[kindredspirit]

Here's a pic of a pine tree that I bought the other day for a bargain in a 50 litre plastic bucket.

I'm thinking of planting it in the concrete planter that you see in the pic. If I do, I'll have to make sure that it's in its final position because that concrete planter is HEAVY!

My question is; is this pine (whatever type of pine it is) suitable to be trimmed in a ball shape.

Personally I don't like topiary but I never say, never!

[James Kilkelly]

Looks like you got yourself a great little bargain there kindredspirit.
Now to turn a bargain into a jewel.............

Pines and Scot's pine, which I believe you have, do not lend themselves very well to shearing to a ball-like shape.
Pom-pom would be the closest you would get.
Have a look here for examples.......... http://www.plantsbeautifulnursery.com/topiary-trees.html





You wanna share where you picked up this bargain.

[kindredspirit]

Yep, it was the garden centre in Birdhill village, Co. Tipperary, which is closing down.

Note to avoid confusion: there is another garden centre outside Birdhill, which is not closing down.

[walltoall]

I agree with the boss KindredSpirit. You can't prune scots pine. Also I'm not sure how it will take to staying in that teeny pot. I've never had the experience of growing a restricted scots pine. I suspect it may pine (sorry Kevin couldn't resist it) if the roots don't get space. But it IS a very nice specimen. BTW, cupresses (well most of them!) and taxus (yew) are best evergreens for topiary of any sort. Regarding leylandii (which are a cypress) my preferred method of topiary for them lads is to use a saw about three inches up from soil level. WICKIT.

Is the garden centre "outside" Birdhill actually in Castleconnell or maybe Gouig and on the Limerick side? Is the one you bought the pine from on the Nenagh side of Birdhill? Just wondering. I lived in Montpelier for a while before garden centres rooted on the Limerick Nenagh road.

[kindredspirit]

It's the garden centre run by Browsers, next to Matt the Thresher, which is closing down.

Buckleys, the owner who has now gone past 80, is not closing, nor is the one by Roadstone at Gooig. I can't think of the woman's name at Gooig at the minute.

Montpelier is a beautiful place. I used to go water-skiing there (while you were tearing around the roads with PC! )

As regards pruning, maybe I'll go for the Japanese style "cloud" look. I've plenty of time to think about it. I've no space in the garden for a full size Scots Pine so it'll have to content itself with being rootbound in the large concrete planter.

[kindredspirit]

Here's some real topiary!

[tagwex]

Topiary garden in Montreal.

[tagwex]

More of the same.

[tagwex]

Last bunch.

[tagwex]

It seems nobody likes my topiary pictures. Took me ages to post them up.

[Good guy]

There are some seriously ingenious people around

[tagwex]

I knew I could rely on you.

[Ado 2]

Beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing. I have been out of the country then busy. I have a box plant that i just shear to a round ball. I think I might be adventurous and make something else now !

[Sue Deacon]

Hi T, the seal is cute and the ducks and dolphins amazing.

Not that I don't care - ongoing 'pooter problems, Kindle freezing, new internal battery in laptop but now the charger is on the blink. God I just LOVE modern technology. Our OLD telly/set-top box/computer and or that matter freezer are far more robust and are still going strong (freezer 35 years and counting)

[tagwex]

The freezer may well be still working but I would wager that it is using electricity at an alarming rate compared to the new energy efficient ones.
Back to an abacus for you.