If you haven’t tried topiary before, making box balls is a great way to start. To make ball topiary, trim your hedge into a rough ball shape first, and then take smaller cuts from all angles and keep checking the appearance to work into a round shape. Feb 20, 2017 - How to Make a Bush Shaped as a Ball With Trimming. And let’s add some variety to our fake boxwood topiary! Add 1/2 inch to the measurement. The sprigs should be even in length, about 3-5 inches, to create a consistently round shape when finished. Usually, you begin shaping the boxwood with a much smaller plant than the desired ball diameter for later on. You can train climbing greenery sprigs to cover topiary frames in many shapes. Step back a few paces, observe any pieces protruding from the ball shape, and snip them off on all sides of the shrub. Cut it apart in the same way I had the prior stems and add them to the Styrofoam ball. This template should reach from the bottom pot edge or bottom of the bed to the “north pole” of the boxwood ball to be cut. Topiaries can even be shaped into animals or objects. This way, the ball shape is achieved faster and the following year, it is already a small thick ball so that you only need to cut evenly. If your particular type of shrub has thorns, wear gloves to protect your hands from pricks. You can train climbing greenery sprigs to cover topiary frames in many shapes. Boxwood, ivy, privet, and yew are the most popular shrubs to shape into topiary forms. Keep in mind that topiary is ephemeral and will need attention if you want your plant to maintain its shape. Box is an incredibly versatile plant that is perfect for trimming into topiary shapes, including balls, spirals and much more.. Topiaries express a unique personality in a lawn or garden for a visually appealing sight. The best time to trim box topiary is late spring. The wind is its worst enemy so find a protected spot with plenty of light. Only a few people manage this freehand, Ms. T., therefore, I would advise that you make a semi-circle template from sturdy carton in the desired ball size. Bring the two loose ends of wire together and twist them tightly with pliers. The formal shapes contrast dramatically with flowers in summer, and bring structure, style and form to winter gardens. Getting easy access to all sides of the hedge plant is the key to spherical shrubbery success so … You can cut an existing bush into a ball shape, maintain it in size, and shape it when you make a .… Allow the tools to soak for five minutes to disinfect them and wipe them dry with a towel. While guiding the template around the boxwood, you will have the appropriate size for cutting the plant. Shaping topiary is a fun and inexpensive way to create year-round interest in the garden. Lay a cloth measuring tape on a flat surface. Buxus Sempervirens ‘Elegans’ – Mottled-leaf boxwood with a conical shape. Attach each piece at the 3 and 9 o'clock areas on the circle and twist the wire. You'll also need to carefully consider where you place your topiary ball. Buxus Sempervirens ‘Arborescens’ – An ideal boxwood to shape balls or cones. Never remove more than two-thirds of a branching system in a year. Pour 1 part bleach and 3 parts water in a bucket. Not to mention, they don't require as much maintenance to keep their shape as other types. To add even more variation to the look of the ball, I chose a stem of what looked like variegated boxwood again, found at Hobby Lobby. Continue trimming until you trim all sides of the bush into a ball. Topiaries express a unique personality in a lawn or garden for a visually appealing sight. Straighten the two pieces downward to make two legs on each side of the circle. Cut a piece of baling wire with wire cutters to the size plus 1/2 inch. Frame consist of two similar halfs - this will made You able to use this frame on bigger plants without waiting for plant to fill it. Mary Lougee has been writing for over 10 years. Smart tip about boxwood