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

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?

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

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