Garden Planning: Using Topiary In Your Garden

Topiary can be a fun addition to your garden or growing space if you have an imagination and some patience. Topiary is the art of shaping trees and shrubs into shapes of all types and sizes.

There have been some quite outstanding topiary shapes created by garden artists over the years and many people get pleasure from practicing this art in home gardens across the country.

While it is not quite as popular as it once was it is still something that can create a focal point in any garden and is an alternative to other forms of garden sculpture.

A topiary dinosaur. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you decide to try your hand at topiary you will need to have the right plants for the job.

The best plants to use are those that are evergreen. The plants should also have small leaves and the foliage should be as dense as possible to make shaping easier and the final result will look more professional.

From there it is time to start shaping the plant using your cutting shears. As this is generally done freehand it can take some time to get the experience needed to create even lines and curves. Until you have the experience to do this, many people use shaped wires to assist as a guide.

You will need to be patient and only cut off small amounts while you let the shape develop, as a cut too large will result in delays while the plant grows back again.

There is an alternative method that some people use in their garden where the shape is already determined by the use of a wire cage and plants such as ivy are left to grow over the wire giving the impression that it is topiary. This is the easy alternative but you will have to wait for the ivy to completely cover the cage before you have the desired effect.

The benefit of using this method is the fact that you have a lot more control over the shape of the structure and there is less skill involved other than creating the wire cage.

Even just a couple of topiary plants can be a uniquely fun and whimsical way to add visual interest to your garden area.

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Garden Planning Tips: 6 Ways to Add Visual Interest to Your Garden

When planning how to lay out your garden space, here are many creative ways of adding visual interest to a garden. Anything that becomes a focal point in the garden will add interest. That can range from garden sculptures to the particular types of plants that you choose. Here are six helpful ideas, from popular to unique, for making your garden stand out.

#1: Block planting of a particular specimen can become a focal point in the garden. Even adding areas of variegated foliage can have the desired effect.

(Photo credit: jo.marshall)

#2: Seats are another item that can easily add interest to your garden. Additionally, of course, they offer a nice place to rest and relax while you admire your work!

#3: Mirrors that are strategically placed can enhance the garden, although they do require periodic cleaning. They can bring reflected light to dark corners. They can also give the impression that the garden is bigger than it really is, or they can offer the same benefit for a particular area of the garden.

Placed at strategic angles, mirrors can add a lot of fun and interest to a garden and help to lead a visitor through to other areas, giving a magical, whimsical feel to the space.

#4. Consider planting low hedges to add interest to the garden while offering protection to the plants, especially when growing shade-loving crops. Higher hedges can be used to divide a large garden. Hedges are also an excellent way to gain privacy without feeling claustrophobic.

#5. Water features are a favorite for many people. The sound of running water in one corner can make the garden feel calm and relaxing.

Water features can also be good for the birds in the garden particularly in the summer months when they might find it difficult to find water lying around to suit their needs.

# 6: Like sculptures, stones, rocks and pebbles can add interest. You can also create paths from them so that you can walk around even when the surrounding ground is too wet. Shells can also be used on the ground for bordering paths and beds.

There is such a wide variety of items that you put in your garden to add interest, you are limited only by your imagination! Everything from old cartwheels to wind chimes, aviaries or anything else that strikes your fancy, can be used to make your garden a unique and even magical place to spend time.