Backyard Gardening Tips

Topiary can be a lot of fun 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.

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.

Image via WikipediaPlants not only look better but most plants will remain healthier and stronger if they are pruned every now and again.

Trees will bear more fruit if they are pruned and plants such as roses will have more blossoms and not become ‘woody’ if they are pruned correctly. Pruning is going to send the nourishment to the remaining leaves and branches making your plant stronger.

Bushes and hedges can also benefit from pruning as this can reduce or eliminate the possibility of diseases and problems with pests. It also helps to make them look better as well.

By removing the old growth you will allow new growth to flourish as new shoots are allowed to come through.

For many people pruning is a hobby or an art form where they can create interesting shapes with their plants.
This is made easier when done on plants that have smaller more tightly bunched leaves.

For most of us however pruning is all about controlling and improving the health and condition of our plants. By removing the dead wood and those parts of the plants that are struggling to survive we are allowing the nutrients to be used better by the rest of the plant.

You should always use sharp pruning shears to ensure you make clean cuts. Look for areas of plants that show signs of fungal infection and remove those first.

You can thin out plants to allow more air to flow through them by reducing the incidence of fungus and rot.

Topping trees and trimming hedges will help them to ‘thicken out’ with more lush foliage and stop them getting ‘woody’

Some plants thrive better when they get regular pruning while helping to maintain their shape and condition.

With summer plants it is best to prune them in the winter when they are dormant. If by chance they flower early the pruning should be left until after they have flowered.

The more pruning you do the more you will get a feel for what is required but if in doubt seek the advice of a garden professional.

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