Has anyone ever made any topiery shapes?

[Methe]

I bought four 10 inch yew trees in Tesco a month or so back. They were 40p each and had been a bit neglected but I've resurrected them. I can't resist a bargain and I've got green fingers so I can normally bring things back from the brink.

The plan was to use them for some topiery in pots, maybe spirals. Anyone tried?

I asked DH what he thought I should do with them and he said to grow it in to a massive knob

[LostInMusic]

Not yew, but I absolutely love topiary and have grown tiny box cuttings into several shapes before. The key is to just lightly trim them all over in the first year or so, so that they bush up, then you can start shaping them.

[MeganChips]

I have. This may totally out me if anyone knows me irl but I cut a bush into the shape of a chick (though it looked more like a duck) one Easter.

Took me bloody hours with manual secateurs. It was fun but make sure you have electric trimmers.

[Methe]

Ohh interesting. I have some of those little shear so those will have to do at the moment. Do you start shaping them when they are tiny? I really should google this..

Megan, has your chick grown out now?

[LostInMusic]

I lightly trim them all over twice a year until I have a bushy plant of about the size that I want to shape. Then start shaping. No idea if this is the right way, but it has worked really well for me.
Good luck!