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How to Make a Topiary {DIY}

Since I kind of showcased the pink peony topiaries this week with all the dresser turned TV stand coverage, I thought I’d post the tutorial again for those of you who missed it the first time around.
I made these peony topiaries for our wedding last June (as in June 25, 2011). I chose peonies because they’re my favorite flower. I mean, my bouquet was pink peonies and green hypericum berries.

The topiaries flanked the fireplace we were married in front of. I also made the moss covered monograms and ampersand that set on the mantel.

I used the following materials:
6″ foam ball (JoAnn)
white planter (Menard’s)
silk peonies (JoAnn)
floral foam (Dollar Tree)
Spanish moss (Micheal’s)
bundle of 5 twisted willow branches (JoAnn)

 

Instructions for how to make one topiary:
1. Take the peony heads off of the stems.
2. Begin placing some of the peonies in the foam ball to determine spacing.


3. After determining spacing, remove the peonies.
4. Begin applying hot glue to the green tip of peony and inserting it in the pre-made hole.
5. Continue step 4 until the entire ball is covered with peonies.
6. Insert 4 floral foam pieces into the pot.

7. Determine the center of the pot and insert a bundle of twisted willow branches into the floral foam.


8. Use the remaining 4 floral foam pieces to secure the willow branches in the pot. You may need to use your knife to cut the foam to fit.
9. With your tape measure, measure 16 inches up the willow branches and make a notch with your scissors or knife.
10. With your hedge clippers, chop off the willow branches above your notch.

11. Take your peony ball and insert it on top of the willow branches, making at least a 1 inch hole in the foam.


12. Put hot glue in the hole in foam in peony ball and immediately place on top of willow branches. Hold it in place for a few minutes, allowing the glue to dry.


13. Lay the Spanish moss over the floral foam in the pot, covering it so that the floral foam is not visible. If you wish to secure the moss, glue it to the floral foam using the glue gun.

My topiaries came out to be 27 inches tall. Kind of a random height, but I went with what looked best proportion-wise to the peony pomander and the white pot.

Note:  I’m typically not a silk flower fan, but this option was much more cost effective for our wedding than getting the real deal. (The topiaries cost me about $32 each, so $64 total. MUCH cheaper than the $65-$155 per topiary quote I got from my florist.)  Also, I think they look better than your usual silk flower arrangements because I used expensive-ish silk flowers.

Have you ever made a topiary?
What’s your favorite flower?
Did you DIY anything for your wedding?

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22 Comments

  3. Well, I’ll just jot that little nugget down for Christmas. Should translate well with holly, poinsettias or even ornaments.

    You know, my WHOLE wedding was DIY. Had we lived in a nicer house at the time, we wouldn’t have even had a venue cost.

    Reply

  5. Those silk flowers definitely look good! There’s a line in the silk flower department between tacky and acceptable. Yours pass inspection, for sure. And there’s your pretty moss-covered ampersand! Love it!

    Reply

  6. They look so much nicer that typical fake flowers! By the way, thanks for posting this tutorial again! I’ve been eyeing some topiaries at HomeGoods but they’re much more than I want to spend and I thought I could make them for cheaper which I can now, thanks to your tutorial 🙂

    Reply

  9. i honestly didn’t even know they weren’t real peonies when I looked through all your wedding photos! There is a WORLD of difference between cheap silk flowers and expensive silk flowers. I love them, I think i need to try my hand at making one!

    Reply

  10. These peonies and the tv stand really match together!
    I want to do the same peonies!!
    I just have to find some beautiful silk flowers in belgium… not so easy…

    Reply

  11. I all the timе emailed this webszite post page to all my associates, as if like tօ
    read it next my links will too.

    Reply

  12. Hi! Can you please tell me how many peonies you needed for the 6″ ball? I looked at Joann’s and nothing seemed ‘full’ enough…I would have had to buy quite a few.

    Thank you so much!

    Reply

  15. These are gorgeous! Thanks for sharing at Work it Wednesday.

    Reply

  16. I was thinking of having something similar at my wedding. Thanks for the instructions. Its a lot cheaper to make than to buy.

    Reply

  19. These are super pretty. I’ve been curious how this was done.

    Thank you for sharing this with us on the #HomeMattersParty. We hope to see you next Friday at 12 AM when we open our doors again.

    Reply

  20. That is beautiful!! I would love to make some of these for my home! #HomeMattersParty

    Reply

  22. Those are beautiful! Congrats on being featured! #HomeMattersParty

    Reply

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