Topiary art: types and photos

Perhaps, many do not know what the topiary art is, but they observe the results of such activities. Stunning green sculptures, created by the hands of people, attract attention with a variety of forms. It's amazing how shrubs and trees grow and develop not according to natural laws, but according to the laws dictated by the man, which correspond with his ideas about beauty.

History of art

Figured shearing of trees and shrubs was made in the time of Ancient Rome. Residents decorated their gardens in this way, and the masters of artistic molding appreciated very highly. Later, the topiary art was forgotten for a long time, and only during the Renaissance it revived to life. On the Italian villas, living masterpieces made of bushes of box-type appeared, reminiscent of animals and birds. The bizarre labyrinths of linden and thuja, neat curbs, green rooms formed from the walls of the yew, surprised and pleased the look.

However, the trendsetter of one of the trends in landscape design is France, and her regular gardens are recognized as the greatest achievement in this field. After the XVII century the art of creating such a kind of parks spread throughout Europe. Unusual ideas of working with shrubs under Peter I were introduced to Russia. A few decades later, a "new topiary" appeared - a special technique in which a metal frame is used for a haircut, but in this case the risk of growing into it is high.

There are special forms filled with sphagnum (moss) and peat, which are planted with shrubs, and they grow with a crone of unusual outlines.

Hedges

In addition to green sculptures decorating gardens and parks, the most common form of art for creating various figures with the help of trimming are hedges that are compact. They differ in width and height, they can be single and multi-row. They are planted in staggered order, and the distance between bushes depends on their size and can reach one meter. From the shorn hedges there are ornate labyrinths enclosing the site along the perimeter, and for their creation evergreen plants like laurel or viburnum are used.

Plants suitable for haircuts

I must say that for a curly haircut few plants are suitable. In natural conditions of Russia, the most commonly used are birchwood, spruce and yew, and for winter such topiards must be carefully concealed. When a fast-growing living wall is needed, the ideal material is Tuyu West, which is a very unpretentious plant.

Bonsai

A separate species is distinguished for the cultivation of dwarf trees of the most bizarre forms, and such art in Japan is called bonsai. Recently, oriental motifs are extremely popular in Europe. The trees trimmed in a special way give color to the parks and create coziness. In Russia bonsai is an imitation of the ancient Japanese art, since it is impossible to observe all the rules without long studies. Unfortunately, our compatriots are chasing after external exoticism and pass by dwarf trees growing in forests. But they can be transplanted to the site and get ready-made bonsai.

Topiary magic at the peak of fashion

Topiary art, wonderful examples of which are the luxurious gardens of Peterhof and Versailles, are often subject to fashion trends, but green labyrinths with specially entangled passages never come out of it. They appeared in the Renaissance and are still popular to this day.

An effective novelty in landscape art is formed in the form of a high arch of a plant. At the peak of fashion, there are always living pavilions made of yew and hornbeam, and bosquets are closed land plots lined with shorn hedges in the form of a dense hedge around lawns.

A long and exciting process

The process of creating green sculptures (topiara or topiari) is very exciting, but lasting, taking about six to seven years, and before you do it, you need to learn the basics of topiary art. To care for live compositions, you need a pruner, a cutter, a garden saw and trellis scissors.

First choose a place with all the features of the landscape, then the bushes, from which the original figures will be formed. Using a metal mesh, a pattern is created, and as the shoots grow, the haircut is cut, when the branches are cut at one length with garden scissors, and an even surface (for example, fences) is created. The work is carried out during the growth of shrub shoots.

And pruning trees with a pruner is most often performed in early March. In this case, the length of branches is calculated depending on the imagination of the master. Cropping is performed when creating complex shapes.

What should I look for?

Topiary art, which is the most interesting direction of landscape architecture, requires not only patience, but also special knowledge. Below are some recommendations of specialists in this field:

1. When creating live sculptures do not use plants under five years.

2. In living hedges, different types of plants look best: unusual color effects will attract attention.

3. If more than a third of the shrubbery is removed for one haircut, it will begin to ache.

4. In the cold climate of Russia, hedges should not have vertical walls. Otherwise, the lower branches will not receive sunlight and will be bare.

The only park in Russia of topiary art

In the world there are several topiary parks where you can find delightful works of landscape art. They exist in India, England, USA, Belgium, Ecuador. And in our country this kind of park is located in Abakan. Complex "Dream gardens", created 10 years ago, is admired by all visitors. In a small area there are amazing masterpieces created by human hands from plant material. The park of the topiary art in Abakan is the main attraction of Khakassia. Landscape designer Antropov patented his own technology, which creates unique figures.

High Eiffel Tower, which looks like a real, three-meter panda, a steppe eagle soaring upward, a fluffy kitten made of barley, a pretty hedgehog - but what's there to do?

The most famous specialist of topiary art is V. Lyapchev

In addition to Vasily Antropov, who gave the city of Bryansk three-meter figure of a wise eagle owl and dreams of creating a topiary park in Russia, the name of Vladimir Lyapchev, who has been engaged in figurative tree-cutting since 2005, is known in Russia. Leading specialist of landscape architecture transforms beyond recognition the old gardens, and in a few days the unremarkable corner acquires a unique look. Cognitive articles of the master of topiary art can be read in special journals devoted to homestead farming. Lyapchev conducts seminars in our country and abroad, on which he shares the subtleties of work. Repeatedly he took part in special projects at international festivals, for which he received prestigious awards.

At present, topiary art is very popular. The photo of unique masterpieces, the variety of which depends only on the imagination of a person, lead the viewer into genuine delight. The last ten years, no exhibition dedicated to landscape art, can not do without green compositions made of cut crop.