Cadres topiaires bricolage

DIY topiary frames

Handmade wire frames of animals, birds and shapes for growing your own living topiary, made at our workshop in the New Forest.

A topiary frame is a wire outline that you grow a plant through. As the plant fills out, you trim it back to the frame, and over a few seasons the wire disappears inside a solid green shape. It's the easiest way to end up with a recognisable dog, hen or heart without years of practice with the shears.

How our frames are made

We make every frame by hand from galvanised steel wire and coated mesh. The galvanising stops the steel rusting, so a frame will last outdoors for years. Because each one is bent and shaped by hand, yours will differ slightly from the photo. Frames are made to order and usually dispatched within a week. We can send frames overseas too, so get in touch for a delivery quote if you're outside the UK.

Choosing a frame

You can browse by type: dogs, birds, farm animals, small animals, large wildlife and horses, and objects and shapes. Many designs come in medium, large and extra large. If you're new to topiary, start with something small and rounded, like a hen, a cat or a ball. Compact shapes fill in faster and are easier to keep neat. For a ready-to-go present, there are starter kits as well.

What plant should I use?

Pick an evergreen with small leaves, because it gives a dense, even surface when you clip it. Box is the traditional choice. Ilex crenata (Japanese holly) looks very similar and isn't troubled by box blight, and euonymus is quick and tough. We can fit a young plant to most frames before we send them, or add a mesh covering instead. On big frames, small-leaved ivy covers the shape more quickly.

Looking after your frame

Tuck new shoots back inside the wire as they grow, and trim off anything beyond it two or three times between late spring and late summer. Keep the plant watered, especially in a pot, and feed it in spring. All our plants come with free plant food. And if you'd rather skip the growing stage altogether, our ready made topiary arrives fully covered.