DIY garden sculptures from plants. Topiary made from artificial grass Topiary figures made from bushes and grass

Topiary art - topiary trimming of trees, shrubs and flowers, in which plants are given the shape of animals, architectural structures, people, geometric figures, and in general everything that excites the imagination of a landscape ornament gardener.

Creation figures of flowers and plants came to us from the distant past - topiary art has been known since the times of the Roman Empire. Gardens with plants in the shape of a ball, cube, pyramid decorated the possessions of rich people who lived 2000 years ago!

I think many of us are very interested in how all this beauty is created, right? In this article we will look at this issue, but before that, let's admire figures of flowers and plants:

Looking at this splendor, you just want to create something similar in your garden! How difficult is it? Hmm... as the sculptors of topiary art say - in moderation, if you have the desire, patience, you are very hardworking and love to care for plants. It is recommended to start with simple shapes - bushes in the form of balls, pyramids and other geometric shapes, gradually complicating the task.

Shape figures made of flowers and plants it’s easy to use a ready-made topiary frame - there are metal structures and those with peat-sphagnum filling, in which they are planted flower plants. live flower figures from one season to five years, depending on whether they are annuals or perennials, on the quality of care and on the climate. With bushes and trees it is much easier in this regard.

To care for figures of plants and flowers, the following tools are required: pruning shears, trellis shears, garden saw and lopper (this is the minimum set). Care consists of regular trimming of the crown (according to the design and type of plant), feeding the plant, watering and sanitary pruning. The creation process itself plant sculptures looks like that:

Choosing a place in the garden depending on the landscape
Selecting a plant
Making a template from metal mesh
Making a curly haircut

Important point: pruning is done in February-March, cutting during the period of shoot growth.

The best trees and shrubs for topiary sculptures:

Evergreen Boxwood (buxus).

It has a stunningly beautiful crown, such thick, shiny foliage, and this plant tolerates pruning very well, which is important. Long years I am pleased with the sculpture made of evergreen Boxwood.

Yew berry.

Well, yew is a classic in topiary art. Magnificent figures from this plant were made back in the Renaissance.

Privet is oval-leaved.

In the south of Russia, Privet grows several meters high, in the middle zone, as a rule, up to 1 meter. An evergreen shrub with beautiful leaves is often used as a container crop...

Let's focus our attention on plants middle zone that are suitable for a topiary garden:

quince
Japanese
yellow acacia
common barberry
European euonymus
common privet
hawthorn prickly
elm
spruce
pine
oak
derain
pear
honeysuckle
willow
irga
viburnum
cotoneaster
maple
rose
Rowan
lilac
currant
spirea
Apple tree
bird cherry
thuja
turn
pine
fir
Linden
juniper

Bonsai

If we talk about such a miracle as bonsai, then one cannot fail to mention that this is also a type of topiary art - growing dwarf trees the most fancy shapes. Bonsai creates a fabulous atmosphere, helps to feel harmony with nature, giving health. The legend says that the great emperor of the Han dynasty decided to recreate an exact copy of his luxurious garden, with its rivers, hills and trees, and since then the creation miniature garden has become a very popular hobby.

A similar product can be purchased, but you can also make it yourself. It's not as difficult as it seems at first glance.

The lesson for “garden sculptors” is based on the example of a cute bunny figure. Visitors are strongly encouraged to pet the finished animal and even sit astride it - this makes it clear that this thing is very strong and pleasant to handle. The master class lasts two hours. During this time, it is impossible to create a hare from scratch and turnkey, but presenter Evgeniy Sluchich managed to show all the most essential aspects of the manufacturing process, including subtleties developed through practice. Under his guidance, I tried to perform the necessary operations myself, and it was very exciting. For those who are interested in the idea of ​​making such a sculpture, I will tell you about the technology for its production.

What will you need?

Welding machine with all necessary accessories.

Rubber coated gloves

Metal wire (so-called wire rod) with a cross section of 5-6 mm. You can buy it in a store, but it will be cheaper at metal collection points. Sometimes builders even throw away such wire (it is used for packaging). Don't be confused by the curvature of the wire - it can be easily removed.

