Tuesday, 5 June 2018

Useful Facts About Ivy Topiary

By Ronald Hughes


It is not an easy thing to make a garden or home beautiful. To most home owners, beauty is something that must be achieved. There are several ways this can be achieved including installing of statues and planting of flowers. On the other hand, this can also be well achieved by use of topiaries. Topiaries are art works that involve shaping plants in the compound into different shapes.

Topiary is an old practice that started with some of the oldest civilizations such as the Roman and Greek Empires. Today, the art has developed a lot, with many people engaging in it. The number of plants used in this art has increased in the same way that tools and equipment used for the job have. Ivy is one of the most commonly used plants because of its ease of shaping. This plant also achieves the required shape easily. This makes ivy topiary common.

Apart from using the ivy plant, other plants such as cypress, boxwood, tea leaf, cedar, podocarpus and lavender among other small-leaved plants can also be used. There are certain plants that are more appropriate than others. The shape one wants to achieve will determine the type of plant to be used.

Shaping needs to be done regularly once the work commences so as to obtain desirable outcomes. The duration of the interval between every shaping session relies on kind of plant as some grow at faster rate compared to others. The leaves should bulk up and giving sufficient time for that to occur is essential. When shaped very much and frequently, damage may be caused to the plant.

There are individuals who are skilled in this sector such that they are able to shape a plant without struggling much. Experience in this art can be gained through working for several years. For a beginner, achieving the desired shape may be a big struggle but through exercise, one can improve their skills. There are pre-fabricated shapes which one can use to help them gain the desired shape.

The easiest way to achieve best results is to ensure that the plant is grown in soil that is deep, fertile, and well-drained. Soil that retains water may cause water-logging, which may in turn kill the plant. The site should also be shaded partially. At any time, the soil should never be allowed to dry because of lack of water. That means that daily watering is necessary.

It is also important to ensure fertilizer is provided to the plant when there is need. One can observe the plant leaves to detect lack of nutrients. This is indicated by cream colored leaves. The plant should be weeded and an insecticide sprayed frequently to keep away harmful insects and organisms.

Lastly, the shaping process must be done using the right kind of tools. The tools must also be in good condition. For instance, shears used must be sharp to avoid destroying leaves and young branches. One should seek advice from a qualified professional on how to carry out the job if they are not sure about what to do.




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