How to Make a Living Topiary

Select evergreen plants. A common choice for topiary are boxwoods, slow-growing evergreens with closely spaced leaves that define shape well and tolerate frequent clipping. English yew, another frequent candidate, is an evergreen conifer with thin needles that form a consistent geometry. You'll need to consult the USDA Hardiness Zone Map to make sure the plant you choose will thrive in your climate.

Observe soil recommendations for your topiary. Yew grows in almost any garden soil as long as it's not waterlogged. Boxwoods are Mediterranean natives and like well-drained soil and sun. Both withstand hard frosts.

Use a topiary frame. Few novices have the ability to freehand a shrub into an exacting form with clippers alone. A topiary frame of wire or plastic placed over the growing shrub creates a three-dimensional guide for pruning a selected shape with your clippers. It also aids in training the plant to grow in appropriate directions by providing a rigid frame for tying branches. Topiary frames are commercially available in many creative forms.

Prune and shape the topiary during the growing season. Any part of the shrub that extends beyond the frame should be clipped. Verify the location of the frame on the plant regularly to make sure it has not shifted position as the plant grows.

Trim off an inch in areas you need to fill in. Pruning small amounts encourages regrowth.

Cut no more than three inches deep at a time to create shape. Large, deep areas of pruning may not recover density, creating voids that degrade the integrity of the shape.

Prune the branches within the frame and train the bush by retying branches every three months during the growing season.