The art of decorative shrub pruning is popular to this day, in Great Britain it is called topiary, or plants that have been given their final decorative shape. Green figures can be found, among others in the old aristocratic country gardens. They are real works of art carefully cared for by generations of gardeners.
Contents:
- Trimming with a hedge trimmer
- Forming boxwood and cutting thick branches
- Decorative shape - boxwood balls
Trimming with a hedge trimmer
When creating them yourself, for example, the Fiskars HSX92 hedge trimmer will be useful.Light and durable construction and ground blades ensure precise and effective work. The advantage of the products from the PowerGear ™ X line is also a unique lever system that increases the cutting force by 3 times. They are equipped with sharp, high-steel blades.
HSX92 PowerGear ™ X Hedge Trimmer / (Image: Fiskars)
However, you don't have to be an English lord to have a collection of green figures, because it can be created by anyone who shows sufficient perseverance and good intentions. The desired form can be obtained from ready-made templates - most can be prepared by yourself. Sometimes shrubs that are ready-trimmed can be purchased at a garden store.
Green figures fit very well to those gardens where there are already other arrangements of formed plants, e.g.a hedge or borders. These little works of art look good in formal gardens where strict forms are emphasized.Plants are displayed in visible places, preferably thematically, e.g. a frog can be placed near the pond.We are limited only by our imagination, while the tools will help us to make the most secret garden fantasies!
Forming boxwood and cutting thick branches
Boxwood and yew are the best for shaping. Both shrubs are distinguished by high growth potential and dense foliage.Moreover, they are evergreen and therefore ornamental all year round. Holly, privet, cypress and thuja are also worth recommending.Beech and hornbeam are suitable for larger figures. These trees are distinguished by a beautiful autumn color. Unfortunately, their leaves are not suitable for reproducing fine details.
PowerGear ™ X / Two-Handed Secateurs (Photo: Fiskars)
The first New Year's cut is made in mid-May, after breaking new shoots. The following cuts are typically corrective, and we make them every 4-6 weeks.Hedge shears will be useful for both treatments, and as complementary tools: a two-handed pruner for cutting thicker branches, limbs and a one-handed scissor pruner for cutting fresh twigs.Additionally, an anvil pruner is perfect for dry twigs. A feature common to all Fiskars secateurs is a light and durable construction and an ergonomic handle, thanks to which even long work will be pleasant and effective.
The frequency depends largely on the strength of the growth of a particular variety or species. The more often we prune, the stronger the plants will bush.A side effect of this procedure is that shrubs require more frequent watering and feeding.The haircut should be performed on a cloudy day so that the injured shoots are not burned by the sun.We make the last cut no later than the end of August. We can also use small cordless scissors to smooth the cutting surface.
PowerGear ™ X Anvil Lopper - ideal for trimming dry and fine twigs / (Photo: Fiskars)
Decorative shape - boxwood balls
In spring we should plan the formation of the always green boxwood Buxus sempervirens. This plant has already produced beautiful growths that are starting to become lignified. Pruning consists in reducing the minimum one-year increments by half.This treatment will force the plants to grow again and to produce another summer increments that are shorter than the spring ones.
If you want to make a ball of evergreen boxwood, it is best to use a cardboard template, which you put on the plant. Manual or electric scissors will be irreplaceable in pruning.The treatment starts at the bottom and ends at the top.After cutting, clean the bushes of the remnants of shoots, rake them carefully around the plant, then feed the box with multi-component fertilizer, evenly sprinkling it around the plant.Then water generously. .
