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10 Most Popular Topiary Shapes and Designs for Your Garden

Topiary has been a popular approach to garden design for centuries, and over that time, countless topiary styles have gained popularity among plant enthusiasts. These designs take many different shapes, all of which require meticulous pruning and can make a dramatic impact on your garden when done well. 

But with so many topiary design ideas to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. This article will give you some guidance by revealing the top 10 topiary tree shapes and designs that you can create in your garden.

10 Topiary Design Ideas You Need to Try

It’s difficult to estimate how many topiary design styles exist, but it’s fair to say that some are far more popular than others. Without further ado, here are the top 10 topiary design ideas you should consider for your next planting project. 

The Classic Cone Shape

We’ll begin our list with a classic—the cone-shaped topiary. Rounded at the bottom and tapering to a sharp point at the top, this topiary shape is one you have likely seen if you have spent time in a formal garden. This topiary style is not only elegant, but it is also relatively easy to achieve, even for a relative beginner.

 The Ball Shape

Next, we have the ball-shaped topiary. This style can take some time to get right since you must be very precise with our trimming to ensure no part of the ball is lopsided or indented. But if you get the technique down, you’ll soon have a striking tree with a very regular, spherical shape. In fact, it’s possible to create multiple ball shapes on a single plant!

The Spiral Shape

 Now it’s time to up the complexity a bit. Unlike simpler shapes like spheres and cones, the spiral-shaped topiary will require an ample amount of patience on your part. However, this look is one of the most impressive topiary shapes if you learn how to pull it off.

The Pyramid Shape

The pyramid shape is another simple but impressive topiary design that you should consider. This shape is particularly suitable for larger shrubs that already have an upright form. Depending on what plant species you’re working with, you can scale your pyramid up in size or alter its relative height and widths as you please. 

 The Animal Shape

If you are an animal lover, then this is the topiary design style for you! Pruning your trees or shrubs in this style gives you a chance to see your favorite animal every time you visit your garden. But keep in mind, while all topiary needs regular upkeep, this style requires a particularly high level of maintenance. As your plant puts forth new growth, your animal’s shape can quickly become difficult to recognize.

The Geometric Shape

This topiary style is the right choice for anyone who appreciates regularity. While we don’t often see  geometric shapes in nature, there is nothing stopping you from creating them in your topiary garden. In fact, that’s the main reason why this style stands out so much! Try creating simple shapes first. If you manage to do that, you can combine multiple shapes in a single topiary to make your designs even more captivating.

The Natural Shape

 Here we have the topiary shape that is most similar to what we would see in the natural world. Creating a natural-shaped topiary is all about recognizing the innate growth habit of your plant, then using your trimming to neaten, perfect, and emphasize the best characteristics of that growth habit. This style is one of the easiest to follow since you won’t need to deviate too much from your plant’s natural shape.

The Abstract Shape

This design style is proof that there are minimal limitations to what you can create with a topiary design.  Simply put, an abstract topiary design can look however you want it to look. However, that does not mean you should trim randomly. Instead, use your artistic vision to create a shape that complements the flow of your garden.

The Word or Letter Shape

While abstract topiary shapes can come across as illegible, this topiary style is anything but. With the right pruning, you can turn your shrubs into a number, letter, and even an entire word. When successful, this design ensures your garden is not only beautiful but also shares a specific idea or special message. 

The Human or Figure Shape

 Our final topiary shape for you to consider is one of the hardest to achieve but will certainly leave your garden guests in awe if you do it well. With this style, you can create an entire human figure in your garden. If your plants are large enough, there’s nothing stopping you from making your topiary human figure life-size or even bigger. If you do, you’ll have a permanent garden visitor that will bring a new sense of life to your favorite outdoor space.

Conclusion

Creating a successful topiary design requires strong pruning skills and plenty of creativity. But if you understand the versatility of this gardening style, you’ve already taken the first step toward creating a topiary design that suits your garden. All that’s left to do now is choose from the 10 ideas in the article above and get started!

/ Ball Shaped Topiary