Whether you want to start with a DIY or grow your own animal topiary using a topiary frame, topiary form; there are a few things to consider. First, decide if you are going to start with a garden sculpture or use a garden art idea. We have many to choose from beginning on our homepage. Your topiary garden will thank you and will serve many years of aesthetically pleasing service. For now, we’ll show you how to implement your very own Do-It-Yourself moss topiary! Follow the links to acquire the materials needed. Note: Some materials not available through us are linked outside of www.topiary4u.com

What you’ll need:

• 4″ and/or 5″ styrofoam floral ball
• styrofoam square
• moss
• green embroidery thread (match color to moss)
• twig (approximately finger width in size)
• burlap
• 4″ and/or 5″ clay pot
• ribbon
• newspaper or other stiff paper

Place a chunk of sheet moss on the ball. Holding onto the moss, use your thumb to hold the end of the embroidery thread onto the middle of the moss. Wrap the thread around the ball repeatedly, varying the direction of your wrap to hold the moss in place and flatten out major lumps. Repeat the process several times until the whole ball is covered and fairly uniform in shape. Use your fingers or a needle to run the thread under existing wraps and tie it off. 

Trim foam square to fit inside your pot. Place the square in the bottom of the pot and fill in empty space with newspaper (I used torn up brown paper bags). Cut twig to desired height with a garden shears. Push one end into the moss ball and the other end into the foam square in the pot and straighten. Add more paper to support the twig and add volume if needed.

Trim burlap into a square and wrap around pot, folding fabric over itself to create a tight wrap. Secure with ribbon and trim excess burlap at the top to desired height.

If you have extra moss or don’t feel like dealing with the burlap, here are two other options that could substitute for or complement your topiaries around your house! Swapping decorative elements in a simple hurricane vase is a cheap and easy way to change up your seasonal decor.