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Starting topiary

Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,030
edited April 2020 in Plants
I've just bought 3 small yew plants from ebay with a view of creating some long-term topiary projects. Nothing extravagant, just potted cones etc.-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233519484642

I've yet to see what my actual plants will look like but is it purely a case of pinching out stems as much as possible initially to try and build up some density?
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Posts

  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,030
    Anyone at all started from scratch?
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,063
    If they're the size of those in the photos, you don't need to anything to them for several years until the grow .
    Devon.
  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    Did you mean topiary or bonsai?
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,030
    Topiary.

    Would I not want to be pinching out the tips to encourage bushy growth though?
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,063
    Dirty Harry said:
    Topiary.

    Would I not want to be pinching out the tips to encourage bushy growth though?
    If you pinch those out, there'd be nothing less. I'd let them establish for about 3 years before starting to shape them . 
    How tall did you envisage these cones?
    Devon.
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,030
    Not a clue yet, I just thought you'd want to encourage bushy growth from the get go though.
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,337
    We usually bemoan people for not having patience for gardening...this is exactly the opposite. Growing topiary from a 9cm pot is definitely a long-term project. Wonder how many years it will take? 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    Dirty Harry said:
    Not a clue yet, I just thought you'd want to encourage bushy growth from the get go though.
    I’m starting a little topiary but on 6ft cypress, at the moment the side trimming has to wait until July, the top will be cut when I have the height I’m looking for.

    Im not sure if that extends to yew.
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,030
    amancalledgeorge said:
    We usually bemoan people for not having patience for gardening...this is exactly the opposite. Growing topiary from a 9cm pot is definitely a long-term project. Wonder how many years it will take? 
    Who knows but certainly a lot quicker than starting my own cuttings and cheaper than buying ready-made ones at a decent size.

    Yew seems to be a reliable one as well.
  • Dirty HarryDirty Harry Posts: 1,030
    These have turned up quicker than expected and they're taller than the photo on the eBay listing.



    I'll need to repot them, but should I really just leave them other than that? Seem a bit lanky.
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