Author(s): Christopher Crowder

Gardening

Topiary is as old as gardening itself. From the gardens of ancient Egypt to the arts and crafts creations of Edwardian England, and the private and public gardens of today, living green sculpture has been clipped into shape. With its bold silhouettes, topiary is an icon that defines the hand of man in creating gardens, expressing the gardener's ideas and firing the observer's imagination. Topics covered include: assessing the site; design and structural form - the outdoor space and the topiary piece; preparation and planting, regular and long-term maintenance; clipping techniques and step-by-step methods of creating topiary pieces; hedge topiary, simple shapes, complex and figurative shapes; and rejuvenation, propagation, and solving problems. Informative photographs offer ideas and starting points for creating your personal topiary work, while guidelines to creating specific shapes and designs are set out in simple diagrams that illustrate the stages of transformation from unruly shrub to stylised art form.