Hammer

Plaster network with 2x2 mesh 1 mm thick, for individual parts - thinner ones.

Artificial lawn, preferably with an “undercoat” and a backing painted to match the color of the lawn. Then sharp kinks (for example, on the ears of animals) will be fluffy and without bald spots. The price for coverage of this quality starts from 750 rubles. per m. The color and length of the pile is to your taste.

The wire is about 1 mm thick.

Wire cutters or metal scissors.

Pliers

Tailor's scissors

Furniture needles, curved, preferably stronger, 8-15 cm long.

Fishing line, 0.4-0.5 mm. If the seam is thinner, it can burst and make work difficult.

Trimmings metal pipe square section for the stand.

It is very important to do everything step by step and in strict sequence, without skipping the necessary steps.

Step 1: Create a Layout

First you need to come up with a future sculpture (it is desirable that it be relatively simple in shape). Then draw her life-size profile silhouette on appropriately sized paper. Select in the drawing the main outline of the head and body (not including the limbs, ears and nose).

Step 2. Make the main frame

Bend the drawn wire outline, applying it to the drawing. It is not necessary to accurately measure the length of the wire in advance. The missing pieces are welded. Finished contour using welding machine must be installed on a work stand (for the convenience of all further work).

After this, you need to add volume to the silhouette using rings of different diameters. Wide rings are bent by hand, and for thin ones they use a pipe of a suitable size as a blank and use a hammer. The rings must be welded to the silhouette at all intersection points. Install transverse stiffeners from the same wire and weld all overlaps. While the wire is hot from welding, it bends easily: you need to take advantage of this to give the ribs the desired shape. Total frame elements depends on the size of the figure: we need cells that will not allow the plaster mesh to be pressed down even under the weight of an adult. But it is important not to overdo it, otherwise the figure will turn out too heavy.

Step 3. Add parts to the frame

Then, according to the corresponding contours, all other parts of the sculpture (legs, ears, etc.) should be made and attached to the body. Then add additional stiffeners to them and also weld them at the intersection points. Use these ribs to form the chest. The configuration of the figure can be corrected along the way by heating and bending the wire in the right places. Individual mistakes are also not terrible: if something goes wrong, you can cut off the wrong part and do it again.

Attention!

Silhouettes of animal paws are not placed straight when installed, but are taken to the outer side- this way the figure will look natural. It is convenient to make small convexities (tail, nose) from half rings.

Step 4. Cover the frame with mesh

The skeleton is ready! Now it needs to be closed metal mesh- create a supporting surface. To do this, you will have to attach “shreds” to the frame. plaster mesh one by one, connecting them to each other as they go. It’s better to start with the muzzle and back. Each piece of mesh is attracted to the skeleton by pieces of thin wire about 15-20 cm long in several places (along the contour and where it departs from the frame). It’s good if, when cutting out the mesh, you leave “tendrils” perpendicular to the edge - they will be useful for connecting pieces of the mesh to each other (the pieces of wire are hooked together like a kind of locks). “Patches” can be cut where the mesh rests on the frame. All protruding ends of the wire must be directed inside the figure (otherwise it will not be smooth, but dangerous).

Leave an open (without mesh) window in the side of the sculpture, through which it is convenient to stick your hand. This way you will have access to the surface from the inside and outside until the end of the work.

Step 5. Provide the figure with a fur coat

You need to attach the scraps to the finished metal figure artificial turf: also one after the other, making sure that the direction of the pile matches. Each piece needs to be secured in several places with wire (not too tightly so that the “fur” can be moved in the desired direction if necessary). The wire is also always tucked inside the figure. Each subsequent flap is sewn to the previous one with large stitches using a furniture needle and fishing line over the edge. At each attachment point and above each stitch, you need to carefully fluff the undercoat with a needle - then the joints will be invisible.

