Choosing wire topiary frames comes down to four things: rod gauge, coating, interior access, and how the piece anchors. Get those four right and the frame outlasts the foliage on it. We build ours from ¼–⅜ inch steel rod, double-coated or galvanised against rust. Larger forms split in two for access. Anything over six feet carries internal steel tubing. Custom frames are welded to your specification, usually in two to three weeks. Shipping depends on the size of the form and where it is going.
Our wire frames are built to let densely-leafed plants train onto them and hold the shape as they grow. Occasional trimming, a sensible spot, enough sun and steady watering is the whole maintenance list. In winter a custom piece can move to a greenhouse or anywhere frost-free, which keeps tender leaves and vines from dying back. Then out it goes again. Formal garden or informal, a custom frame lets you make a shape nobody else has. What that looks like in a planting scheme is in wire topiary frames in landscape design.
We use larger rods for the shapes that carry load and smaller ones for contour and detail. The gauge follows the structural need, not the look. Small frames mix 3/16” and 1/8” rod. Larger ones use 1/4” to 3/8”, with an internal steel tube structure.
Why do we have quality products?
1) We use steel metal on our topiary frames. A distinction for sure is that there is no actual wire used in the topiaries except for chicken wire. All the frames are made with steel rod which is much stronger than a wire of the same gauge thickness.
The size of the gauge depends on the design. Below are some guidelines on the gauge metal we use.
- The smaller deer all have 3/16
- Larger deer on rock is 1/4, 3/16 and 1/8”
- Small rabbits are all 1/8”
- Large rabbit is all 1/4” and some 1/8”
- Bees/butterflies are all 1/8”
- Poles are 1/4” and some 3/8”
2) Our finish on the metal protects against natural rust. It is sealed with an oil.
- Enamel
- Galvanized (best choice to prevent the metal from rust)
- Powder Coat (offers many color selections)
3) Our orders are all Handmade in the USA.
4) No 2 toparies are the same unless we have a CNC process.
For the larger topiaries, we add internal tubing strength the frame to support moss, plants and longevity for the topiary.
Visit us on Instagram or reach out for a Topiary Design Quote or Inquiry
Galvanized or powder-coated?
The full build process, from bare rod to a finished character, is on how we make our topiaries.
The rule we build by is simple. Galvanize a frame that will wear foliage: hot-dip galvanizing bonds zinc to the steel in a kettle of molten metal and gives the frame a lifetime outdoors. Powder-coat a frame that will sit in direct contact with soil, moss and fertilizer, because fertilizer is hard on zinc. Raw or painted steel lasts as long as the foliage on it. Galvanizing outlives everything. Here is one of our frames going through the kettle:
How much steel a big animal really needs
Here is a worked example. A horse-size frame that must stand in 70 mph wind wants 1/4″ rod for the body, one or two 3/8″ rods as internal structure, and its base bolted to a concrete pad or footing. Cover it in foliage and it becomes a sail, so add more 3/8″ internals. An uncovered open-wire frame rides out normal weather on its own. It is coverage plus wind that demands engineering. Anything under 1/4″ with no internal support at that scale is a risk, not a saving.
Ready-made wire topiary frames ship from around $57; custom shapes are quoted. Landscapers and designers ordering in volume get trade pricing: see wholesale topiary.
