Evergreen for 'lollipop' shape?

18 years ago

Hi, I've never posted on this forum before.

I thought maybe someone here could help.

I've got my heart set on an evergreen topiary for a new group to replace

some spectacular Arborvitae that were suddenly demolished by the deer

this past winter.

I already have four Dwarf Alberta Spruce (3.5') planted and will probably get one more.

They're supposed to be fairly deer proof.

Behind them, I want a 'ball on a stick' looking small tree.

The closest thing I've seen are the clipped Ilex in the Ilex Avenues

at Hatfield house (link below).

I'm not particular as to species, as long as it's evergreen and distasteful

to deer.

This is a prominent area at the front of my gardens, I'm aiming for

'funny formal', there is a large concrete Cheshire Cat

currently surrounded by cannas. He needs winter company.

I have no idea how to go about this, any suggestions much appreciated!

Linnea2

Here is a link that might be useful: Ilex avenues

Featured Answer

ianna

18 years ago

Well, I had a chance to review your photo in detail. Ilex (which is holly) is great because of it's prickly nature. They can be standardized (the lollipop shaped topiary). The group of plantings to the right of the photo were developed using yews - which is also evergreen. The other choice is well the cedar which you said was eaten by the deer. That's the first time I've heard of deers eating cedars. Boy, you just never know the appetites of those creatures. Junipers are of the silvery green/prickly kind. Very nice, but it gets brown easily. Personally I prefer the cedars over junipers. Hollies are deep shade of green and they are lovely plants as well.

Well, lollipops or standards are relatively the easiest for of topiary to do. First choose your trees and select only those which have straight trunks. Plant your tree/s and space them out depending on the needs of that particular tree. Note that if you decide to plant more than one tree, the groups are normally in 2, 3, 5, 7 (odd nos.), etc. In the avenue, note that they are aligned perfectly. So there was a precise plan to where they were planted. So that's the important first step. Second, remove all the lower branches. Determine how high you want this tree. When the tree reaches that height, cut off the lead branch/stem. This forces out side shoots to grow. Try imagining a large balloon in front of you when shaping the tree and start nipping/trimming branches that 'poke' out of that imaginary balloon. By nipping off the tips of the branches, more stems are forced to grow and gradually filling up that space within that ball.

The method of topiary is easily applied to so many different plants. May I suggest you practise on the herb, Rosemary. It's cheap and it has straight stems. And you can get this plant topiaried within the same season. it won't take long. Another fastgrowing plant to practise on is the coleus. They can't be overwintered outside though.

Have fun.

Ianna

Comments (6)

ianna
18 years ago
I'm not sure I understand your question. Are you asking for plant varieties that can be developed as lollilops? - Try junipers. It's silvery and prickly. Deers would hate them.
linnea2
Original Author
18 years ago
Ianna, sorry I wasn't clear on the question, yes, I meant either:
Can I go out and buy such a tree, or, is there a suitable one i can shear
into the shape I'm looking for over a period of time?
In the latter case, I'd have to learn the procedure and would need
to know how/where.

This would be my only topiary, so I'm not averse to either spending some money
or time over it.

I've never been clear on wether our local "weed conifer" is a Cedar or Juniper.
They certainly are prickly and the deer don't touch them.
Maybe I could practice on one?
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ianna
18 years ago
I found this link which would be helpful. Although it says that rosemary may take years to be standardized (lollipop) I would disagree based on my own experience in standardizing a rosemary. This link uses a coleus to standard. The procedures are the same one you can apply to trees.
http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/extras/51coleusstandard.php
linnea2
Original Author
18 years ago
Hi Ianna,
the deer ate the Arborvitae, not the Cedar or, as far as I know, Juniper.

I have heard that they eat even the prickly hollies though, and of course, Yew.
I think some kind of Juniper or Cedar might work well, now that
you've briefed me on the procedure, THANKS! That makes total sense!

I have an old Poke cherry, that we were going to cut down, it was growing
in a wrong place for a big tree.
With nothing to lose, we pollarded it, about the same techique
as you described. It saved its life. We give it a couple of "haircuts" a year.

For some reason, I felt intimidated about doing that to a conifer, so,
thanks again Ianna! I don't think I'll need any other practice.

Linnea2
ianna
18 years ago
No problem. Just one thing, cedars are arborvitae and also called thuja. So I guess I'm still a bit confused about what kind of plant you have. In anycase, there's a wide variety of evergreens so it's just trying to prevent that deer from reentering your yard. Have you ever thought of installing a motion activated sprinkler? It's said to surprise and deter deers witha sudden burst of water - and it's activated only by motion.

Ianna