How to Landscape with Topiaries: Living Sculptures for Every Garden

Overview

Topiary—ancient art of pruning evergreens into living sculptures—works in zoos, parks, and residential landscapes of all sizes. Add formal or whimsical elements. Use healthy, full, small-leaved evergreens with vigorous vertical growth, or plant new shrubs over metal frames.

Assess Your Landscape

Step 1: Evaluate Candidates

Check existing evergreens for topiary potential. Consider groupings for row/circle plantings.

Step 2: Focal Points

Identify standalone shrubs in prominent spots for accent use.

Step 3: Style Choice

Formal (geometric) or whimsical (representational)?

Step 4: Sketch Designs

Geometric: spirals, cones, pyramids, cubes, spheres. Representational: animals, costumed humans.

Step 5: Assign Designs

Choose a shape for each shrub.

Prune Existing Shrubs

Step 1: Rough Shape

Gloves, pruners, loppers. Cut to rough outline. Pruners for small, loppers for large branches.

Step 2: Refine Gradually

Successive cuts. Walk around often for evenness.

Step 3: Reach High

Use ladder for upper branches.

Step 4: Monthly Maintenance

Prune monthly to maintain shape.

Add New Topiary Shrubs

Step 1: Choose Frame

Buy metal frame in desired shape for empty garden areas.

Step 2: Prepare Holes

Dig 1-foot deep where frame touches ground (e.g., four holes for giraffe feet).

Step 3: Plant and Frame

Plant matching evergreens in holes. Water, mulch with compost. Place frame over plants; train growth up/over.

Step 4: Maintain

Monthly prune wayward growth untrainable to frame.