DIY New Year topiary: ideas and a step-by-step guide

A topiary is a decorative "tree" with a full, round crown on a trunk in a pot. For New Year it is made from fir, cones, baubles and spices: it decorates a table, shelf or windowsill and suits anyone without room for a big Christmas tree. Here are ideas for New Year topiaries and how to make one yourself.

Ready-made festive arrangements are in our flower baskets and flowers in a box sections.

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New Year topiary ideas

• Evergreen — a crown of spruce, thuja or fir sprigs with cones.
• Bauble — a sparkly version in one colour scheme: gold, silver or red.
• Spice — cinnamon, star anise and dried oranges: cosy-looking and fragrant.
• Pine cone — a natural eco option; the cones can be touched up with white paint.
• Sweet — wrapped sweets that can be taken off like little gifts.

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What you need

• A pot or planter.
• Plaster, alabaster or floral foam to hold the trunk.
• A trunk: a straight branch, a wooden stick or several skewers.
• A base ball of polystyrene or floral foam.
• A glue gun.
• Decor: fir, cones, baubles, ribbons, cinnamon, berries, moss or sisal.

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Step-by-step guide

• Prepare the trunk. Push the branch about a third of the way into the ball, fix it with glue and take the ball off.
• Fix the trunk in the pot. Fill the pot with mixed plaster or insert floral foam and stand the trunk upright. Let the plaster set completely.
• Shape the crown. Put the ball back on the trunk and cover it with a base layer of fir sprigs or moss.
• Add decorations. Glue on large items such as baubles and cones first, then small ones such as cinnamon, berries and beads.
• Finish the trunk and pot. Wrap the trunk in ribbon or twine and cover the surface of the pot with moss or sisal.

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Tips

• Choose 2–3 main colours so the topiary looks neat.
• Keep the proportions: the crown is usually wider than the pot, and the trunk no shorter than the pot is tall.
• Fresh fir dries out over time; for a long-lasting topiary use artificial greenery or preserved moss.
• Be careful with the glue gun: hot glue can burn.
• Keep the topiary away from candles and heaters — fir and dry materials catch fire easily.

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A topiary as a gift

A small topiary makes a lovely holiday gift for colleagues and friends. Add a card and fresh flowers: for festive arrangements see "Flowers in winter", and for the holiday itself, "Christmas in Ukraine".

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FAQ

What can I use as a base for a topiary?

A polystyrene or floral foam ball; at a pinch, crumpled paper wrapped in tape.

How do I fix the trunk in the pot?

Plaster or alabaster is the most reliable; floral foam works for a light topiary.

How long does a fresh fir topiary last?

About two to three weeks, after which the needles start to drop.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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