Useful as a design feature in many styles of garden, from formal and traditional, to informal cottage garden or naturalistic planting schemes, topiary can take many forms. ‘It is the most useful garden design tool. Fashions in gardens fluctuate, but precisely cut topiary is invaluable in adding the anchor of form and structure a garden needs,’ says garden author Marylyn Abbott of West Green House Garden.
The art of clipping plants into ornamental shapes and patterns can add touches of whimsy and humour or sculptural definition to the garden; from flamboyant, fanciful creatures to more simple geometric shapes. As well as hedging and largescale creations, topiary works well as punctuation marks in the garden or
