3 Things You Need To Know About Artificial Topiary
Some people just seem to have a natural green thumb when it comes to caring for indoor and outdoor plants. If you aren’t one of those lucky people, you might want to consider using artificial topiary in your decorating. Fake plants have come a long way in terms of quality and realism, and you may discover that your faux greenery will fool the average observer if you keep a few things in mind while decorating.
Know What You’re Looking For
Artificial topiary is available in a wide variety of options for both your home and yard. It is important to know where you plan to place your fake plants before you buy them. Like with real plants, indoor faux greenery is less sturdy than the plants made for decorating your yard.
If you want to utilize fake plants around the interior of your home, you can find some beautiful specimens with silk leaves that will be almost identical to the real thing. Silk flowers make a lovely addition to a coffee table and are very versatile and easy to arrange. However, silk topiary is not appropriate for outdoor use as it will damage easily in wind or inclement weather and is more prone to sun fading.
For those who want to add an accent tree or shrub to their yard or porch, sturdier plastic topiaries are a good choice. These faux trees are made of hardier plastic materials that will weather a storm well and won’t fade easily in the summer sun.
Know How To Disguise Your Topiary
Though today’s fake topiaries are a vast improvement on the wire stems and obviously plastic leaves of the past, there are still a few tactics you can employ to ensure maximum realism. For small faux trees used on porches or indoors, replanting the topiary in a decorative pot with real dirt is a nice way to disguise the fact that you’re using artificial greenery.
If you’re considering artificial trees and shrubs in your backyard, plant the greenery in the ground like an ordinary tree and cover the base with wood chips or rock. You’ll achieve a realistic and uniform look to your landscaping, without all the hassle of pruning and watering your ornamental plants.
Appropriate Care For Artificial Topiary
The most important factor for keeping artificial topiary that looks natural and lasts a long time is care. Though the use of faux greenery is meant to minimize the time you spend on your plants, your fake trees, shrubs, and flowers will require some care to keep them looking their best.
Be sure to clean artificial topiary regularly, as clean plants will maintain their realism longer. Depending on the material they’re made of, indoor plants should be cleaned with a feather duster or a soft cloth and tap water. Outdoor plants can generally be rinsed with a hose to keep them dust free.
If you live in a harsh environment, you may consider removing outside topiary and storing them for the winter months. A large garbage bag placed over small trees or shrubs and fastened near the base, will keep your topiary looking nice for the coming spring. Be sure to store all plants upright and away from things that might damage the branches and leaves.
Not everyone is born with the innate ability to grow and keep genuine plants. That doesn’t mean that you can’t have a yard or home full of beautiful greenery. With appropriate care and a little research, artificial topiary can bring you the joy of living plants, without all the hard work.