A Gardener's Guide to Topiary

This practical guide to the art of clipping, training and shaping plants offers fascinating insight into the art of topiary, with step-by-step instructions, spectacular photography and authoritative text. It shows how topiary can complement a range of garden styles and create design effects, such as defining an entranceway, marking a boundary or creating depth. Projects for beginners through to experienced gardeners show how to clip a spiral, create freehand figures, use topiary frames, train an arch, and tame a hedge. Jenny Hendy explains how topiary can be incorporated into garden styles, from traditional and contemporary to country-house and Japanese. A section on green architecture looks at larger topiary elements, including hedges, doorways and windows, and niches and alcoves. Achievable geometric shapes are also covered, from spheres and pyramids to turrets and helter-skelters. There are suggestions for more ambitious planting effects, such as knot gardens and parterres. Sculptural topiary is also explored, from the clipped creatures of cottage gardens to modern plant shaping. A plant directory then lists the best plants and the training to which they are suited.

“This will be a great inspiration for people...wishing to create form and shape with greenery.” Piet Oudolf

Jenny Hendy has turned a lifelong passion for plants and wildlife into a thriving career as a gardening author, designer, teacher and presenter. After gaining an Honours Degree in Botany, Hendy worked in horticultural retail before joining Gardening Which? Magazine. On turning freelance, she began writing and designing in earnest. She loves to share her enthusiasm and knowledge with others and maintains a busy schedule of speaking engagements as well as guesting on BBC Radio Stoke's gardening phone-in. In 2010, 'Kid's First Gardening Book' was awarded the prestigious Garden Media Guild Award for Best Practical Gardening Book.