I've had a thing for topiaries ever since I could pronounce the word. Something about a bush being cut into the shape of a ball thrills me. I've always assumed that there was a specific science to it and I'm sure there is for some of those crazy animal shapes, but turns out, they're quite simple and MUCH cheaper to make on your own--as all good DIY projects are. I was excited to learn the art from Tonya LeMone, who owns the most beautiful enchanting garden Perennial Gardens. She has a true love of creating beauty with her gardens and flower knowledge. I met her last year for a shoot and I keep on going back because 1) her gardens are so lovely and 2) she is so lovely. Today she is sharing with us three ways to make topiaries: ivy globe, boxwood, and rosemary topiaries and 2 ways to put the scraps to good use. Because resourcefulness is a lost skill.photography by Trisha Zemptopiary skills from Tonya LeMone at Perennial Gardens
IVY GLOBE TOPIARY DIYMATERIALS: globe form (try this one here), soil, pot, two packs of ivy (with hopefully 5 or 7 strands total)1. Secure the topiary form into the pot and surround it with soil.2. Pot the two ivy packs on either side of the pot.3. Start by wrapping one strand of the ivy around the vertical post of the form and into the globe.4. Take the next strand from the same ivy and wrap it around the opposite way and into the globe. 5. Repeat this process to the rest of the strands, but leaving one free.6. The last strand of ivy you will "repot" into the soil, which means that you will dip a section of the strand into the soil, cover it, and leave the rest out to grow and cover the base of the topiary. This repotted section will start growing roots and form a luscious base. How clever is that?!
Donzo. Simply water to avoid dryness.BOXWOOD TOPIARY DIYMATERIALS: string, scissors, clippers, bamboo stakes, boxwood plant (make sure it's mostly growing vertically), soil, pot, moss (optional)
1. Start by inserting the boxwood plant into your pot and pack it with dirt.
2. Clip off the branches from the base of the trunk. Decide how much top bush you'd like and cut to there.
3. Insert a bamboo stake into the pot (don't worry about hurting the roots like I was). This will help the tree to grow straight.
4. Tie a knot around the skewer and trunk with the string at the base. I wrapped around it twice and then knotted it on the stake side, NOT the trunk side. You could hurt the plant if you knot it on the plant side. Tie it pretty tightly to keep it secure.
5. Tie another knot higher up.
6. If the stake is taller than the plant, cut it down to the middle to lower section of the bush.
7. Now start pruning the bush. This might be the scary part to you, but don't worry, when you make a cut, two will grow in its place so the more you prune, the fuller it gets!
8. Add some moss to the base if you'd like.
Donzo.
NOW, with the scraps, you can make a beautiful boxwood wreath. How clever is that?!
BOXWOOD WREATH from topiary scrapsMaterials: get a floral foam base
Step 1: You do not need to wet the floral foam based. Step 2: Start by inserting the boxwood scraps every which way into the form after striping the bottom 2" inches of leaves.Step 3: Keep on until it's full.
SO easy and beautiful! BOXWOOD TOPIARY DIYMATERIALS: string, scissors, clippers, bamboo stakes, rosemary plant (make sure it's an upright, not crawling), soil, pot, moss (optional)
1. Remove the rosemary from the plastic pack.
2. Remove some of the dirt and the bottom to loosen the roots.
3. Cut the soil down to fit snuggly in the pot.
4. Insert a bamboo stake and tie it like above at the base of the trunk and towards the top.
5. Cut the stake down if needed (see above for directions)
6. Cut the tip of the rosemary down to give it a more bulbous shape.
NOW, you can take the leftover scraps of the rosemary and turn it root them to create more plants. Man, nature is amazing.
Materials: mini pot, rooting hormone (try this), soil, dish of water
Step 1: Dip the base of the rosemary cutting into a dish of water and then into the rooting hormone. Step 2: Give it one tap and then insert into the soil.
That is it. Seriously! This guy will grow and become so so beautiful!