Common shapes include tiered, pom pons, cones, and spirals or corkscrews. The advantage of starting with a smaller plant is that you can train the plant to grow into the desired shape and you're always cutting off new growth. If the plant has matured or grown too big and you start cutting, you'll start cutting into bare stems in the underpart of the plant rather than just plant growth. People 'growing' a topiary at home should expect it to be a long-term project, he said. The work is not then done either, as the plant will continue growing over the years.
Maintenance is required to keep the topiary's shape.
You develop a feel for getting it to be the shape. It's really about balance and form, much like sculpting. People pruning at home should not be afraid to prune with a heavy hand. Plants are a growing thing, it's kind of like a haircut, it grows back. Topiaries, due to their unusual shapes, are often used as a focal point in a garden or landscape design.