No self-respecting cottage gardener should be without some topiary. This 'holly lolly' is my effort. I bought a quite mature holly bush (the most expensive plant I have ever bought, by the way), and cut off all except one stem, leaving a tuft of holly leaves on the top. You have to keep cutting new growth off from the bottom, as the plant seems desperate to return to bush form. It needs a haircut twice a year to keep its shape. I was planning to have a whole hedge full of lollipops but, in the end, decided I couldn't afford it. I have performed the same surgery on gooseberry bushes as it makes the picking of gooseberries easier and less painful.
I would love holly in my garden but I can't find a spot for it. I have gooseberries at my allotment though so I could try your technique on them.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you have a great aspect onto those fields!
The only trouble with holly is it's a devil to work around and jolly painful too when you are trying to pick up dead leaves etc. Not only that,the one I have has never produced berries - so in that sense it is a waste of time really
ReplyDeleteLooks good! I have a young hawthorn on the plot that I trim to keep within bounds but it's hardly topiary. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteIt needs a bit of a haircut - should have done it before I took photo.
ReplyDelete