Determining the wire gauge for your topiary is important. It serves the purpose answers the question, can my topiary hold plants on it or can the topiary sustain strong wind forces, etc.
The smaller topiary frames use a smaller gauge wire rod (1/8″ or less) as they do not need much support for the structural weight. The larger-scaled topiary frames, such as a horse, require a larger gauge wire rod (1/4″ or larger) as they are heavier and need more structural support for weight and stability. Picture of smaller topiary using 1/8 inch gauge wire.
In addition, if the topiary is to live outside, we suggest to galvanized the topiary metal so it will not rust. Learn more here.
The smaller topiary frames use a smaller gauge wire rod (1/8″ or less) as they do not need much support for the structural weight. The larger-scaled topiary frames, such as a horse, require a larger gauge wire rod (1/4″ or larger) as they are heavier and need more structural support for weight and stability.
Picture of smaller topiary using 1/8 inch gauge wire.
1/8 inch wire gauge
Any open-wire topiary frame that does not have a covering (foliage) should withstand normal wind conditions. Large-scaled topiary frames that are covered or will be in high wind environments would need additional internal supports that connect to its base. This is typically done with a larger rod. In this specific case of a horse in 70mph winds, the 1/4″ wire rod with one or two 3/8″ rods for internal structural support would work just fine. The base could be bolted down to a concrete pad/footing. If the horse will be covered, then it may need a few more 3/8″ rods for additional support/stability. Here is a picture of a topiary using a 3/8 inch gauge wire.
3/8 inch wire gauge
Our is my recommendation for longterm outdoor use with the worst possible wind conditions. Anything smaller than the 1/4″ wire rod and no internal support runs the risk of being damaged.
Sharing how much work goes into covering a topiary in preserved or artificial boxwood. We use the same process for indoor or outdoor topiaries.
Create the steel frame and manually attach boxwood. This is harder to do for a globe as you have a lot of gaps to fill manually with smaller pieces of boxwood.Adding more boxwoodAlmost doneFinish Product:)
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View of Topiary Connected Spheres before Galvanizing the WireView of Topiary Connected Spheres before Galvanizing the WireView of Topiary Connected Spheres after Galvanizing the WireFinal Delivery – Left side covered with artificial outdoor boxwood
Final Delivery – Righ side covered with artificial outdoor boxwood
Symmetrical Connected Globes in UV Outdoor BoxwoodFinal Delivery, Nice!
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When we ship custom large topiaries or live trees, we must put them on a pallet or crate them. We typically do not know the details of shipping your order until it is built. We can provide an estimated quote for pallet, making a crate and shipping costs, but the real cost of shipping is known when we are ready to ship. Thus, shipping is just a quote on the shopping cart.
Also, if you need to use a tail gate lift to unload the crate or pallet at the destination, this is an additional charge we are imposed by the shippers.
We have found shipping to be cheaper if we make the topiary in smaller pieces and you would need to assemble the topiary upon arrival and typically do not need an automated tail gate lift to unload the pallet or crate as the topiary would ship in standard shipping boxes to the destination.
Applicable fees for shipping a large over sized custom topiary is the cost to make the crate or slate to fit on a pallet or fee to take an existing pallet to hold the trees upright for shipping, plus the shipping cost and optional tail gate lift.
Below is an example of a crated horse topiary to ship as a whole piece.
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When you’re looking for an attractive, long-lasting style for your home, business, or garden area, consider the beauty of topiary plants. These bring an immediate sense of timeless style and relaxing beauty to any area you’d like to place them. You don’t need to worry about the care of topiaries, because we can provide the tools and advice you need to get started. It won’t be as hard as you think to maintain your new topiaries and enjoy them for a long time to come. Some of the styles that we have available include:
Cone topiaries: the classic look of the carefully manicured topiary that is recognized throughout the world
Boxwood cone topiaries: this tree is a particularly useful kind for topiary styles
A ball topiary: with flowers or without, they come in a variety of sizes, styles, and designs
Artificial topiary trees: easily cared for, easily enjoyed
Topiary in a potted form: a topiary in a pot can be moved to other locations for added variety in decor, whether used inside or out
Advantages of Topiaries Advantages of topiaries vary from owner to owner. For some, the classical beauty of these plants is calming and provides a balanced and peaceful decor for their property. For others, trimming and shaping the topiaries provides an interesting hobby that encourages patience and attention to detail. Some prefer artificial topiaries that require very little care.
