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DIY Fresh Boxwood Topiaries with Lemons

This is an easy DIY Project tutorial to make Fresh Boxwood Topiaries or Boxwood and Lemon Topiaries.

Including the lemons is optional if you prefer a simple boxwood topiary.

You will find this inexpensive and easy tutorial helpful and it will spark your imagination for other topiary options as well.

DIY Boxwood Topiaries

For this project I’ve combined fresh boxwood and faux lemons to create an Italian table accent. Using fresh boxwood will limit the life of your topiaries, however I love the look of the real boxwood. It’s almost impossible to find a good faux boxwood in my opinion.

In addition, there are tips for keeping boxwood fresh longer and you can see how to keep any greenery looking fresh here.

If you prefer, you can use preserved boxwood but supplies are usually much more expensive. I’ve tried preserving boxwood without great success, however I may give it another try, just not today.

DIY Lemon and Fresh Boxwood Topiaries for a Italian Table Setting for Supper Club

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Using Fresh Boxwood

This is a great time of year to cut boxwood because it will keep fresh longer when brought indoors. Boxwood cut in the summer months will fade and dry out very quickly.

I have cut boxwood at Christmas and have kept the stems in my home until June with great success.

With that being said, the leaves will eventually become brittle so you will want to place your stems in an area that they are not easily disturbed.

To keep them fresh longer, check out this post that I shared above.

Fresh boxwood cut in a variety of lengths to make boxwood topiaries

Supplies for Boxwood Lemon Topiaries

Prepare Cones

Begin by covering the styrofoam cones with preserved moss. Spray small sections of the cone with spray adhesive and press the moss onto the cone to adhere. Continue until the cone is completely covered with moss.

This will assure that your topiary looks full and lush. Without the moss, you will have difficulty covering the styrofoam and makes working with the boxwood difficult.

Styrofoam cones covered in preserved moss with spray adhesive

Assemble Boxwood Topiaries

The boxwood stems should be basically straight stems. You don’t want stems branching off from the main stem because they will not lay close together.

Begin at the bottom of your cone and attach several longer stems running upward on the the cone. Using the U pins, you can attach 4-6 stems with each pin.

You will need to add some short stems intermingled with the longer stems because the cone narrows as you go up.

Moss Covered Cone and Fresh Boxwood to make a Boxwood Topiary.

Continue around the base of the cone until the area is filled.

Begin at bottom of cone to add fresh boxwood to make topiaries

Next, you will want to fill the upper area of the cone using a mix of shorter stems.

At this time, you will want to attach the tops of longer stems with the U pins as you add the shorter stems. This will assure that all the stems hug the cone.

Cover cone with fresh boxwood using U pins

Finally, at the top of the cone, you will add a few short stems and you can trim away any wild stems that are sticking out using scissors or pruning shears.

You can add additional stems using hot glue to cover any exposed U pins and to fill any areas that need additional coverage.

Continue to fill in with small pieces of boxwood until you have a desirable cone shape.

Add fresh boxwood to make Boxwood and Lemon Topiaries

See Video Below for visual instructions.


Lemon Topiaries

As an option, you can add lemons to your boxwood topiaries. They can be intermingled with the boxwood or added to the bottom of the topiaries as I’m showing here.

Lemon Topiaries Containers

First, determine the container for your boxwood topiary. There are so many options such as a terra cotta clay pot, a wooden base, a large candle holder, vintage tea cups, vintage bowls, small cake plates, etc. Just be creative with your choices.

For this project, I am using small white saucers which I will add to vintage milk glass vases for height.

For this same technique, you can use a plastic or heavy duty paper plate and set the plate on any item that works with your decor.

Containers to make boxwood topiaries.

Instead of placing the topiary directly inside a container, for this technique, you need a rim for the lemons to be attached.

They will stick to the boxwood but they don’t adhere securely and you risk the weight of the lemons pulling away leaves from the boxwood.

A slight rim, such as the one on these plates, allows the lemons to have a resting spot and your topiary will be sturdy.

Note: Real Lemons will not adhere to the topiaries as easily as faux lemons. They may require floral picks to secure.

Attach Faux Lemons

To begin attaching lemons, center the topiary on your container or plate. Add a small amount of hot glue to the lemons allowing them to attach to both the greenery and the plate.

Use Hot Glue to add Lemons to the Boxwood Topiaries

Continue around the base of your topiary until it is filled with lemons.

Next, using hot glue add sprigs of the boxwood to fill holes around the lemons.

Adding lemons and sprigs of boxwood to the base of the topiary

I love topiaries that look natural and I’ve made several versions.

Here is my first attempt at making simple topiaries that you might also enjoy. These Topiaries were recently featured on Decorative Inspirations by Meagan Trento.


What to do when the boxwood is dead!

As I said in the beginning, using fresh boxwood means these topiaries will not last forever. If you use some of the tips I mentioned above they will last much longer.

However, eventually you will want to remove the dead stems. If you think you will make this project again next year, here is what to do.

  1. Remove all dead stems and U pins
  2. Remove the lemons from the cone
  3. Gather a plastic bag and place the cones, any loose moss and lemons inside
  4. Add a few silica bags and securely tie the bag
  5. Place with your craft supplies and label what the contents are

It will be easy to just add new fresh boxwood next year.

You can also use the moss covered cones for other projects in the meantime.

DIY Fresh Boxwood Lemon Topiaries

I hope you like the DIY Fresh Boxwood Lemon Topiaries as much as I do.

DIY Fresh Boxwood Topiaries with Lemons

The topiaries are the same height however to add additional height for this vignette, a brass candlestick was added.

These topiaries were used on this Italian Themed Tablescape, and I can’t wait for you to see the full table.

See VIDEO TUTORIAL

How To Make DIY Fresh Boxwood Topiaries with faux lemons for an Italian Tablescape.
DIY Fresh Boxwood Lemon Topiaries Tutorial.  Finished with grapevine topiary.

The topiaries are displayed with a grapevine topiary and you can see the tutorial here.

Other Topiary Ideas

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I hope you’ll check out the Italian Tablescape these were created for.

PIN IT TO REMEMBER IT

How To Make DIY Fresh Boxwood Topiaries with faux lemons for an Italian Tablescape.

Renae

Friday 17th of February 2023

These are so pretty, Rachel. I love them. HUgs to you.

Rachel

Friday 17th of February 2023

Thank you Renae.

Anne

Friday 17th of February 2023

These are so pretty, Rachel! I didn’t know this was the best time to cut boxwood and now I’m thinking I need to go make a topiary!

Rachel

Friday 17th of February 2023

Anne, Thanks for stopping by.

meagan trento

Monday 21st of February 2022

Loving your lemon topiary trees. Beautiful. Thank you so much for the link to my website. Your the best.

Rachel

Monday 21st of February 2022

Meagan, You are welcome.

Bricks 'n Blooms Weekly 68 - Stacy Ling

Sunday 20th of February 2022

[…] good friend Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse shared a few great DIYs this week, but I’m really loving these boxwood topiaries she […]

Rachel

Monday 21st of February 2022

Thanks so much for sharing.

Donna Allen

Friday 18th of February 2022

I am a big fan of topiaries! Yours turned out great and I love the bright yellow color of the lemons paired with the green of the boxwood. So pretty! Donna

Rachel

Monday 21st of February 2022

Donna, I'm so glad you like them. I can't wait for you to see my table with them included. I appreciate you for stopping by.