If you’ve ever admired those closely cropped plants that form
fanciful shapes called
topiaries, Wayne McLaurin says you don’t need a degree in
horticultural art to get the
same effect using herbs.
"Topiary herbs are functional and useful," says
McLaurin, a horticulturist
with the University of Georgia Extension Service.>
"You can always use herbs in seasoning your foods,"
he said. "And they
make pretty nice patio plants."
So how do you go from a little potted plant to an eye-
catching topiary herb?
Start with a healthy herb plant with an unpinched leader and
a strong stem. Rosemary,
French lavender and scented geranium work well. You’ll also need
scissors, stakes, ties
and patience, McLaurin says.
"This is about a two-year project, so you need to start
now," he says.
The growing point or tip of the plant is important in
topiary, because that’s where the
plant grows.>
"If you pinch it back, the plant will produce side
shoots and will be
bushier," McLaurin says. "You can design what the
plant will look like by
pinching or not pinching the tips."
First let the plant grow straight up to the desired height. A
slow-growing or
small-leaf plant should be eight to 14 inches tall, and a fast-
growing or large-leaf plant
should be two to five feet tall.
Place a stake beside the plant and tie the plant to it for
support. Allow only the tip
shoot of the plant to develop by cutting off any side shoots
that start to grow. Allow
leaves to stay on the trunk.
"Check the ties often so they don’t girdle or injure the
growing stem,"
McLaurin says. "Check for bugs that like to hide around the
ties."
Turn the plant so each side gets enough light and it grows
evenly. With every four or
five waterings during active growth, feed it a liquid fertilizer
for houseplants.
"The next stage is forming the top of the plant to the
shape you want,"
McLaurin says. "Before you pinch the growing shoot tip for
the first time, think of
the finished look you want. Consider leaf size and rate of
growth. Where will you display
your topiary? What kind of container will it live in?"
When you know those answers, you’re ready to pinch out the
tip of the plant to make it
bushier. Allow three pairs of branches to develop. The trunk
will lengthen a bit as it
matures and thickens.
"Now comes the real art of topiary," McLaurin says.
"Keep in mind the
shape you want the plant to take and train the plant through
careful tip pinching. Pinch
tips about every two inches.
"Pinch or cut at nodes so new shoots will grow in the
direction you want," he
says. "Encourage width and branching at the base of
the ‘head.’ Top growth will
naturally develop faster, so keep upward-growing shoots trimmed
back.”
“As you become aware of growth habits and see the
results of careful pruning," he says, "you’ll see how
to train the
topiary to the shape you want.”
