Tree Topiary Styles

Parterre

• One of the most familiar forms of topiary is often seen in classical, formal gardens. The parterre style, French for "on the ground," features low, symmetrical hedges, such as those in the royal gardens at Versailles. With pruning so uniform the hedges appear to be a single plant, parterre designs, also called knot gardens, sometimes showcase patterns like scrollwork or mazes. Although traditionally formed from common boxwood (Buxus sempervirens, U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 to 10a), newer examples of the style are molded of evergreen azaleas (Rhododendron kurume, zones 7 to 10), into rounded, sausage-like shapes. Tiny blooms cover this Japanese-influenced parterre in the spring.

Globes

• The bubble shape most associated with topiary is also one of the hardest to get right. Be ready to compromise on cutting a perfect sphere, and keep moving, never dwelling too long on one spot. A lumpier mushroom shape is easier to cut, and the bottom of the trunk can be left bare to resemble a stem. For formal settings, a series of globes can be cut at intervals down a single-trunked tree, with lengths of exposed trunk between the balls of foliage. The tough, versatile "Green Gem" Japanese boxwood (Buxus microphylla japonica "Green Gem") adapts well to this usage. Suitable for USDA zones 5b to 10, the plant develops a bronze cast in winter cold.

Spirals

• Juniper shrubs (Juniperus spp.) and dwarf spruce trees (Picea spp.) are most often sculpted into spirals. Their USDA zones vary by species, but generally include zones 6 to 10. Once the plant reaches 4 feet tall, cut the initial spiral pattern into the evergreen's branches. For a consistent appearance, begin clipping at the base and take three turns upward. Sculpting a spiral is a slow process. Trim the plants often, but only a little at a time.

Whimsical Creations

• Beyond the skill of a home gardener, delightful representations of animals, airplanes, wedding cakes and even whole scenes show up in public parks and botanical gardens. Seriocourt Garden in northern France features a series of primitive faces cut into low, rounded conifers, as well as a garden room with a topiary table sporting a wine bottle and glasses, surrounded by chairs and a couch. In Maryland's fox hunting country, the Ladew Topiary Gardens boast a living sculpture of a hunt scene, complete with two riders and horses, several dogs and the fox.