Indoor Uses – Highly Recommend Preserved Topiary Indoor topiaries can provide the beauty of nature where the color and shape of the plant adds a special addition to the decor of a room. Using live plants adds the health benefits of living vegetation to the indoors. Using artificial ones provides easy-care beauty.
Outdoor Topiary Using a variety of outdoor topiaries is an excellent way to develop a balanced and striking visual approach to any building entrance. They frame gardens, provide privacy, and add detail to bare walls or walkways. Any kind of topiary will serve outdoors.
Live Topiaries Live topiaries stand at attention anywhere they are needed. They provide the calming sense of a well-controlled environment. They can be shaped and reshaped according to tastes. Their natural beauty helps filter the air while adding emphasis on the views around a property.
Artificial Topiaries The true advantage of an artificial topiary is that it takes little care. Whether used indoors or outside, they provide long-lasting, dependable style. Artificial topiaries are as beautiful as the natural varieties. They maintain their carefully constructed shapes so that you can enjoy them without worry.
Visit Us Today! Visit us today online or in person to see what we have to offer in topiaries. We will happily discuss your needs and show you the variety of live and artificial plants that we maintain. Our selection is extensive, and we’ll help you find the right choices for your needs.
Weddings can be expensive. It’s common for some couples to spend tens of thousands to make their big day truly special. Thankfully, one way you can save money is by making artificial topiary for your wedding reception. This will reduce costs for your reception centerpieces and impress your guests to boot!
Transforming your wedding reception with artificial topiary
You can certainly use real topiary for your wedding decorations, but you can save a significant amount of money by making your own artificial plants and flowers instead. The beauty of using artificial topiary is that it allows you to experiment with a wide range of colors and arrangements before deciding on a final design.
Furthermore, you can create your arrangement well in advance of the wedding which gives you less to worry about as the big day draws closer.
Supplies you’ll need to make your own topiary
topiary supplies
The following instructions are for creating your own silk flower topiary. The supplies you need are as follows:
Green wooden dowel
Glue gun
Small pot
Green Styrofoam shape
Scissors
Wire cutters
Silk flowers
Green leaves
Accent ribbons
Paint
Everyone will have a different vision for their centerpiece so the type and quantity of supplies you’ll need will vary case by case. One way you can go about it is to glue ribbons around the pot that will hold the silk flowers. You can also paint the pot; the choice is up to you.
As a beginner, it may be easier for you to design one type of flower. However, if you feel confident with the process and have a firm handle of what you’re doing, then you may want to increase the types of flower designs that you use.
Steps to Make Your Topiaries
Steps to make artificial topiary
Making silk topiary flowers is surprisingly simple. Follow these steps in order, and you’ll be making your own silk flower topiary in no time!
Step one: Decorate your pot in any way you desire whether it be with ribbons or paint. Wait for any glue or paint to dry before proceeding to the next step.
Step two: Take your moss and place it into your pot until full while the wooden dowel is inside. Now set it aside as you proceed to the next step.
Step three: Take your silk flowers and cut them from the stem while you have them in small clusters. Now glue them to the Styrofoam until it’s covered completely.
Step four: Place the Styrofoam display onto the wooden dowel and add leaves or a bow to finish the job.
What about Live Topiary?
While artificial topiary is an excellent choice for those who enjoy “DIY” projects, that does not mean you can’t use live topiary, including outdoor topiary, for your wedding reception. It can take some time for live topiary to fill their frames (up to six months in some instances), so you’ll need to plan well in advance before your wedding.
When it comes to growing your own live topiary two frames are typically used – two and three dimensional. When three-dimensional frames are used, the enclosure is filled with sphagnum moss, and climbing vine is placed through and around it. With a two dimensional frame, the same process is performed. However, the climbing vine is just wrapped around it.
How to make 2-dimensional topiary artforms
Take your climbing vine (such as ivy) and place it into a pot and place your frame into the middle. Now, wrap the climbing vine around the wire until satisfied. Be mindful if the vine has any leaves on it you should cut them as you wrap it around the frame. Also, you should only wrap the frame in a single direction.
How to make 3-dimensional topiary artforms
The very first thing you should do with a 3-dimensional topiary display is ensure that the frame has been seated securely within a pot. Moss can cause the entire display to topple over due to its weight (especially when it’s wet).
To proceed, saturate sphagnum moss with water and proceed to place it within the frame. Once you’ve filled the frame, you can either use a small dowel or your finger to poke a few holes where you will place roots of the climbing vine within. Proceed to wrap the frame with the vines.
