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Tips Excelling In Ivy Topiary

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 word topiary originated from the Latin language. Its translation in English means an ornamental gardener. Topiary is an activity that people have been doing since ancient Roman and Greek Empires. It dates back to as far as 2000 years. Before spreading to Europe during Renaissance, it was practiced largely in Greece. Another era of spreading of this art was the Victorian era.

Topiary can be done on any type of plant if one has the right skills and tools. However shrubs and sub-shrubs are the most commonly used plants. Shrubs and sub-shrubs are preferred because of the manner in which they grow. They are made of small leaves and needles that form a dense and lightly packed cover of foliage. Some of the plants used include yew, myrtle, bay laurel, holly, box, privet rosemary, jasmine, ficus, cypress, and the English ivy.

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.

Finally, one is advised to choose a plant with a suitable shape and configuration. This means that the shape of the plant chosen should be close in shape to the sculpture that one intends to attain. For example, a tree that is shaped like a triangle can easily be used to produce a pentagon shape.




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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 word topiary originated from the Latin language. Its translation in English means an ornamental gardener. Topiary is an activity that people have been doing since ancient Roman and Greek Empires. It dates back to as far as 2000 years. Before spreading to Europe during Renaissance, it was practiced largely in Greece. Another era of spreading of this art was the Victorian era.

Topiary can be done on any type of plant if one has the right skills and tools. However shrubs and sub-shrubs are the most commonly used plants. Shrubs and sub-shrubs are preferred because of the manner in which they grow. They are made of small leaves and needles that form a dense and lightly packed cover of foliage. Some of the plants used include yew, myrtle, bay laurel, holly, box, privet rosemary, jasmine, ficus, cypress, and the English ivy.

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.

Finally, one is advised to choose a plant with a suitable shape and configuration. This means that the shape of the plant chosen should be close in shape to the sculpture that one intends to attain. For example, a tree that is shaped like a triangle can easily be used to produce a pentagon shape.




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