The Bottom Line
Pros
- Contains detailed instructions for shaping different kinds of topiaries.
- Many beautiful color pictures.
Cons
- Fruit tree section could be expanded
Description
- Written by David Joyce
- 160 pages
- Topics include geometric shapes, animals, standards, espaliers, chicken wire frames, and knot gardens.
Guide Review - Topiary and the Art of Training Plants
Few can forget the beauty of a properly maintained topiary tree or shrub. The creation of such masterpieces may seem too overwhelming for the beginning gardener. Topiary and the Art of Training Trees serves to dispel this myth, with many color pictures and instructions.
The first section is an introduction to the world of topiary. David Joyce explores the history of shaping trees and shrubs, from the Romans in first century AD to the gardens at Versailles. This area also covers basic tools needed and remedies for common health and aesthetic problems connected to topiaries.
Next comes "Plants as Sculpture". Geometric and animal shapes are discussed. This well written section includes instructions for projects like:
- Shaping a Boxwood Ball
- Shaping a Boxwood Cone
- Using a Former to Shape a Yew Obelisk
- Training a Mophead of Bay Laurel
- Training a Fuchsia Standard
- Training a Yew Cakestand
- Training a Boxwood Spiral
"Plants as Architecture" treats the areas of hedges and fruit trees. There could have been a bit more detail about topiary methods and fruit trees - the only instruction given is for an espalier. Other projects include:
- Training a Beech Hedge With an Arch Over an Opening
- Training Wisteria on an Arbor
- Renovating an Overgrown Yew Hedge
The final section is "Patterned Planting". Mr Joyce describes various kinds of knot gardens and mazes. The instruction is given for laying out your own knot garden with an Under-and-Over pattern.
An appendix gives profiles of several plants that are commonly used in topiaries. Lists of plants suitable for each different kind of training are given. Also included is a list of suppliers.
