The delicate appearance of topiary plants may lead one to believe that they are difficult to grow and train. Not true, says show host Michele Driscoll Alioto.
Guest Kelly Grummons explains that English ivy (Hedera helix) is one of the best plants to use for topiaries and suggests the specific varieties 'Charm' and 'Glacier ' (a variegated form). Baby-tears and trailing ficus, he says, will also work well for certain topiary designs. Follow these steps to make your own topiary:
Materials:
- English ivy
- pot with a drainage hole
- piece of window screen to cover drainage hole
- spherical topiary form (available for $10 to $12 at garden nurseries)
- lightweight soil
- twist-ties
Steps:
- Stand the topiary form upright inside the pot and fill in around it with soil. Break off strands of ivy from the mother plant, making sure to include roots. Plant the roots in the soil and begin to wind individual strands around the wire topiary form. Use twist-ties to secure ivy to the form.
- To keep your topiary neat-looking, prune it every week or two. Tuck in misplaced branches and clip off straggly ends with a pair of clippers or flower nips. Fertilize every two weeks with a general purpose houseplantfood, and mist as needed if the environment is low-humidity.
To create topiaries without a wire form, select bay or rosemary plants with a tall central leader branch. Clip off the side shoots at ground level; when the remaining central branch grows to the desired height, begin to shape the top into a ball with clippers.
Guests Kelly Grummons
Owner, Timberline Gardens
11700 W. 58th Ave.
Arvada, CO 80002
Phone: 303-420-4060
URL:
www.timberlinegardens.com
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