Step 6. Install the sculpture

U finished product you need to replace the working stand with a permanent one. It should be large in area (so that the sculpture does not tip over) and strong. Use durable pipes square section. Cut out appropriate stripes in the lawn and install the sculpture buried in the ground.

Every city dweller dreams of breaking out into their garden plot, resting there and relaxing, feeling harmony with nature. IN Lately the current trend has become to install various garden figures. They will help give your dacha individuality.

Peculiarities

Various decorative figures will help make your summer home not only bright and attractive, but will also lift your spirits every day. Let's look at their main features:

• You can create beauty in your garden plot by purchasing already ready-made models. Figures made of polystone or plaster can be very different. However, the most the best option will be creating your own work of art. You can be sure that no one else will have such jewelry.
• Before you put up this or that sculpture, you should think through the entire composition that you want to create. Based on this, you will need to select figures. Also decide on their location. This could be the center of the garden or, for example, a model peeking out from around the corner.
• If you think what better product placed in your dacha, then you should take a closer look at the overall decor of the house or garden. Usually many people choose classic products, for example, sculptures from mythology. If you want to create a more romantic atmosphere, then you should choose appropriate options, for example, a sculpture of Cupid and Psyche. For open areas, you can use a fountain or sundial.

• Look at the area of ​​your territory. All figures must be proportional. For a small garden it is worth choosing small models. If you choose too bulky options, you will only make the composition heavier. Conversely, small decorations in a spacious garden will simply get lost and will not produce the desired effect.
• Special attention pay attention to the cost. Focus on your family budget and opportunities. You can create attractive options with my own hands without spending fabulous sums.
• There should always be a sense of proportion. Try to emphasize natural details with garden figures: stumps, tree roots, flower beds, flower beds, streams. If there is a children's area, then it can be successfully decorated with fairy-tale characters.

Style and design

All decorative ornaments should echo or resonate with the overall style concept of the house. This is the only way you can create an attractive composition that will please the eye and give you only pleasure.

It is worth noting that design styles can be very different; accordingly, it is worth choosing garden figures that suit them. For example, if your garden is made in a country style, then you can “settle” gnomes in a small grass area.

Animals, birds, as well as a variety of fairy-tale characters would be appropriate for the rural theme. They will create a special charm on your backyard lawn.

How to do it?

It’s very easy to create garden figurines with your own hands. All it takes is desire, as well as a little skill, practice and, of course, necessary materials. You can refer to the master class, where the process of making figures is explained step by step. By strictly following the instructions, you can create your own beautiful options for the design of your dacha.

Let's consider several options. From the “garbage” that you probably have in your garage, you can create interesting animals. For example, elephants. They are done as follows:

• You should take two old tires, stock up on screws and paint.
• It is worth burying one tire in the ground for a third, and cutting the second one and turning it inside out.
• The entire width will become the head, and cut the workpiece symmetrically on all sides as a trunk.
• Attach the head to the body using self-tapping screws. Cut the ears from a thin slope. Color the entire composition.

You can create a swan in the same way. The tire is cut into three parts - side and central. The parts will hold their shape if they are stitched with metal wire. Secure the figure to the ground and decorate it.

Using small bottles, you can create attractive bees and paint them with colored stripes. The antennae are made from wire with a bottle cap on the end.

You can also create a palm tree from plastic bottles. Cut them and insert one bottle into the other, creating a palm tree trunk. At the top you can attach lush leaves, which are cut from green blanks.

You can make crafts using cement mortars. To do this, you will need special forms into which the mixture will be poured. Subsequently, you can get a finished sculpture. A special drying chamber is also used if we are talking about a large-scale figure.

You can create a dog figure that is trendy this year using available materials. It is worth forming the body of the animal from foam rubber. Then the structure is covered with fabric, the ears and tail are sewn. From the bags cut into strips you need to make terry cloths that would resemble fringe. Start from the back, moving towards the head of the product. Slowly begin trimming the dog’s foam frame with this fringe. Then you should pay attention to the details - sew on the nose, eyes, decorate the dog with bows and a collar.