Properly caring for topiary
Caring for artificial topiary is simple though it takes attention to detail to ensure they remain pristine until your wedding day. Cover your artificial topiary or store them somewhere where they will not accumulate dust.
As you pack your artificial topiary together, you’ll need to figure out how to packthem loosely enough so the flowers aren’t smashed together, but tight enough that the bases don’t move.
When it comes to caring for living topiary, you’ll need a bit of a green thumb to keep them alive and healthy until your wedding day. As with any plant, your live topiary will need plenty of sunlight and water to thrive.
Different types of plants often have different needs in order to thrive. Do your research on the type of plant you decide to use so you can care for it properly.
Using topiary for your big day
Topiaries have always been a popular centerpiece for modern-day wedding receptions. Whether artificial or living, there are a variety of ways you can go about decorating your wedding reception the right way. If you’re looking for ideas, supplies, and topiary of all shapes and sizes visit Topiary Tree today.
We’ve all seen images of beautiful topiary that adorn the lawns of upscale hotels, mansions, and other places of prominence. If you’ve always wanted to have your own topiary display to beautify your garden we’re here to offer guidance. We’ve assembled 7 expert tips and tricks to help greatly improve the aesthetic of your garden.
1) Know the purpose before choosing the plant
There are several factors you need to keep in mind to achieve your desired topiary display:
Desired result
Purpose
Length of time
Are you looking for a seasonal display, or do you wish to add a permanent topiary fixture to your garden? For example, the boxed leafed privet is a compact evergreen shrub that’s ideally suited for long-lasting topiary displays. Ball shapes are very popular. They’re also perfectly suited for use with wireframes because they can be easily woven into place. Understanding the purpose, length of time, and desired result of your topiary will allow you to pick the right plant for the job.
2) Purchase Prearranged topiary
If you’re not interested in designing topiary yourself, you can simply purchase a topiary plant from stock shapes. Topiary Tree has a massive selection of stock shapes and live topiary too. Simply purchase the shape you prefer and place it in the ideal space in your garden.
3) Always be aware that time will play the biggest role
When it comes to live topiary, time will always play the biggest role. Simply put, it takes time for your plants to mature. Therefore, don’t expect a work of art to spring to life overnight. It will take time for your plant to mature and it will eventually begin to take shape as the seasons come and go.
4) Trim your topiary regularly
There are multiple reasons why you should trim your topiary. For one, allowing your topiary to grow out of control will take away from the overall presentation. Just think of it as giving your plants a proper haircut!
In addition, it’s always a good idea to ensure your topiary has sufficient air circulation. Thinning out thick foliage will allow air and light to reach the body of the plant which will improve its overall health.
5) Tips for working with foliage with smaller leaves
If you have plants in your garden that are dense, with small leaves, then there are a few simple shapes you can start with to transform them into beautiful works of art. Pyramids and ball shapes often work for this particular plant type. Don’t worry if you have no clue how to begin cutting your plants into a specific shape.
You can easily purchase metal wire topiary frames to help guide the process. Simply place the frame around the plant and trim around it. As the plant continues to grow, trim it on a regular basis so that it retains its unique shape. With that being said, leave around 3 – 5cm of growth to allow the plant to fill in.
6) Repot the plant every couple of years
To ensure your topiary stays nice and healthy, remove the plant from its current plot and place it within another pot with fresh soil. In instances where repotting isn’t an option, lift the plant and use a knife to carefully remove some of the roots and soil from the root ball.
7) Care for your topiary no matter what type of plant you use
There are many types of plants to choose from to create your topiary display. Some of the more popular plants include Hall trees, English ivy, Sweet Bay and much more. No matter what you decide to choose, you’ll need to care for your topiary properly to ensure its longevity.
Though each topiary may have its own nuances when it comes to proper care, ensure that all of your plants have deep, fertile soil in a partially shaded area in your garden to ensure they thrive.
Conclusion
Caring for your topiary can be hard work. However, employing the right tips and tricks will make your efforts much easier to manage. If you’re interested in beautifying your garden with topiary turn to Topiary Tree.
They have a wide variety of topiary that’s suited for both indoor and outdoor use. Furthermore, they offer care instructions to help you care for your live topiary plants, and they provide supplies perfectly suited for your topiary needs. Contact Topiary Tree today to begin transforming your garden!
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