THE MODERN MINT BLOG
Yesterday we wrote about Boys Toys in Chelmsford, today we want to expand on that… with a few more manly tools…
Tripod ladders are a must – light to carry and get you right into the hedge, reducing the danger of over-stretching. Which you’re liable to do, if not at the start, then when you get tired and want to finish the hedge quickly…
These are not a bad way to start, cut beautifully and feel good in the hand…
Thinning shears or ‘dainty pruners’, these are useful for accurate cutting. Or getting the salad leaves in to go with the BBQ…
Dad’s love barbeques… apparently. So buy him this. Although if you do have money to spend…
… we suggest these shears. Oh! They are so beautiful to use!
So beautiful to use, we end up clipping more than we should. (Not on your garden) but in our own…
The larger version, for extra reach and tougher woody hedges, are also great. Little tip: you don’t always have to hold them at the ends either…
The best blade?
The best saw? (But good golly be careful!!!)
And if you don’t want to use your own power… if you just love petrol and oil and all those power tools… those Boys Toys… then here you are. Wear earplugs. Eh? WEAR EARPLUGS!
Michael Gibson, New York Topiary Art!
In the New York Times earlier this year was a lovely interview with Michael Gibson, who makes topiary and gardens in New York. The article is here but you may not have access… however, search the internet, find it and have a read. It is great! His philosophy of pruning is especially worth it… Sacred geometry in topiary? Yes please! What a phrase! I think (and speak) of balance, of major and minor, of leaf volume… but sacred geometry might well make it into my topiary teaching lexicon! And the idea of directional trimming? I realise I do this, but …
Topiary Library
I do a lot of teaching topiary. I had the opportunity from my mentor, Charlotte Molesworth, to work on her garden and experiment and test techniques and generally try making shapes without the worry of failure, or being fired, or being sued and run out of business for getting it wrong. This opportunity was essential (along with Charlotte’s insistance that pruning standards had to be high!) in becoming better at topiary. When I look around the world at our cultural vitamins, what we see in the media day in and day out, I see the stupidest and grossest of people …
Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue
With Chris Poole of the European Boxwood and Topiary Society we visited Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue in Rutland. Do you know it? Amazing place! Chris and I were teaching a topiary workshop in order to give local people the skills and technique, and tenacity! to help with the pruning of the avenue and elevate it to something even more special than it already is. Read more about the workshops here. We hope to run a further workshop in September 2026, as well as teach an advanced course too. Check the teaching page through the year as it will be updated …