Birthday
HydrangeasA 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.
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.
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.
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".
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.
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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.
