Topiary & Ornamental Hedging in Earlswood

Topiary in Earlswood

Box balls by the front door, yew cones and holly shapes kept crisp in Earlswood gardens.

Topiary in Earlswood tends to be small-scale and personal: a pair of box balls by a Victorian front door, a clipped bay in a pot, a yew cone at the end of a border. It doesn’t take much to give a small front garden some structure, as long as someone keeps the shapes sharp.

That’s the job. Topiary pruning needs a steady hand, sharp shears and patience, and it’s work we enjoy. We’ll keep existing shapes crisp, bring back ones that have gone fuzzy, and help you choose plants that will actually thrive here.

Holly and yew, the local shapes

Up in St Johns, the conservation area appraisal lists oak, yew and holly among the native trees of the greensand ridge, and holly hedging is a feature around the church. Both make good topiary. Yew is the best plant there is for it: it takes hard cutting, grows back from old wood and holds a crisp line for years. Holly is slower and spikier but makes handsome cones and domes. Either is a good choice if you want a shape that suits the area and doesn’t rely on box.

Topiary, box blight and Earlswood’s damp gardens

Box has had a rough few years. Box blight thrives in damp, still air, and the wet clay gardens on Earlswood’s lower ground give it plenty of that. Box tree caterpillar, the larva of the box moth, can strip a ball bare in a few weeks of summer. We check for both at every visit, clip in dry weather and clear the clippings so spores don’t hang around. If your box keeps getting hit, we’ll suggest alternatives such as yew, Japanese holly or small-leaved privet.

Topiary in Earlswood: your questions

Anything else, just ring. You’ll speak to the people who do the work.

How often do topiary shrubs need clipping?

Box and other small-leaved shapes usually want two clips a year, in late spring and late summer. Yew is often fine with one in late summer. Fast growers like privet may need three.

Can you rescue overgrown topiary?

Often, yes. Yew can be cut back hard and will regrow. Box is fussier and needs reshaping over a couple of seasons. We’ll be honest if a shape has gone too far.

Do you plant new topiary balls?

We can plant and shape young plants, and we’ll advise on what will cope with your soil. Yew and holly suit most Earlswood gardens.

What does topiary pruning cost?

It depends on how many shapes there are, their size and how intricate they are. A couple of box balls is often added to a regular maintenance visit. We’ll give you a fixed price after a look.