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Stuffed Topiaries--A Low Maintenance Method

© Diana Pederson

Last October I wrote an article about stuffed topiaries and shared the techniques I used. After teaching two classes of women the method, I've been experimenting and thought I would use this article to update you. These small stuffed topiaries are selling in nurseries for $40 or more. Like I wrote in the first article, do this with a friend because you often need an extra pair of hands.

Supplies needed

Wire frame (buy or make)*
Long fiber sphaghum moss
Fishing line (clear nylon)
Potting soil (if desired for growing plants)
Plants

Process of Stuffing and Planting:

These directions were given in the October article but are worth repeating because you follow the same steps no matter what shape topiary you decide to stuff.

1. Wrap extremities of frame (nose, legs, arms, ears) first. Be sure to weave the nylon fishing line in a way that firmly anchors the moss.

2. Stuff body and anchor with fishing line. Use a weaving type pattern with the fishing line and tie frequent knots to help hold it in place. You must anchor the line around the wire frame so it can't slide off. I usually tie it where two wires cross so it can't slide down just one wire.

3. Continue stuffing and tying until the whole frame is covered. Stuff the body portion of the frame with potting soil.

4. Just before writing this article, I created a topiary turtle. In the process, I discovered an easier way to handle a large flat-bottomed topiary shape. I took a piece of the plastic mesh that needle-workers use for creating designs and cut it to the shape. Then I "sewed" it on with fishing line. This eliminated the frustration of trying to keep the spaghum moss from falling through the bottom regardless of how fine a mesh you wove with the fishing line. It saved a lot of work!

5. Plant your frame. Water thoroughly. Use florist pins to pin the plants to the frame if necessary.

Since we seem to be having a rather hot, dry summer this year, I chose to use the "cobweb" sempervivum (hens and chickens) to plant over the body of the turtle. The head is left plain because it is too difficult to keep any plants on that shape and space. The legs were not stuffed because they won't show above the grass or garden soil anyway.

I just finished this (and taught a neighbor woman how to do it in the process), and may have to take action tomorrow to keep the neighborhood squirrels from "unplanting" my hard work! If that happens, I'll resort to wrapping the whole topiary in some nylon netting. Won't be that attractive, but will keep it from being the salad bar for the neighborhood squirrels.