How to Make a Topiary from an Existing Shrub

Topiaries add curb appeal.

Topiaries make elegant additions to your entryway or landscaping. You can train your own existing shrubs into topiaries and save a large amount of money. Shrubs that have a central leader are excellent choices for topiaries. Train your topiary into any shape that you can imagine as long as you have plenty of time and patience. The easiest topiaries to begin with are those that are small and that you can grow in containers.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp pruning sheers
• Topiary form

Instructions

1. Choose a small shrub to start with. Locate the central stem in the shrub.

2. Choose the shape that you would like to use. It's easiest to start with a ball or rounded topiary.

3. Cut the limbs away from the lower half of the shrub using sharp pruning sheers. Cut all the way down to the central stem. Trim only a few inches at a time every few weeks and not all at once to prevent stunting the growth. Leave only the central stem visible.

4. Trim away the top of the shrub into the shape that you have envisioned. You can purchase a topiary form to place on top of the shrub to help guide you in your cuts or you can make the cuts by eye.

5. Continue pruning until the topiary reaches the desired height and shape. This can take years, depending on the variety of shrub, so you should prune the shrub often. Never remove more than 3 inches of new growth at a time or you could kill the plant.

6. Prune your topiary twice a year, in early spring and late fall, when you have reached the desired shape and size.

References

• Royal Horticulture Society: Topiary
• Wilson Brothers Nursery: Topiary Shrubs
• Canadian Gardening; Create Your Own Elegant Topiary; Beckie Fox