It’s the art of fashioning evergreen shrubs and hedges into various shapes beloved by garden designers.

But for the rest of us, topiary is most likely regarded as a curiosity or something to admire in the manicured gardens of stately homes.

Topiary has been a thing since at least Roman times, falling in and out of fashion in the centuries since. However, it is far from a relic of the past or the preserve of those with large country estates.

From modest potted spheres and cubes ready to buy from garden centres, to elaborate custom-designed hedges in the shape of animals and birds, topiary is flourishing.

Recent developments in Bishop Monkton have thrust topiary into the spotlight. The felling of an iconic 30ft topiary cockerel that had been a feature of the village for more than a century caused quite a stir. In the grounds of a private property, by all accounts it had become too big for the homeowners to manage and was blocking the light to their home.

It got us thinking about topiary and led us to seek out a local expert on the subject to enlighten us. 

Dean Bolton-Grant is the director of the Northern School of Gardening at the Yorke Arms in Ramsgill, which runs a topiary masterclass once a year. He says the beauty of topiary is that it can add drama and interest to any size and style of garden. He said: 

As well as the gardening school, Dean also runs a garden design and management business. He said: 

Like all art and design forms, topiary has always been subject to the whims of fashion. The current trend favours geometric shapes over figures such as animals and birds.

But it really comes down to personal preference. Dean has clients with a wealth of topiary elements in their gardens – one has 150 shapes, mostly spheres – while others are positively against the idea. He said: 

Which shrubs are best for topiary?

Classic topiary shrubs are box, yew, hornbeam and beech. Dean finds yew “a delight” because of its dark green colour, which can be a good foil for lighter foliage. Although more expensive than box, yew has almost no pest and disease problems, and can be cut into any shape or size.

Box, meanwhile, can be more difficult to maintain and is susceptible to box blight and box caterpillar.

Dean also recommends beech for its autumn colour, hornbeam for its winter colour, and copper beech for its lovely foliage at this time of year.

Topiary design tips

Like anything in life, says Dean, you can spend as much or as little as you like on your topiary. He said: 

Dean’s tips for adding topiary to your garden are:

• Don't just plant one shrub. Plant several of different sizes in one cluster to create a collection that adds interest.
• Frame a pathway by placing topiary along the left and right sides or at the entrance.
• To save money on a larger feature, consider planting several small hedging elements and allowing them to grow into one, rather than buying a single large shrub which will cost a lot more.
• Visit local gardens for design inspiration. Newby Hall and Harewood House are great for bigger hedging ideas, but Dean's particular favourite in the area is York Gate in Adel, Leeds, owned by the gardening charity Perennial. He said the topiary there is “beautiful and has a more achievable style”, with the overall effect being of “a large stately garden” rather than the single acre it's set in.

Topiary care and maintenance

Maintaining a garden with topiary, says Dean, is about understanding what it is supposed to look like, either according to a designer’s brief or your own preference.

If you’re considering giving topiary a go, you’ll need the tools for the job. Dean says it’s essential to use very sharp tools such as topiary shears to get a nice clean cut. Make sure to clean your tools with a mild bleach solution so you are not transferring any pests or diseases. This is vital, especially with box which is prone to such problems.

Talking of pests and diseases, the best thing you can do is be vigilant. Dean said: 

When pruning, keep in mind the shape and size of the end result you are trying to achieve. And if things go wrong, don’t panic! Dean said: 

How often you prune depends on the variety and how you want it to look. Once or twice during the summer is enough, although some of Dean’s clients request their topiary be clipped almost weekly to keep it looking razor-sharp. 

The history of topiary

• The earliest known mention of topiary is by the Roman author Pliny the Younger. Topiary was fashionable in the Roman Empire but lost favour after its collapse.
• Over the following millennia, the art of topiary was lost in favour of more practical gardening, such as growing fruit trees.
• Topiary came back into fashion during the European Renaissance, when gardens began to be designed for pleasure once again.
• The 16th century saw varying design styles emerge in different countries, such as Italy, the Netherlands and France. The French focus on symmetry and proportion is most evident in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles.
• In England, the topiary trend reached its peak in the 17th century. By that point, manicured shrubs were ubiquitous in gardens of all sizes - and in ever more outlandish designs.
• In the early 1700s, topiary fell out of fashion, and by the end of the century the great designers such as Capability Brown were favouring a more natural style. Today, the only surviving topiary garden from that era can be found at Levens Hall in Cumbria.
• Topiary re-emerged a century later as part of the trend for English cottage gardens, which ran through to the end of the 19th century.