Topiaries can be useful as specimens, as markers for entrances to different rooms in the garden, as accent plants for patios and much more. In this Epcot feature Disney garden specialist Curtis Coakley shows how easy it is to create geometric topiary forms. You can create a topiary by planting a sphagnum-filled frame with plant plugs (figure A) or by simply pruning the growth you don't want in an already-grown plant (figure B). Juniper, boxwood, arborvitae, yew, myrtle and fig are among those that respond well to the latter method. When choosing a plant to prune, make sure it's full and lush with no gaps. To create a spiral shape, wind tape or a length of ribbon around the plant, making each circle about 18 to 24 inches below the one before (figure C). Then, using the tape as a guide, prune away the foliage in the open areas, leaving two inches of growth on either side of the tape, and cutting the remaining foliage to the center leader or trunk of the plant. (And remember to make sure your pruners are sharp before you get started!) Consider creating other shapes as well: a triangle, a pompon, a sphere, etc. Prune your topiary once a month to keep it trained to the desired shape. For plants with a young center leader, staking may be required. (Note: If you tape the stake to the plant, make sure not to leave the tape attached too long or you may girdle the tree.) When growing a topiary from a new plant, be patient: Coakley says it takes Disney gardeners anywhere from six months to 15 years to achieve the desired results, depending on the plant and the form and size of the topiary design.
RESOURCES :
Topiaries and Espaliers
Model: 0395875161
Author: Linda Yang
1999
Houghton Mifflin Co.
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 617-351-5000
Email: tradecustomerservice@hmco.com
Herb Topiaries
Model: 0934026793
Author: Sally Gallo & Susan B. Strawn (Illustrator)
(December 1992)
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