FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

1-How are the frames made?
Welded with high quality metal, and powder coated, the frames are designed for long-lasting durability.

2-What are the frames stuffed with?
Frames are stuffed with sphagnum moss that has been dyed green. The dye will begin to fade to a golden brown with exposure to sunlight and water. Moss Green is available on the products page, if you wish to retain the color of the moss.

3-Do you sell just the frames?
Yes, the frames are available as the frame alone or frame stuffed with moss, or frame stuffed with moss and *planted. Some frames are also available with white lights. *Some restrictions may apply due to individual state regulations.

4-Can I stuff the frames with moss myself?
Yes, you can certainly stuff the frames yourself. But be aware, the smallest frames use over a pound of dried moss, a frame the size of a Labrador Retriever will use over 10 pounds of moss. So, unless you have a forest to harvest the moss, and a barn to dry it in, buying the moss retail will get quite costly. It’s also a quite messy and tedious process!

5-How do I care for my topiary?
Frame Only-The powder coating provides resistance to the elements.

Frame with Moss-Over time, especially with exposure to snow and ice, the moss may begin to deteriorate. I suggest moving the topiary to a protected location,
such as a porch or unheated garage or utility room, if you live in an area with
frequent snow or ice. Here in zone 7b with only 1 or 2 snow events a year, I leave
the topiaries in the yard.

Frame with moss and plants-Think of the frame as a container, and the moss as the soil, the plants are growing directly in the moss. The topiaries need water, sunlight and fertilizer just as any container plant. How often the topiary needs to be watered depends on the weather as well as the size of the topiary. In warm weather the smallest topiaries may need to be watered daily, while the larger topiaries may only need to be watered once a week.  And don’t forget to check them at least once a week during the fall and winter. Wind will cause the moss to dry out quickly. Liquid fertilizer applied at half strength during the spring and summer will encourage plant growth. The plants require at least 5-6 hours of direct sunlight for best growth.

6-What kind of plants are in the topiaries?
I use a wide variety of plants to bring the topiaries to life. I research plants to assure that they are hardy in the zone the topiary will be living. Most are drought tolerant, sun-loving, perennial ground covers, some will remain mostly evergreen during the winter months. See the following plant list for some of my favorite plants. Most topiaries will include at least 3 different types of plants.

7-I want to plant my topiary myself, how do I plant it?
Start by thoroughly wetting the moss. Soaking in a large container is preferred. Allow the excess water to drain out of the moss. Select your plant and rinse off as much soil as possible from the roots. Cell pack sized plants work well. If using larger plants,you will want to divide the plant into smaller sections. Determine where on the topiary you want to place the plant. Using a pencil or screwdriver, make a hole in the moss to accommodate the plant roots. “Shoehorn” the roots into the hole and move the moss around the roots to anchor the plant in place.

8-Do you ship the topiaries?
Yes! In some cases the frames, either frame alone or with moss, will be shipped directly from the manufacturer. Topiaries ordered with plants will be shipped by me. Agricultural restrictions in some states prevent me from being able to ship planted topiaries. Please email me for details.