Shapes held to a genuinely straight line.

What's included

• Shaping to an existing form (most jobs), or new-shape training on young stock over several seasons
• Frames and templates used on complex or symmetrical shapes, not eyeballed
• Species-appropriate timing - box and yew each want a different cutting window (see our when-to-cut Q&A)
• All clippings cleared, sterilised blades where blight risk applies

Ask us: how often does topiary actually need cutting?

Box topiary wants two to three light cuts a year to hold a crisp shape - Derby Day for the first, then again in late July and, if it's grown enough, once more in early September. Yew topiary is happier with a single hard clip in late August. Cutting yew topiary more than once a year tends to soften the shape rather than sharpen it, which surprises people who assume more cutting means a crisper result.

Ask us: can you train a new topiary shape from an existing plain hedge or shrub?

Yes, on suitable species (box, yew, privet, holly), but it's a multi-season job, not a single visit. We wire or frame the rough shape, let growth fill it out over one to two years, then tighten the cut each season until the form is fully set. We'll tell you honestly at the start roughly how many seasons a given shape will take, rather than promise a finished cone on the first visit.

Pricing

Maintenance cuts on established topiary typically run £15 – £60 per shape depending on size and complexity, usually quoted as a per-visit rate if you have several pieces. New-shape training is quoted per project once we've seen the plant.