Kinds

It is worth noting that the figures can be the most different types. There are excellent hollow ones landscape options, which will appeal to avid summer residents. Creating them will also be easy and simple, just follow the chosen instructions quite clearly. Also, garden figures are divided into those that are installed for some time and those that stand permanently. For example, they can become part of some decor during a holiday.

Products also differ in the raw materials used in their production. It can be gypsum, ceramics, fake diamond, concrete, etc. You just need to accurately determine your own preferences in order to decorate your site profitably and stylishly.

Materials

You are surrounded by a lot of available materials from which you can independently make interesting and original products for the garden. Wooden options are current. To realize such figures, it is better to use raw material. These can be ordinary logs, twigs, driftwood. They will help you create creative wooden crafts, you just need to show your imagination.

Let's say a stone may resemble a sleeping cat or a cheerful turtle. In this case, it will be enough to simply paint the material to get stylish item interior for the garden. You can use the stones that you brought from the south to lay out interesting compositions.

Products made from gypsum are also common. This material is especially popular as it helps to give shapes any shape. But it also has its downsides. The plaster figure is very fragile. You should be especially careful when near such decor.. You can make a figure yourself or use special molds.

You can create attractive designs using cement. The solution can be poured into a prepared mold or coated with it on a specially prepared frame. In the second case, you should also add PVA glue to the plaster for plasticity.

You can also use a variety of available materials. Among such popular things are a basin, options made of tires, wire, plastic bottles, silicone models, figurines made of metal, concrete, artificial grass, lawn. All of them will organically complement your garden.

Form

Before you install any figure on your garden plot, you should decide in advance what shape you want. fits better Total. You can use special molds - forms for filling voluminous objects. This way you can quickly and efficiently create an attractive arrangement in your garden. It can be different variants, for example, in the shape of a dog, gnome, turtle, etc. To produce attractive figures, you will also need a set of brushes, spatulas, varnish, and acrylic paints. Only after you have prepared everything necessary tools, it’s time to start the creative process.

Before you start creating an individual figure, you should decide on the general concept of space. All products must be of optimal dimensions. This rule should be followed first. Don't clutter small space impressive sized figures. They will only make the whole composition heavier. The same advice applies in the opposite case. For large space Small figures will not work. They will simply get lost in the grass and will not create the desired effect.

It’s good if the composition echoes the style of the house. This way you can create a real fairy-tale garden filled with interesting figures.

Care should be taken when choosing the location of objects. If you cannot decide where exactly you should place your masterpiece, then you can attach the layout to this place and clearly see whether the product fits here or not. Not worth downloading garden plot numerous items. Everything should be done in moderation. Using available materials, do not forget to immediately prepare all the tools that you will need to create models. It is worth considering all the options for making figurines and choosing the one that is acceptable to you.

Also, do not forget to strictly follow the instructions that you find for yourself. Step by step, carefully carrying out all the work, it will be possible to create a real masterpiece. Many experienced gardeners it is advised to start making figurines with more simple models, gradually moving to complex options. This way you can practice.

Successful examples and options

For a dacha, the most optimal options will be those that appeal to you. You should choose those figures that are pleasant to you, because you will be the one who sees them every day. It will be doubly pleasant to see products created by yourself. Great options are made from polystyrene foam. This material is quite lightweight and easy to process. At the same time, in order to place the figurine on the ground, it is worth securing it with cement mortar.

The parts of the foam figures can be fastened to each other. In this way you can create an attractive starfish and place it near the pool on summer cottage or a bright bird that will sit on a tree.

You can also create figures in the form of mushrooms. They will look beautiful on your summer cottage. Products can be large or small, voluminous or flat. The hat can be made separately and secured to the leg using a putty solution and self-tapping screws. Mushrooms should be painted with acrylic paint.

