What is a Topiary? A topiary is defined as the art of creating sculptures in the medium of clipped shrubs or common plants where the pruned and trimmed branches yield dense leaves that cover the topiary frame (if one is used) to achieve a recognizable shape. Topiaries can be made from a planted bush, trimmed free form, if you have the skill, patience and a delicate hand. Most topiaries are made using common plants such as cultivars of box, arborvitae, myrtle or holly within existing pre-made topiary forms and frames.

Topiaries can also be made by placing plants like ivy on a soil mixture residing within the topiary frame. Often times topiaries made this way dry out, if not watered frequently, and the moss and soil mixture can become quite dense and heavy when wet.

Most people prefer to either place a topiary frame on the ground and over a plant or shrub so that the dense leavy branches of the plant or shrub can grow beneath and within the topiary frame. Simply prune the branches as they pass through the frame and soon you will notice that the rigid wire of the topiary form will dissapear as the entire frame begins to get covered by leaves. Naturally, you will want to choose a shrub or plant that will grow well in the area which the topiary will reside, such as under a tree or in a garden or inside a greenhouse.

Topiaries make a great family or school project and offer an excellent opportunity to teach kids about gardening and horticulture. It's fun for kids to get their hands into the soil and dirt and prune the branches of the topiary plant. Kids receive a sense of accomplishment when the topiary takes shape and the form is entirely covered.

You may find fun topiaries and topiary forms while shopping our gardening, horticulture and plant science store for kids at www.hortikids.com. Browse our catgegories including Topiary and Topiary Forms and Topiary Frames and select one which is right for you.

Make it a great day in the garden!