Topiary and the Art of Training Plants aims to demystify the practice of sculpting plants and hedging and instil confidence in amateur gardeners who are keen to develop this art. David Joyce is an experienced garden writer and planting adviser who, as the co-author of The Royal Horticultural Society Pruning and Training Manual, is well qualified to make this difficult skill accessible.

The book offers guidance on three main types of topiary: plants as sculpture, plants as architecture and patterned planting. It also includes a well-written and informative introduction that gives the enthusiast an interesting historical perspective on the growth of the art form.

Common and unusual forms of topiary are clearly explained, with simple-to-follow steps--for example, how to shape a box ball. Furthermore Joyce points out the pros and cons of using particular plants, such as the disadvantages of fast-growing privets and the graphic geometry of rare deciduous topiary like hawthorn. The range covered is extremely comprehensive and includes simple shapes on stems, animal shapes and standardised flowering or fruiting plants, as well as more complex fantasy sculptures.

The "Plants as Architecture" section includes tips on planting formal hedges and how to early train common hedging plants to create arches and decorative effects such as Yew Buttress with a Tulip Finial. For the more ambitious landscaper, there is even a dramatic Art Deco garden. Joyce provides a detailed directory of plants and shrubs, their characteristics and how they will grow. He also recommends public gardens to visit throughout Europe.

Joyce's instructions are all delicately illustrated by Laura Stoddart and are accompanied by impressive photography that makes this is an extremely attractive and useful guide to the art of topiary. --Karen Homer

An inspiring and excellent reference book on formal gardens, 28 Nov 2000
A well illustrated and good reference to the art of topiary and training plants. Leaning towards traditional topiary with plants such as yew and boxwood. Topiary with these plants is not executed overnight.

A reasonable section on false topiary (making living sculptures with vigourous growing ivies)is described. Overall an excellent coffee table book to browse for ideas, particulary at the garden planning stage.

An inspiring and excellent reference book on formal gardens, 28 Nov 2000
A well illustrated and good reference to the art of topiary and training plants. Leaning towards traditional topiary with plants such as yew and boxwood. Topiary with these plants is not executed overnight.

A reasonable section on false topiary (making living sculptures with vigourous growing ivies)is described. Overall an excellent coffee table book to browse for ideas, particulary at the garden planning stage.

Lacking Imagination, 30 Dec 2007
A book mainly teaching how to grow plants around wire frames. Not enough information on cutting. No cloud trees or other longer term topiary projects. Lacks imagination.

informative and well illustrated, but untraditional, 16 Feb 2002
This book is very accurate in its title. So if you believe that topiary can only be achieved with decades of careful snipping, this is probably not the book for you.

However, if you are looking for quick ways of achieving results without any prior experience, then this book is well worth considering.

The book explains how to make frames, how to plant them up, and how you can adapt traditional topiary technique for quick results. There are numerous fully illustrated projects, including a rosemary globe, a fruit standard, and a conifer corkscrew. In addition there is a plant directory where every feasible plant for quick topiary is illustrated along with its care instructions.

Overall, this book is clearly written, well illustrated, and full of helpful ideas.

An inspiring and excellent reference book on formal gardens, 28 Nov 2000
A well illustrated and good reference to the art of topiary and training plants. Leaning towards traditional topiary with plants such as yew and boxwood. Topiary with these plants is not executed overnight.

A reasonable section on false topiary (making living sculptures with vigourous growing ivies)is described. Overall an excellent coffee table book to browse for ideas, particulary at the garden planning stage.

Lacking Imagination, 30 Dec 2007
A book mainly teaching how to grow plants around wire frames. Not enough information on cutting. No cloud trees or other longer term topiary projects. Lacks imagination.

informative and well illustrated, but untraditional, 16 Feb 2002
This book is very accurate in its title. So if you believe that topiary can only be achieved with decades of careful snipping, this is probably not the book for you.

However, if you are looking for quick ways of achieving results without any prior experience, then this book is well worth considering.

The book explains how to make frames, how to plant them up, and how you can adapt traditional topiary technique for quick results. There are numerous fully illustrated projects, including a rosemary globe, a fruit standard, and a conifer corkscrew. In addition there is a plant directory where every feasible plant for quick topiary is illustrated along with its care instructions.

Overall, this book is clearly written, well illustrated, and full of helpful ideas.

Experience the very finest of the Japanese art of bonsai., 08 Mar 1998
The magnificent photographs in this book, accompanied by indications of the size and ages of the trees shown will astound you. Short of a trip to Japan, or perhaps to our National Arboretum, this book provides the best means for enhancing your appreciation of the art of bonsai.

An inspiring and excellent reference book on formal gardens, 28 Nov 2000
A well illustrated and good reference to the art of topiary and training plants. Leaning towards traditional topiary with plants such as yew and boxwood. Topiary with these plants is not executed overnight.

A reasonable section on false topiary (making living sculptures with vigourous growing ivies)is described. Overall an excellent coffee table book to browse for ideas, particulary at the garden planning stage.

Lacking Imagination, 30 Dec 2007
A book mainly teaching how to grow plants around wire frames. Not enough information on cutting. No cloud trees or other longer term topiary projects. Lacks imagination.

informative and well illustrated, but untraditional, 16 Feb 2002
This book is very accurate in its title. So if you believe that topiary can only be achieved with decades of careful snipping, this is probably not the book for you.

However, if you are looking for quick ways of achieving results without any prior experience, then this book is well worth considering.

The book explains how to make frames, how to plant them up, and how you can adapt traditional topiary technique for quick results. There are numerous fully illustrated projects, including a rosemary globe, a fruit standard, and a conifer corkscrew. In addition there is a plant directory where every feasible plant for quick topiary is illustrated along with its care instructions.

Overall, this book is clearly written, well illustrated, and full of helpful ideas.

Experience the very finest of the Japanese art of bonsai., 08 Mar 1998
The magnificent photographs in this book, accompanied by indications of the size and ages of the trees shown will astound you. Short of a trip to Japan, or perhaps to our National Arboretum, this book provides the best means for enhancing your appreciation of the art of bonsai.

A complete guide to new topiary techniques, 12 Nov 2000
It is a perfect quide! Describes the steps to make a topiary, using moss filled frames and climbing plants. You can make topiaries faster by using this method, insead of trimming shrubs. There are many photos and much more ideas. Also contains a plant catalogue.