A
lthough it looks diffi cult, it is actually
fairly easy to create and maintain a
spiral topiary. Whether in the ground or
in a container, a spiral topiary is a little
touch of whimsy with a decidedly formal
fl air. You can fi nd a 4-foot tall evergreen
topiary like this for sale at nurseries and
garden centers for $100 and up. But you
can get the hands-on satisfaction of doing
it yourself for less than half that amount.
Evergreen trees and shrubs like the dwarf
Alberta spruce here make the best spiral
topiaries because of their sturdy trunks and
year-round color. Conically shaped trees
are the easiest to clip into a spiral shape.
Common boxwood, Italian cypress and
privet are also excellent candidates. Check
with your local garden center for the best
choices for your region.
Curvy-swervy topiary is not just for
formal gardens. It can transform a deck, a
bed or a border from just-OK to picture-
perfect without a hint of pretense. There’s
something about a spiral that makes people
smile. Use a pair to frame a vista or to fl ank
a front entrance or garden gate. Planted in
large terra-cotta pots, a pair can add pop to
the corners of a parterre. Or dress up and
complete a romantic cottage garden. Plant
a line of spiral topiaries in a contemporary
garden and take the space from textbook
modern to something fun and personal.
—James A. Baggett10 GARDEN GATE | OCTOBER 2019 | ISSUE 149
WEEKEND GARDENING
Create a
Spiral Topiary
Watch our video
on how to make a
spiral topiary.GGMagExtra.comMATERIALS & TOOLS® Small, conical evergreen
® Garden pruners
® Flagging tape or ribbonGG14910_11_Topiary.indd 10GG14910_11_Topiary.indd 10 6/26/2019 10:22:13 AM6/26/2019 10:22:13 AMA
lthoughit looksdifficult,it is actually
fairlyeasytocreateandmaintaina
spiraltopiary.Whetherinthegroundor
ina container,a spiraltopiaryis a little
touchofwhimsywitha decidedlyformal
flair.Youcanfinda 4-foottallevergreen
topiarylikethisforsaleatnurseriesand
gardencentersfor$100andup.Butyou
cangetthehands-onsatisfactionofdoing
it yourselfforlessthanhalfthatamount.
Evergreentreesandshrubslikethedwarf
Albertaspruceheremakethebestspiral
topiariesbecauseoftheirsturdytrunksand
year-roundcolor.Conicallyshapedtrees
aretheeasiesttoclipintoa spiralshape.
Commonboxwood,Italiancypressand
privetarealsoexcellentcandidates.Check
withyourlocalgardencenterforthebest
choicesforyourregion.
Curvy-swervytopiaryis notjustfor
formalgardens.It cantransforma deck,a
bedora borderfromjust-OKtopicture-
perfectwithouta hintofpretense.There’s
somethingabouta spiralthatmakespeople
smile.Usea pairtoframea vistaortoflank
a frontentranceorgardengate.Plantedin
largeterra-cottapots,a paircanaddpopto
thecornersofa parterre.Ordressupand
completea romanticcottagegarden.Plant
a lineofspiraltopiariesina contemporary
gardenandtakethespacefromtextbook
moderntosomethingfunandpersonal.
—James A. Baggett10 GARDEN GATE | OCTOBER 2019 | ISSUE 149
WEEKENDGARDENING
Create a
Spiral Topiary
Watch our video
on how to make a
spiral topiary.GGMagExtra.comMATERIALS & TOOLS®Small,conicalevergreen
®Gardenpruners
®Flaggingtapeorribbon