibrance and warmth.

It is therefore desirable to complement topiary with other garden features and styles. A good idea is to introduce colourful bedding plants nearby.