Topiary Sculptures for the Patio

• By
• Christina Symons

Potted topiary shrubs cab be displayed outside or brought indoors for the cool winter months

A topiary shrub on the patio or deck adds playful European flavour to your outdoor living space

Want to add a dash of England or France to your outdoor living area? Consider a formal live topiary sculpture to adorn your deck or patio.

Myrtle, boxwood, rosemary, lavender and bay leaf are just a few of the sweet and fragrant options to choose from.

And because they're potted you can enjoy most smaller topiary indoors too (and, in fact, it's a good idea to move them indoors or protect them during colder winter months).

Topiary simply means a tightly pruned herb, shrub or hedge. In the grand landscape, topiary shrubs and trees can even be trained into fanciful shapes such as horses, roosters and gnomes.

But on a much smaller scale, potted topiary plants are usually pre-trained and pruned into spheres atop a tall stem, much like single, double or triple lollipops. Planted in a terra-cotta pot, topiaries add a French country or English garden feel to a casual patio or table setting.

Add your own personal touches to a nursery stock topiary by re-potting it in a decorative planter and blanketing the top of the soil with moss, tossed pebbles or another decorative topping.