Topiary in the United Kingdom
The history and creation of topiary with garden listings
How to Grow Topiary
Some general rules I My new Kindle e-book
I have written a new Kindle ebook entitled
"How to do Topiary: A beginner's guide"
The ebook book:
Tells the beginner and enthusiastic gardener how to create topiary from scratch or from specimens bought at a garden centre.
Covers topiary made from different types of trees and bushes as well as Moss Topiary where plants are molded around a medium.
Shows you the best trees and bushes to buy, when to clip or form them and what time of year is best to do the work.
Discusses the freeform art of topiary as well as that of using preformed frames and even gives you a list of major gardens throughout the world to give you some inspiration.
Only £1.99
Follow this link to have a look and get your own copy from Amazon UK
Follow this link to have a look and get your own copy from Amazon USA
Don't forget if you don't own a Kindle reader then there's a free app to read them on an I-Phone or I-Pad or the Android tablets and phones.
Newly published in 2012. Only £1.99These Are The Rules
(But remember, Rules are always meant to be broken!)1. If you do not have any, first go out and buy some patience. (Topiary isn't fast).
1a. Don't forget that Yew trees can live to a thousand years old. You can't!
2. Select the Right Tree or Plant.
All plants can be cut or shaped but many can be killed in this way! Yew (Taxus Baccata) and the various forms of Box (Buxus Sempervirens) are the king and queen of topiary plants but there are many others.3. When planting a hedge or specimen, smaller sized plants are best as they will acclimatise to local conditions quicker and often outgrow their bigger friends in the first year or so.
4. What Will Be the Finished Shape?
All topiarists have some plan in mind for particular specimens, however it is not uncommon for finished shapes to suggest themselves over the years by the tree or bush at hand. All plants, like all humans, grow differently!
5. Geometry or Whimsy?
Well it's a matter of personal taste if you want an eight foot Mickey Mouse in your garden, or a steam locomotive, as someone in the Bristol Area has. Geometric shapes are, however, more traditional and if you give some thought to the overall plan or design of your garden then you will find well placed geometrical shapes are a positive joy in this unbalanced world.
6. To Feed or Not to Feed?
Probably, especially those in pots. A liquid sea weed fertiliser is best as nutrient can be taken up through the foliage as well as through the roots. Don't overdo it though. Remember the last time you drank eight pints? Mature specimens, such as at Levens, don't need individual attention but will benefit from any fertilising or mulching which is applied to surrounding flower beds.
Anthony Blagg
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