There are two ways you can make your topiary.
First is the easiest but the longest. Use life shrubs or trees that will grow in your area. Bougainvillea is one of them, box wood of any kinds or any dense growing and well accepting frequent trimming. You can use some guide wire to support or spread the branches.
Second option is to build strong frame, fill it with long fiber sphagnum moss and soil and plant it with plants like english ivy or ficus repens (creeping fig).
To make your size topiary use 3/8', 5/16' or 1/2' steel rod.
To get better idea on how and what to do I will suggest visiting Walt Disney World in Florida. Magic Kingdom is the best but better yet if you could get on the grounds of their nursery which is located at 1550 N. Bear Island Rd, Lake Buena Vista.
Also check out this website: www.topiaryartworks.com
Good luck. |
Here is a link that might be useful: topiary manufacturer
| Bougainvillea will work very well with a lower growing turtle. Try finding some of the dwarf varieties available locally through Horizon Nursery in Vero or Classic Growers in Stuart. I have built several turtles on the treasure coast having started there, and just saw one on Sewalls Point that is thriving and purple after ten years! This customer started with dwarf whites and purples but the purple took over. It is a salt tolerant, drought tolerant winner that I have utilized in tropical resorts as well ranging from alligators and poodles at Beaches and Sandals in Jamaica and Turks/caicos to the Dominican Republic dolphins, Chilean cranes with standard bougs. inserted into the frame,and a chess set knight in san diego. I have pictures of Testudo the Topiary Turtle at the University of Maryland on the front page of www.topiaryjoe.com. but he is in boxwood. pretty close but much more colorful and faster growing by far... I utilize 3/8" smooth round hot rolled steel that is hand bent and welded with a good old Lincoln arc welder. Florida Atlantic University is getting a nine foot tall steel sculpture Owl and it will be planted with creeping fig vines from the ground...a good alternative yet not as colorful. Make certain and put this out in bright light or it will get leggy! Let me know if you have any questions. Joe |
Here is a link that might be useful: topiary living sculptures and logos
