nms
member
Reged: 09/05/2008
Posts: 1
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Hi - this may sound like a dumb question (or at least a very ambitious project for someone who needs to ask the question!) but.........can anyone advise me how to start training my tiny box plants so I will ultimately be able to shape them into spirals? I know it's a LONG term project - but I've managed to create 4 very large box balls in about 10 years from 4 tiny plants - satisfying, & very economical!! So I'd like to try the same with a couple of spirals. Do I need to leave them for several years, simply pruning them into columns or cones, & then form the spiral shape when they're much bigger? Or do I start to form the shape at an earlier stage? They're currently about a foot/ 30 cm tall. I've tried books & websites, & while many offer ways of actually achieving the shape, none say at what stage one should start doing so. I'd REALLY appreciate any advice anyone can offer. Thanks
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Waveney
member
Reged: 05/04/2007
Posts: 1290
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nms I have two of these, either side of the front door and they are grown up a wire frame.
You say that you are happy to have a long term project but frankly box is so slow growing it's just easier to buy them!
Good luck whatever you do
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annemari
member
Reged: 07/03/2008
Posts: 1741
Loc: Gloucestershire.
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Hi nms:I recommend that you take a look at the website for Bellamont Topiary. It is full of useful information on all types of topiary and has a direct contact line for guidance.
Hope this has been of help. Good Luck
annemari 
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Annemari xx
"Hi ladies, Back from the FF and home again,and guess what,nobody noticed me there,I sat by my Mum,all of the time,curled up underneath her chair. Ooh they all had such fun. love Eric.xx
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Chatelaine
member
Reged: 23/08/2007
Posts: 2626
Loc: A village somewhere on the Con...
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Nms, I see that this is your first posting - welcome to the forum!
As Waveney rightly said, box is so slow growing! This will indeed be a very long term project - personally I do not have patience for it! I like box, and would love a larger sized box plant, but even at carboots etc they are so expensive!!
There are books on topiary - have seen them at libraries.... Another possibility might be to try some of the gardening magazines - they often have questions and answers columns. Gardeners World is of course a great mag, and worth a try.
Perhaps someone here knows more about it, otherwise Good luck!
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BeauSoleil
member
Reged: 26/03/2008
Posts: 1019
Loc: France
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Hi I'm afraid i can't think about topiary without giggling. My OH was trying to 'grow' a hen when my brother and I had a couple of glasses of wine and cut the 'tail feathers' off! We were in hysterics and sent into even more raucous giggling the crosser he became!! very childish I know but I was only in my thirties then!!
I personally would go for this effect!!
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pennycat
member
Reged: 12/03/2008
Posts: 55
Loc: Reading
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We have three large box shrubs outside our house. They've been there for donkey's years and frankly I would rather have them dug out, but OH won't hear of it. I'm sure if we could dig them out they would sell well but only if we could get the roots out intact. They are about 3' tall each one (actually, could be more...) and almost as wide. We never managed to shape them properly so they just look like great green blobs. If anyone wants to practice topiary on them I would be delighted! 
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Gill xx
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