Topiaries come in literally all shapes and sizes, and although you probably think of them being used primarily in formal design, there are plenty of informal options as well. Although many different types of plants can be trained to grow in a topiary form, English ivy is the most common. It has very strong trailing habits, which means it can be easily trained to grow along a topiary form. And English ivy thrives both indoors and out. 1. To start your project, choose a wire topiary form that is the right height and shape for your container. The diameter of the widest part of the topiary should equal the width of the pot.
2. Place the form into the container, making sure it's secure.
3. Use ivy plants that have very long tendrils. Plant the ivy around the form and use the longest tendrils to wrap around the wire pole. (Here's a trick to help train the ivy: wrap stretch plant ties around the pole at three locations. The plant ties will act as a guide and hold the ivy in place as it establishes itself.)
4. When it comes to maintenance, an ivy topiary will do well indoors or out, but make sure it doesn't stay in direct sunlight for more than a few hours. Also, be sure to keep the soil moist. Ivy doesn't always bounce back if it's left too dry, so one key to a big and lush topiary is to stick to a regular watering schedule.
Here are the three primary things to keep in mind when you create your own topiary container:
- Ivy is a durable choice for topiaries.
- Make sure the wire form is the same width as the container. This will give your topiary container a balanced look.
- Don't let the ivy dry out. Keep the soil evenly moist and fertilize with a liquid nitrogen-based fertilizer.
