Topiary frames can help add charm and character to any landscaping project. From whimsical animal to the clean-lines of a formed tree, a topiary shows pride and attention to detail. With a vast array of sizes and styles available, there are even topiary frames available for indoor office and home applications. A popular gardening technique well regarded with the royal and the wealthy, topiary brings art and composition to the garden. With a wide range of complexities from simple to advanced, there is a topiary project that nearly anyone can enjoy.
Contrary to common belief, not all topiary is an artistically cut hedge. Another of the traditional methods of creating topiary is through the use of topiary frames either by moss planting or hedge training. To use a topiary frame for hedge training, a gardener would place a specially formed shape, often made of welded metal, over a moderate to quick growing live young bush, hedge, or trim hearty plant. The plant is then allowed to grow out of the frame and is trimmed a few centimeters from the metal once the foliage grows enough beyond it. The result is a low maintenance, perfectly-shaped plant that resembles the frame.
Moss planting in a woven frame is another method of topiary gardening. Forms of tight mesh are typically filled with a type of floral foam, and moss, salvia hispanica, or sphagnum is planted on the surface. This method is not always as long-lasting as a trained hedge, but it is often easier to detail.
Fantastical gardening with posed leafy animals or mossy green people is not the only type of topiary frames available. Those who appreciate low maintenance aesthetics with meticulously groomed foliage or individuals desiring to add shape, shadow, or interesting focal points to a garden might find topiary a pleasing method of achieving new textures and attractive forms with minimal work. Bonsai enthusiasts also might enjoy the ease of trimming around hedge frames to encourage an attractive plant shape without having to practice extensively.
The word topiary comes from the Latin word topiaries, which loosely translated to the term for a gardener who created landscapes called topia. Sophisticated shrubs have been found in historical documents as far back as ancient Greece. There are even letters dating back to Julius Caesar discussing topiary sculptures including animals and obelisk shapes. The desire for well-formed plants and trees as well as stunted trees was also relevant Far East with bonsai and penzai of Japan and China respectively. In addition, Karikomi and Hako-zukori methods are very closely related to topiary methods still used and practiced today.
Topiary frames are constructed to train one of several types of popular evergreen shrubs or sub-shrubs. It is the compact shape, easy trim ability, and small leaves or needles on the preferred plants that make topiary easy to shape. Topiary frames are basically a wire cage style form that is connected either through special solder or woven with more wire. The mesh sculpture is created with the end product in mind, so it may not look exactly like the end result will but the shape should be close. Though some individuals take years to learn how to properly trim artistic topiary, learning to use topiary frames takes much less time to obtain a pleasant result.
Some companies even create special topiary frames that are made to order. These frames can fit any size or shape preference. The complexity of the frame depends on the artist and the type of frame built. Occasionally, extra supports are required to keep a fragile sculpture intact and hearty. These supports are seldom distracting from the finished topiary, however and can be dressed up with vine or painted to be less noticeable.
When choosing the right company from which to purchase these frames, price should never be the only deciding factor. Size, sturdiness, company reputation, versatility, and selection are all things to keep in mind. In addition, quality and sturdiness of the metal, end result appearance, and whether a company can accommodate duplicate frames to create a consistent look are also essential considerations. After all, topiary is often a lengthy commitment. The right topiary can last several years if maintained properly.
Contrary to common belief, not all topiary is an artistically cut hedge. Another of the traditional methods of creating topiary is through the use of topiary frames either by moss planting or hedge training. To use a topiary frame for hedge training, a gardener would place a specially formed shape, often made of welded metal, over a moderate to quick growing live young bush, hedge, or trim hearty plant. The plant is then allowed to grow out of the frame and is trimmed a few centimeters from the metal once the foliage grows enough beyond it. The result is a low maintenance, perfectly-shaped plant that resembles the frame.
Moss planting in a woven frame is another method of topiary gardening. Forms of tight mesh are typically filled with a type of floral foam, and moss, salvia hispanica, or sphagnum is planted on the surface. This method is not always as long-lasting as a trained hedge, but it is often easier to detail.
Fantastical gardening with posed leafy animals or mossy green people is not the only type of topiary frames available. Those who appreciate low maintenance aesthetics with meticulously groomed foliage or individuals desiring to add shape, shadow, or interesting focal points to a garden might find topiary a pleasing method of achieving new textures and attractive forms with minimal work. Bonsai enthusiasts also might enjoy the ease of trimming around hedge frames to encourage an attractive plant shape without having to practice extensively.
The word topiary comes from the Latin word topiaries, which loosely translated to the term for a gardener who created landscapes called topia. Sophisticated shrubs have been found in historical documents as far back as ancient Greece. There are even letters dating back to Julius Caesar discussing topiary sculptures including animals and obelisk shapes. The desire for well-formed plants and trees as well as stunted trees was also relevant Far East with bonsai and penzai of Japan and China respectively. In addition, Karikomi and Hako-zukori methods are very closely related to topiary methods still used and practiced today.
Topiary frames are constructed to train one of several types of popular evergreen shrubs or sub-shrubs. It is the compact shape, easy trim ability, and small leaves or needles on the preferred plants that make topiary easy to shape. Topiary frames are basically a wire cage style form that is connected either through special solder or woven with more wire. The mesh sculpture is created with the end product in mind, so it may not look exactly like the end result will but the shape should be close. Though some individuals take years to learn how to properly trim artistic topiary, learning to use topiary frames takes much less time to obtain a pleasant result.
Some companies even create special topiary frames that are made to order. These frames can fit any size or shape preference. The complexity of the frame depends on the artist and the type of frame built. Occasionally, extra supports are required to keep a fragile sculpture intact and hearty. These supports are seldom distracting from the finished topiary, however and can be dressed up with vine or painted to be less noticeable.
When choosing the right company from which to purchase these frames, price should never be the only deciding factor. Size, sturdiness, company reputation, versatility, and selection are all things to keep in mind. In addition, quality and sturdiness of the metal, end result appearance, and whether a company can accommodate duplicate frames to create a consistent look are also essential considerations. After all, topiary is often a lengthy commitment. The right topiary can last several years if maintained properly.