Get the must-have garden look and try your hand at topiary

Topiary has long been a hallmark of historical English gardens, adorning the grand grounds of country homes and heritage estates with a touch of quintessential yet showstopping charm for centuries.

Nowadays, though, it is a trend any gardener can try out, offering year-round structure and character, in even the smallest of outdoor spaces. But many beginners might not know where to start when it comes to turning their hand to topiary.

Luckily, Andy Bourke, Topiary Expert at Henchman, has some top tips to help gardeners take those first tentative snips into the world of topiary…

“From simple, geometric shapes to larger, ornate designs – creating topiary, also known as hedge sculpture or hedge art, is not only an exciting and rewarding project, but it is also a surefire way to impress the neighbours.

Topiary looks beautiful and brings interest and shape to the garden, and it also offers several practical benefits, too. By adding trees, hedges or shrubs, you can create attractive barriers in your space, block wind, reduce noise, and hide unsightly views.

Start with the right tools

Many might think you have to be a professional gardener to create an impressive topiary display, but that simply isn’t the case! Anyone can give it a go – all you need is the right type of plant, a pair of sharp shears, and some sturdy ladders.

As most topiary work is done at height, it’s important you have specialist ladders to keep you safe. Henchman’s Fully Adjustable Tripod Ladder will keep you stable even on rough or uneven terrain, and will provide you with enough support and space to move comfortably while working.

It might also be useful to have a pair of durable gloves with good grip, canes for plant support, string if cutting straight lines, and a ground sheet to make cleaning up a little easier.

Choose the perfect shrub

Once you have your tools, the next step is to make sure you choose the right variety of hedge, shrub or tree, as some work better for topiary than others. The most common topiary plants are boxwood, yew and evergreen, as they are generally lower maintenance yet have dense foliage and branches.

Of course, there are many other varieties you can create topiary with, including holly, privet, lavender, shrubby honeysuckle, and even vine plants such as ivy. For beginners, though, we’d recommend sticking with one of the more common types.

Select your shape

When it comes to deciding what shape to create, there are countless options! Spheres, cones, squares or rectangles are usually a good starting point. Once you have mastered them, you can branch out into single or double spirals, tiers with multiple trunks, arches, geometric shapes, letters, and animals. Some topiary experts have even created well-known characters and chairs!

It is worth keeping in mind that the shape you’re aiming to make will influence which type of plant is best for you. For example, if you want to create a cone, then you will need a tall growing shrub with a central stem as a leader, whereas large or wide topiary will need a plant with more than one stem or trunk.

If you’re not sure where to start, try a topiary ball!

Start by cutting away dead branches and leaves. Next, break down the ball into three sections – top, middle and bottom – and cut a band around the middle of the ball to give you an idea of the width.

Then start to round off from the middle to the bottom, working around to check the curve you are creating is symmetrical from different angles. When cutting a spherical shape, it is always easiest to move around the ball as you work to help stop cutting a flat spot, as you will naturally work closer to your body.

Once this is completed, start working from the middle up to tie the top and bottom in, until you have a symmetrical sphere shape. Then give it a final tidy up and a drink of water, and you have created a topiary ball!”

For more expert advice and to find the perfect Henchman ladders to help you create a topiary masterpiece, visit www.henchman.co.uk

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Editors notes

Henchman has been a pioneer of specialist garden ladders and safe hedge-cutting platforms since 1994, when it launched its first model at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Founded by father and son duo Mike and Tom Kitching, over the past three decades the company has evolved from a small family business to the leading garden ladder brand in the UK.

Based in Wiltshire, the dedicated design team at Henchman offers a wide range of unique products created to keep customers safe on uneven terrain while working at height.

Its collection includes the cutting-edge Fully Adjustable Tripod Ladder, Fully Adjustable PRO Tripod Ladder, the Hi-Step Platform, the Wheeled Henchman, as well as a range of large capacity wheelbarrows and accessories, all designed to make gardening a safe, sturdy and enjoyable experience.

Henchman has pioneered the way in ladder safety and is the first and only fully EN131 certified Tripod Ladder on the market in the UK and the rest of the world.

From the National Trust, to the England Rugby team and Royal Households, and not forgetting thousands of gardeners, DIY-enthusiasts and professionals, Henchman helps its customers get the job done, safely.