How to Plant Ivy on a Topiary Ball

Topiaries make gorgeous indoor and outdoor decorative pieces. The art of topiary design has been around since ancient times. Today, you don't need to create a topiary out of a living plant, because you can use a frame or ball. Ivy is a fast-growing plant that completely covers the ball and contributes a natural element. Whether you allow it to remain naturally beautiful or embellish the topiary ball with roses or lights, you can design a topiary to match your own personal tastes.

Things You'll Need

• Container
• Topiary frame
• Sphagnum moss
• Potting soil
• String
• Shears

Instructions

1. Purchase a circular wire topiary and container from a hobby shop or florist. Be sure the ball is connected to a wire stand that goes into the container. Check to see if the container has a hole at the bottom for drainage. The size of the ball will determine how big of container you should buy, so buy them both together or bring in the container you are intending to use.

2. Fill the container with potting soil. Insert ivy plant into the soil and pack the plant's roots tightly with soil. Use an ivy plant that is well-branched.

3. Press the topiary frame through the middle of the container. Press wet sphagnum moss into the ball to retain moisture. Soak the moss in water for 10 minutes before stuffing the frame.

4. Twist the stems of the ivy up the wire stand to the ball of the frame. Be careful not to break the stems.

5. Tie the ivy stems with string to the top of the ball. Be sure that the stems drape over the ball and are well-distributed around the frame.

6. Add enough water to moisten the soil but not drench the plant. Place the ivy topiary in a shaded outdoor place. Put the topiary off the ground to ensure people won't step on it or that animals won't try to eat it.

7. Monitor your ivy topiary. Ivy topiaries must be kept moist at all times to prevent them from drying out. Continue to manipulate the stems to cover the frame. Use shears to snip off rogue stems from leaving the shape.

Tips & Warnings

• Use several small ivy plants for maximum control over shaping the stems. Once they grow on the frame they will merge as one.

• Be on the lookout for pests. Spider mites thrive on the leaves of ivy plants. Give them a careful inspection once a week.

References

• How to Plant a Topiary