Homemade Topiaries

Natural Topiaries

• Creating topiaries naturally is time consuming. The plants used are holly, boxwood or pyracantha plants. Starting during the plant's infancy, cut the plant into the desired shape. Many gardeners begin with a basic geometric shape. Continue to trim the plant into its adult years in the desired shape. This type of topiary creation requires no less than one year.

Wire Topiaries

• A gardener who needs a topiary sooner than a full year has the option of wire topiaries. Wires, such as plastic coated 19-gauge electrical wire or wire hangers, are commonly used to create topiaries in a shorter period of time. The gardener bends the wire to the desired shape, then decorates it with climbing plants and ground cover. The topiary is displayed and trimmed as often as four times a week to keep its shape.

Ivy and Ground Covers

• Ivy is a common climbing plant used for wire topiaries. The ivy will cover the wire fully and continue to grow. If the gardener adds to the topiary, the climbing plant will cover the new addition with little effort from the gardener. A common ground cover for both natural and wire topiaries is sphagnum moss. The moss is soft and adds a more natural look to wire topiaries.

Choosing Topiary Types

• When choosing whether to go natural or wire with topiaries, a gardener considers the features of the landscaping. Is the topiary necessary to finish a landscape? If the answer is yes, the wire topiary will become important. Does the gardener have the time to devote to topiary creation? If the answer is yes, the natural plants are better. Choosing the type depends on the personal needs and desires of the gardener.