Wednesday, April 4, 2018

By Kathleen Stone


Topiary can be defined as a style of ornamental gardening. People who specialize in this field are referred to as topiarists. The work of topiarists is to produce or create sculptures out of a wide range of plants. This is attained by weaving, trimming, and training plants. The sculptures made vary a lot in size from gigantic trees to small herbs the size of a coffee mug. This is worth knowing about ivy topiary.

The term topiary has a Latin origin. Its English translation is an ornamental gardener. This activity was engaged in by people from ancient civilizations such as the Greek and Roman Empires. History dates the practice to some 2000 years back. It is believed to have originated in Greek and later spread to the rest of Europe, particularly during the Renaissance period. It also spread widely within Europe during the Victorian era.

With the right kind of tools and skills, topiary can be done on any plant species. However, plants that produce the best works of art are shrubs and sub-shrubs. These plants are preferable because they are evergreen and they grow in a manner that favors the art. They form dense covers of foliage with their small leaves and needles, which is just perfect. The main plant varieties used include yew, myrtle, privet rosemary, jasmine, bay laurel, holly, English ivy, box, ficus, and cypress.

This practice needs a lot of practice and skill. Besides these two, there are other factors which determine whether a person will succeed in this industry or not. Choice of plant to use is one of the major factors. It is worth noting that the aforementioned shrubs and sub-shrubs grow in certain soils and climatic conditions. This means that the type of soil and weather must be considered greatly.

Secondly, the tools used should be right for this job. Various tools are usually used. Each tool has a specific task. Shears should be used to reduce the plant to the right size during the initial cuts. Shears should have blades with slight angles. This allows the users to use them for cutting using either blade.

More detailed work should be done using a pair of secateurs. The secateurs should have a spring at the handle to allow for handling with one hand. There are several other tools. These tools should be kept clean at all times, especially after use. Antibacterial kitchen cleaner should be used to disinfect the tools to avoid spreading diseases to other plants. Oiling of the tools should also be done regularly as well as sharpening.

To achieve better results, a cutting guide should be used at all times. A cutting guide tells one which areas need to be cut and which ones should remain uncut. Part of achieving good results also involves cutting at the right time. The twigs should not be left to overgrow and they should also not be cut while still too young.

Lastly, it is important to pick a plant that is most suited for the shape one wants to achieve. The plant should have a general resemblance of the shape that is being aimed at. For instance, if one is trying to cut a pentagon into the plant, the plant should have a general triangle shape.




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