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Topiary shapes up at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show
It’s hip to be square - or round, or rectangular! This summer is top for topiary in all shapes and sizes as the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show showcases the return of formal design.
A number of show gardens will be incorporating topiary into classical, romantic and contemporary designs. Jazz fan Daryl Gannon from London will be exhibiting a small garden, No Room for Squares, inspired by the music and record sleeves of jazz label Blue Note Records, where large rounded topiary dominates the stylish outdoor space. Rosie Hardy, of multi-RHS Gold Medal winners Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants from Hampshire, will be creating the Summer Garden in the Daily Mail’s Four Seasons Pavilion. The cottage garden, bursting with summer colour, will include classic roses planted in a contemporary style amongst rounded topiary.
Golden Years, from the charity Independent Age, illustrates the journey through life with the emphasis on keeping active and independent in later years. The contemporary design includes large yew trees alongside square hedges and angular topiary. Down to Earth Garden Design from Bristol will be creating a small garden Symmetrical Illusion at the show, a formal, low maintenance space full of square and rectangular topiary. Squire’s Landscapes’ show garden The Gavin Jones 85th Anniversary Garden follows a formal design with mixed topiary shapes and clipped hedging.
Becky Roberts, Show Manager for the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, said, “There is certainly a strong return to formal planting and classic features such as topiary in the garden designs submitted this year. Visitors to the show will see that this style, usually associated with grand stately grounds, is easily incorporated into small urban plots and can add a very stylish edge to your garden. I hope people will be encouraged to get the clippers out when they get home!”
For tips on topiary - including choosing the right plants and tools, training techniques and maintenance - click here