Decorating Ideas for Homemade Outside Topiary Trees

Topiary Types

• Topiary trees come in two basic forms, both of which can be considered homemade. The simplest form is a topiary in a small pot with a wooden dowel trunk and a foam or wire-framed ball top. The ball might be decorated with fake greenery, or small vines such as English ivy (Hedera helix, U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9) can be trained to the ball. Small plants, including trees or shrubs, are often trained and shaped into geometric forms. For example, a pyramidal evergreen such as Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis, USDA zones 3 through 9) might be shaped into a perfect conical or spiral form. Plants such as "Monrue" boxwoods (Buxus sempervirens "Monrue," USDA zones 5 through 9) can be pruned to a double ball topiary, which looks like a tree with two spheres along the trunk.

Placement

• Topiary trees that you make yourself by covering dowels and foam balls work well wherever small greenery accents are needed, whether you use real or fake greenery. Place one on a patio table as a centerpiece, or set one on a plant stand beside your front door. Larger potted topiary trees can be placed as accents at the corners of a patio or deck. If you prefer to plant your topiary trees in ground, use them to line a formal walkway to bring some formality to your garden. Alternatively, plant one as the focal point in a flower bed or, in the case of very large trees, as the centerpiece of your entire yard. If you choose a whimsical or funky shape for a large topiary, keep the rest of your landscaping subdued. Topiary trees can form arches over walkways or secret rooms for children's play spaces.

Lights

• If you wrap a topiary tree with red, green or multicolored strand lights any time of the year except December, your neighbors will simply think you're too lazy to take down your Christmas decorations. Other strand light options, such as white and blue lights, are more appropriate for year-round use. A topiary tree wrapped in lights emphasizes the shape of the tree even after the sun goes down. Lights wrapped around topiaries that line a path light up the walkway so you can see where you're walking without the need for a flashlight or more expensive outdoor lighting options. Use only strand lights that are rated for outdoor use. Splurge for LED lights to save money on your electricity bills.

Seasonal Decorations

• Outdoor topiary trees provide a blank canvas for seasonal or holiday decorating. An egg-shaped topiary tree, for example, makes a quirky backdrop for hanging Easter eggs and other Easter decorations. Throw a sheer white curtain panel or sheet over a ball topiary, tie it to the trunk under the ball, and you have a spooky ghost for Halloween. You can wrap topiary trees with colorful strand lights for Christmas decorations and hang ornaments from the branches. Colored fabric wrapped around a topiary ball and tied at the top and bottom of the ball can look like a large piece of candy. This also works with gumdrop-shaped shrubs.