STOWE CRAFT & DESIGN 802-253-4693 WWW.STOWECRAFT.COM

TOPIARY FAQs

1. DO I NEED TO WATER THE MOSS IF I AM NOT YET READY TO PLANT? No. Think of the moss as the “soil” in your topiary as it will not “grow” on its own. In fact, it is best to keep the moss dry until you are ready to plant. The moss has an amazing water retention quality and may start to rot if there are no plants to utilize the water.

2. CAN I BUY MY TOPIARY ALREADY PLANTED? Not at this time, but we have attached a list of recommended plants we have had success with on our own topiaries.

3. HOW CAN I PLACE AN ORDER FOR A TOPIARY? Simply call 1-877-ILOVEVT, OR 802-253-4693.

4. WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY TOPIARY OVER THE WINTER MONTHS? If you do not have it planted, you can leave it out and, if desired, wrap it in lights for a festive wintertime display. For a planted topiary, you have a few options. If your topiary is small to medium in size, you can mulch it in with leaves and grass clippings, wrap it in burlap, or move it to an unheated garage near a window—the key is to protect the plants from the wind. If your topiary is large, drive stakes into the ground and wrap it in burlap—again, this is to prevent the wind from getting at the roots. Alternatively, you can simply let your topiary stay as is and replant in the spring with a fresh new batch of color and texture.

5. WHAT SHOULD I CONSIDER PLANTING? Plant Texture: Choose plants that fit its character and your imagination. Take a few moments to look at your animal, and then look for plants that best represent it. Fur, feathers, mane, scales, patterns…picture your animal dressed in plants. For instance, think of whiskers on a cat, stripes for a bee, a mane and tail for a horse, spots on a cow, a collar on a dog, or a wreath of flowers around a deer’s neck. Color creates a pattern on your animal. Plant Size: Smaller-leaved plants work best on smaller topiaries. The idea is to compliment, not overwhelm the form. Compatibility: It is best to use plants that like the same conditions. We tend to use succulents, which are drought tolerant. Rockery-type plants are invasive and low growing and therefore make great topiary plants.

6. AFTER YOU HAVE CHOSEN YOUR PLANTS…

To Plant Outside the Form:

1) Soak the moss-filled form in water and let drain

2) If you have “cell pack” sized plants (3/4”-1 ½”) you can poke a hole into the damp moss from the outside and insert the plant plug.

To Plant From Inside the Form:

1) Soak the moss-filled form in water and let drain

2) Snip the plastic connecting ties or undo the nut and bolt and open the form into its parts (this is exclusive to our topiary designer) and pull out some of the moss.

3) Remove a bit of the soil from around your plant’s root ball and insert the plant into the form. Gently shake the leaves up through the wires. Repack the moss around the roots. When planted, reattach the form with the plastic cable ties (provided). Keep the topiary out of direct sunlight right after planting until they are established.

7. WATERING: Once you have your topiary planted, water and feed with a good starter fertilizer (10- 52-10) and keep in a shaded area out of the wind for several days before moving to the selected area in your garden. Check for water daily, as you would a hanging basket or deck planter. Fertilize every other week with a balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer. Water well before frost and either mulch in or move to a well-protected area (winter winds will damage unprotected roots) to ready it for overwintering.