Most people tend to do everything quickly, which is reflected in this painstaking gardening art. If previously this work required decades, today it is possible to form a fancy tree crown in just a few months. Who managed to make the hard work of gardeners so simple? The most hasty nation in the world is the Americans, who, during a break between lightning-fast swallowing of another portion of fast food, figured out what to do to quickly and easily get fast topiary.
That is why today it is very easy to grow intricate green figures - you don’t have to wait several years for the tree to grow, then for a long time trim its crown in order to obtain a certain configuration of the plant. You just buy a wire frame and fill it soil mixture, plant it in ground cover plants- And topiary built.

How to make topiary with your own hands

A fun activity that can brighten up the monotony of everyday life bright colors, appeared thanks to people's desire for diversity in life. Gardeners often transform their personal plots original plant figures. This could be ducks or a peacock, an elephant or a lion, or perhaps the presence of a flower car in the garden.

Topiary in the shape of a car.

Topiary landscaping is an ancient art that has been redone in a modern way. You can create topiary yourself in just one day. However, with large-scale ideas that can amaze the neighbors from the surrounding mansions with the scope and breadth, naturally, more time will be needed.

At first, don’t dream about too large compositions, but try yourself by creating a small garden figurine using the frame technique. Only after you succeed, you can perform more complex compositions.

Arranging a topiary using a ready-made frame

Independent topiary construction, which uses a ready-made metal frame, can be done by all gardeners who have the proper patience and perseverance. First, choose a frame for the intended flower figure. Moreover, the figure should, with its size and shape, harmoniously complement the landscape of the land plot. A small but expressive form is preferable, on which you can create an accent that will not fail to attract the attention of others.

For the production of ready-made frames, which offer specialized products for sale garden shops, a wire having a diameter of 2-3 mm is used. Such frames are lattice structures that are made with certain gaps for penetration inside them. In addition, there must be a lid on top of the frame, thanks to which it is even easier to get to the “insides” of metal structures in order to fill them with a substrate, which is a mixture of soil and peat, or sphagnum moss.

Frame for topiary in the shape of a turtle.

Before starting to fill the frame, it is necessary to prepare the moss, which is soaked in warm water about half an hour. When you fill the frame with substrate, try not to forget about the prudent creation of holes for the subsequent planting of groundcover or climbing, succulent or herbaceous plants garden crops. It is advisable to plant juveniles, saxifrage, sedum, loosestrife, ivy or grapes in these holes.

If you are forming a topiary using climbing plants, you need to move the earthen ball from plastic containers to metal forms and distribute the shoots along the frame.

Moreover, the shoots must be grabbed using U-shaped clips. If you decide to create a figure that has a medium or big size, in order to lighten its weight, place bags filled with pieces of crushed polystyrene foam into the substrate.

Frame topiary requires constant care: regular watering of plants and fertilizing the soil, as well as pinching and pruning. Remember that such a green sculpture should not be left for the winter. outdoors. It is better to bring it into a room that is not heated and in which the air temperature is about 5 degrees. If the topiary is large or heavy, leave it on the site, just cover it wooden box, which is insulated with straw or polystyrene foam.

Making express topiary

Express topiary came into being thanks to people’s desire to speed up the process of creating green figures with complex shapes. This method of forming green sculptures is quite simple. Spring in open ground climbing plants are planted that quickly form shoots: periwinkle, girl's grapes, ivy or hops.

How to make topiary with your own hands.

After this, a metal piece is installed on top of the landing mesh frame- the basis for the future topiary. The plants grow and their branches begin to spread throughout the frame. They must be secured using a rope made from natural materials, or trim. By the end of the season, the frame has time to overgrow and completely cover the metal rods under its green cover. The main thing is to always remember about timely watering and feeding of topiary plants.

Building a classic topiary

The ancient Roman gardener could not even imagine that modern society It will be possible to transform art related to park classics in this way. When the ancient Romans issued free time, they created living sculptures, without trying at all to speed up the process. On the contrary, they preferred the leisurely search for ideal shapes and sizes.

Making topiary of a classic shape.

