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!

Topiaries are easy to make and fun to grow. Starting a topiary and then maintaining it is also a great way of exposing kids of all ages to the wonders of gardening and horticulture. If you do not know what a topiary is, see our post on "What is a Topiary?" for additional detail. A topiary is defined as the clipping or trimming of a bush, tree, or shrub which results in the visible recognition of an object or shape.

Some skilled gardeners many years ago perfected this craft by first knowing the types of trees or shrubs grow well when pruned or trimmed in varying environments and conditions. Some live topiary plants will respond better than others to fertilizers, irrigation, sunshine and of course, pruning, to generate the desired outcome. And they made beautiful topiaries by hand without using any pre-made topiary forms or topiary frames.

May I suggest that if you are new to the art and science of growing topiaries, begin with a topiary form. A topiary form, like the animal topiaries below can be placed over a shrub either on the ground or in a pot. Also, you can mix a combination of soil and moss and "stuff" the topiary form which will be used as a growing substrate for the plant you select. Try and choose a plant that will do well naturally, in the area where the topiary will be placed. Either in a window sill or outdoor garden.

If you are involving children in a school gardening project or perhaps kids in a girl scout or boy scout science and nature lesson, have the kids set the topiary frame (give them gloves) over the pre-planted topiary shrub and work the branches in and through the frame wire. Then have them water the topiary plant and set it in the sun for growing. As the branches protrude through the frame, begin clipping and pruning them. Over time they will grow more dense and the foliage will cover the topiary frame itself, resulting in the desired topiary shape.

You can learn more about involving kids in gardening and horticulture by browsing our categories at www.hortikids.com and teach them about botany, entomology, and how we get our food from growing plants and vegetables.

Enjoy your Topiary!