Can someone help me with the mechanics of 5 foot tall topiaries please? Making 2 for the altar area of an outdoor wedding in September.
Thank you - jenny
Thank you - jenny
Topiary construction help
- Thread starter JCT
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The way I will make one is : Get a tall enough container ( approx. 1 1/2' )
fill the bottom with some rocks, if it is not heavy enough to support the finished work.
pack it with dry foam plus hot glue or with insulation foam or combination of both to support a piece of wood ( approx. 3" in diameter), to achieve the total height, let it set, then attach a vine ball to where you want to position it.
Pack the inside of the vine ball with wet foams really really well.
You should be good to go.
fill the bottom with some rocks, if it is not heavy enough to support the finished work.
pack it with dry foam plus hot glue or with insulation foam or combination of both to support a piece of wood ( approx. 3" in diameter), to achieve the total height, let it set, then attach a vine ball to where you want to position it.
Pack the inside of the vine ball with wet foams really really well.
You should be good to go.
When we've done them before we've sunk about a 2" to 4" diameter piece of PVC pipe into a plastic bucket of plaster and let dry. Then dropped large oasis cages handle first and back to back into the top of the PVC tube and wired them together, these can be removed for delivery and dropped into a bucket handle first, or whatever works. We left enough space on the top of the plaster to add foam and arrangements and twigs climbing up the poles.
Trish
Trish
lizzie ann
Well-Known Member
line the container with a plastic liner,mix some rock and plaster and pour a small amount on the bottom ,maybe about 6 inches .Take three branches ,each about 2" in diameter and tied together at the top and bottom, sink into plaster and a brace it until its dry. Then you can add your wet foam in the bottom if you wish,and like Trish we attach back to back oasis cages. Works the same but you have a natural trunk, They also will come out of the container easily if you want to change the container.
LOTAKIDS
Well-Known Member
I had plaster fail when it was wet and used premixed cement last time... nice and heavy, but manageable and no worries when it gets wet.
Joe Mioux
Well-Known Member
I have loads of bamboo stands, some have POParis, while others have concrete.
use concrete.
also if you use bamboo as your main stem, you can then cinch tree limbs around that as Lizzie Ann suggests.
The advantage to the bamboo is that it allows you to place an Oasis holder in the top. It is secure but also removable for trasnport.
joe
use concrete.
also if you use bamboo as your main stem, you can then cinch tree limbs around that as Lizzie Ann suggests.
The advantage to the bamboo is that it allows you to place an Oasis holder in the top. It is secure but also removable for trasnport.
joe
Thank you everyone.
Was hoping to use birch as the pole - just not sure how to attach the oasis cages...
Val thank you for the photos from that show - Freeport right? Hunted and hunted for those notes. I'll call you later today. jenny
Was hoping to use birch as the pole - just not sure how to attach the oasis cages...
Val thank you for the photos from that show - Freeport right? Hunted and hunted for those notes. I'll call you later today. jenny
If you drill a hole about 5 inches from the top of the pole you can add a dowel. Shove your oasis sphere down until it rests upon the dowel.
Wrap your sphere in chicken wire.
If your using cages you can fit 3. Using a drywall screw with washer insert through the short lip of the cage. After all three are installed, tape around the long handles of the cages.
I like the sphere method as it is easier to transport. I only construct 3/4 of the ball and finish in place on site.
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