If you are an adherent of the classical approach, then perform topiary the way it was liked by the ancient Romans, and later by the gardeners who lived and worked in the 18th and 19th centuries. You don't have to be a wizard to do this. It is enough that you are patient, that you have imagination and a sharply honed instrument:

1. Garden or trellis shears;
2. Lopper;
3. Secateurs;
4. Wooden slats.

Some tips that will be useful to you when equipping a classic topiary:

First, the skill and hand are “trained” by making simple geometric figures. It is possible to complicate simple but three-dimensional figures, for which it is transformed into another, for example, a cube is turned into a ball, and a cylinder becomes a pyramid or a cone.

Making topiary with a simple geometric shape

First you need to understand what kind of figure you want to get when performing your first exercise. You need to find a specimen of a tree or bush that is five years old or older, and also has a well-developed root system and crown. Its dimensions should be larger than the intended dimensions of the figure. Ideally, topiary can be made from the following plants:

1. Spruce or prickly spruce;
2. Cotoneaster;
3. Bladderwort purpurea;
4. Hawthorn pinnately incised;
5. Tatarian maple.

The best time for a topiary haircut is March-April or June-August. It is not a good idea to trim the plants during autumn days as this will weaken them before they head off for the winter.

Topiary of a simple frame shape.

Must be followed step by step instructions to make a cube-shaped topiary:

A square having the desired length of the side of the cube is drawn on the ground, directly under the crown.

Installation required at the corners of a square wooden slats or bamboo sticks with a diameter of 2-3 cm. They are fastened together using horizontal transverse strips. The result is a frame - a landmark.

Using trellis shears, make a rough cut to roughly outline the outline of the intended figure. First, cut the top edges, then process the side edges.

After checking the sides of the cube for evenness, it is necessary to correct the planes and proceed to finishing cutting, during which the volume is gradually trimmed.

Grab your pruning shears for the finishing touch. At the same time, small branches that stand out from the overall composition are removed.

From time to time, evaluate the correctness of the forms from the outside. To do this, you need to move 3-4 meters away from the sculpture.

Making topiary of complex shape

By truncating the faces of a cube, you can get a topiary, which is a ball. Ball-shaped topiary is best obtained from the following plants:

1. Purple willow;
2. Barberry Thunberg;
3. Bladderwort;
4. Thuja occidentalis;
5. Spiraea sulfur;
6. Common spruce;
7. Tisa;
8. Boxwood and others.

To obtain a cylindrical topiary, thuja occidentalis is suitable, a natural variety of which is the column shape. For beautiful cylinders the following are also suitable:

1. European larch;
2. Irga roundifolia;
3. Small-leaved linden.

Topiary that looks like a column is cut, just like a cubic one. A circle is drawn on the ground under the tree crown, guide stakes made of wood are installed, and a cylinder is cut out. Topiaries are beautiful, trimmed like a cone or truncated cone.

To build a frame for a cone-shaped topiary, you need to dig in three or more poles and fasten them in the center - this is the place where the top of the cone, similar to an Indian wigwam, is supposed to be located. Beginning topiaries are supported by nature itself, which created the plant - thuja occidentalis, which has a cone-shaped crown.

Topiary of complex frame shape.

To train your hand, you can try yourself by performing pyramidal topiaries with three and four sides. So your garden will be decorated with a mini-complex, which is Egyptian pyramids what will he do land plot completely unique. Gradually, you can become a perfect master, and gradually begin to create such complex green sculptures, which are made in the form of a spiral, tiered geometric volumes with various combinations, and a little later create figures of animals and people.

Making a classic topiary with a frame

Trimming classic topiary is greatly simplified thanks to the removable metal frame, placed on top of the crown of a tree or bush. The use of such an auxiliary element makes it easier to obtain topiary yourself and is most useful for beginner topiaries.

The planted plant grows without removing the mesh garment, thus adapting to the necessary shapes, and the gardener only frees it from unruly branches that make their way in the wrong direction.

After the crown is finally formed, the frame is removed. True, many gardeners do not like this method of equipping a topiary, because the plants can grow together with the frame to such an extent that later, when it is removed, the crown can be damaged.