DIY Carnation Topiary Arrangements

You can choose to have an all carnation topiary or add foliage.

The art of topiary construction is to shape shrubs and trees into ornamental shapes. Normally you will find topiary's outside on manicured lawns. The art of topiary arrangements mimics the art of full-size topiary's into a scaled-down version to use as a centerpiece. Topiary arrangements can be constructed out of a variety of foliage and floral. You can adjust the size and shape to fit your tables; choose colors to compliment your theme or color scheme.

Things You'll Need

• Foam ball
• Terra-cotta pot
• Clay or sand
• Carnations
• Wire Ribbon
• Fern leaves
• Large Branch
• Florist stub wire

Instructions

1. Fill the terra-cotta pot with clay or sand. Leave about two inches of space from the clay to the rim of the pot. When choosing what will fill your pot, you should remember that clay is heavier and more sturdy; it should be used for taller topiary arrangements. Sand is lighter and will not offer as much support; it should be used for smaller, lower topiary arrangements. Usually sand is a more affordable alternative than clay.

2. Insert your large branch into the center of your filled pot. You could use a branch that has fallen off of a shrub or tree from your yard to save money. To fit the branch to your topiary all you will need to do is snap it to the desired length. If you cannot find a branch that will work, most craft stores will have an imitation branch that can be used as a support.

3. Push the foam ball firmly on top of your support stick. Do not push the foam ball all the way down, so that the stick is poking out the top. Stop once the ball is securely placed on the stick.

4. Cover the clay in the pot with your choice of green foliage. Fern leaves and ivy work to add color to your topiary and compliment carnations. Add as much foliage as you desire, but make sure to add enough, so that it covers the clay or sand in the pot. If you choose to use ivy, you can also wind the ivy up the branch of your topiary. To secure the ivy, you can use a staple gun and attach the ivy to the branch. If you are going to add foliage up the branch, this should be done before you begin placing your carnations, so that the flowers do not get damaged.

5. Cut the carnation stems to one or two inches in length. You do not want the head of the carnation to be very far from the foam ball. You want just enough of a stem to stick into the foam ball and be secure, but the head of the flower should almost be sitting flush with the foam.

   You can use any type or color of carnations that you prefer. If you are using a variety of colors, make sure that you do not clump solid colors together. Spread out the colors, so that your arrangement looks random. Insert carnations in tight clusters, until you can no longer see any of the foam ball. You can also use other flowers or foliage along with your carnations. If your flowers are not staying secure themselves, you can use florist stub wire to secure the flowers in place.

6. Tie the wire ribbon just under the lip of the terra-cotta pot in a large bow. Choose a color to compliment your topiary. If you are using a more fancy terra-cotta pot, you can eliminate the ribbon and leave in plain. The ribbon is used to dress-up simple pots, and it's an affordable option to make a less expensive pot look fancy.

Tips & Warnings

• Know how tall you want your topiary to be before you purchase your foam ball. A shorter topiary should have a foam ball with a smaller diameter than a taller topiary.

References

• Floral Art Mall: A Treasury of Floral Design
• Carnation Arrangements: Arrangements
• Flower Arrangement Advisor: How to Make a Pink Carnation Ball Centerpiece
• For Plants: Floor Stnading Floral Topiary