No formal garden? No worries. This potted evergreen classic is the navy blazer of the
horticultural world--it goes with everything. Want the look, but hate the price tag?
Read on. We have the scoop on how Beaufort, South Carolina, garden designer Frances
Parker has been making these clipped creations for 25 years. Now you can too.
1. Pick Your Plant
Any kind of boxwood can be used for this project; just look for one with a straight center
trunk. For instant results, buy a plant that is the height you would like your topiary to be.
Frances chose a 1-gallon, container-grown 'Wintergreen' boxwood, which is shown at below,
right. Balled-and-burlapped plants can be used, too, as long as you have large enough
containers for them.
2. Start Snipping
Beginning at the bottom, clip away side shoots. If you are satisfied with the current height
of your plant, cut side shoots close to the trunk. If you want a taller plant, cut them so
they are about 1 or 2 inches long. The extra vegetation will encourage vertical growth.
Stop clipping once you are two-thirds of the way up the trunk or when you've achieved your
desired look. When the topiary reaches its ideal height, cut off the side shoots completely.
3. Pot, Stake, and Pinch
Plant your topiary in a container one size larger than its nursery pot, using a good-quality
potting soil. Top the soil with moss, or plant a low-growing ground cover such as blue star
creeper (Pratia pedunculata). Insert a thin bamboo stake into the pot next to the trunk, and
secure with raffia to keep the trunk upright.
For regular shaping, Frances prefers pinching to clipping with scissors, so the leaves won't be
cut in half. For a full head, "pinch, pinch, pinch," says Frances. "Everywhere you pinch,
you'll get new growth." Before you know it, your friends will be asking how you did it.
Do This for a Happy Topiary
• Protect boxwoods from strong, drying winds, particularly in winter.
• Water regularly, especially if in full sun.
• Supplement young topiaries with a water-soluble fertilizer (such as 12-4-8) or fish emulsion to encourage new growth. When it's time to repot, add a slow-release food such as Osmocote 19-6-12.
"Make a Boxwood Topiary " is from the September 2007 issue of Southern Living.
