Topiary frames for gardens and containers

Inspiration and my favorite sources!

What is one of the fastest ways to add four-season interest to your garden or containers without planting anything? What offers both the height you need, structure for climbers, and possibly a pop of color? Metal garden obelisks, trellis, tuteurs, and orbs! Here’s how I’ve used them in containers, along with seven of my favorite sources.

I enjoy using metal towers and orbs year-round, but adding them in the winter months is one of the easiest ways to add structure to your pots. You can tuck moss or greenery around the base (or even a wreath to keep it super simple). Fill them with pinecones for a winter touch. Want more color? Add greenery, such as magnolia leaves, berries, and evergreen branches, to them. For a more holiday display, pile in holiday ornaments. Or up your game and string lights around the metal form!

I went the pinecone route last year with Madeline Hooper of GardenFit and loved it. You can watch us talking about it in this Instagram reel: Garden Ornaments with Pinecones.

In the fall, a super charming (and easy) container idea is to fill your orb or obelisk with with small pumpkins and gourds like this:

In the spring, I love to plant small bulbs around the metal structure, and in the summer, you can train ivy or other climbers around it for a simple yet sculptural moment.

In the garden, I love to use them for structure and height. You can easily grow any vining plant up one too. Roses, clematis, or mandavilla would all be fantastic options. Or keep it simple and use them as a garden sculpture.

Ok - where to get them? Here are a few sources (some pictured above)

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• Agriframes has an excellent selection of garden obelisks and other metal structures and edging: Agriframes

• Terrain offers a wide variety of obelisks and frames, both metal and willow, that look beautiful in the garden. I have used their globe frames in pots and have loved them. Terrain

• A Rustic Garden stocks a large selection of iron garden ornaments, including obelisks and globes. I’m especially loving their Iron Bob Topiary Trellis. If you love the garden ornament Madeline and I used in the video, it is from A Rustic Garden! A Rustic Garden

• Campo De’Fiori, one of my favorite sources for stunning terra-cotta pots, also offers a beautifully curated selection of metal trellises and orbs. Don’t forget to treat yourself to some terra-cotta while you are on their website! Campo De’ Fiori

• Battle Hill Forge is another favorite supplier of garden trellises, stakes, and supports. Their Onyx towers are especially lovely, and anyone with peonies should check out their peony towers, which are an elegant way to support plants. Battle Hill Forge

• Gardener’s Supply Company, a comprehensive source of gardening supplies, offers a variety of garden obelisks, trellises, and tuteurs in varying finishes. Their light blue steel Oxford Pyramid Trellis would be a charming focal point. Gardener’s Supply

• Kinsman Company, a reliable source for specialty gardening items, provides a wide array of sizes and styles of garden tuteurs and obelisks in both black and a soft, garden-friendly green. Kinsman Company

Did I miss your favorite source? Drop any suggestions in a comment below!

Happy Gardening!

Susan