Showcase · Pair of three-tiered cloud-pruned privet in charcoal pots flanking a slate-blue front door
Hand-Matched Pair · Cloud Pruned Privet Pair 130-150cm & 12-34 winter-interest plants across 5 species · 3 sizes

The Autumn & Winter Bundle — Entrance Transformation with Cloud Pruned Privet Pair

RRP£890.00 £845.50 Save £44.50Pair price · incl. VAT
Choose your size

Your pair’s QC certificate — origins, dimensions, six photos — sent before dispatch · 24 hours to review

7 daysMatching Guaranteematched within 10cm — or replaced, your call
6 moThrive Guaranteea struggling plant replaced at half the single-plant cost
∞Lifetime Caregrower answers within 24 hours — forever, free
14–21Working dayskerbside pallet delivery — upright, tracked, UK-wide
Quick Specifications
Quick Specifications

  • Bundle Size: Starter (14 plants) | Standard (22 plants) | Impactful (36 plants)
  • Topiary Anchor: 2× Delavay Privet Cloud Pruned Topiary (3 cloud/130-150cm, identical across variants)
  • Border Plants: 12-34 plants (varies by variant) across 5 species
  • Coverage: 5-7m² (Starter) | 7-9m² (Standard) | 9-12m² (Impactful)
  • Establishment: 12-18 months (Starter) | 8-12 months (Standard) | 6-9 months (Impactful)
  • Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
  • Hardiness: H4-H5 (hardy across UK, protect tender species in severe frost)
  • Containers: Included for topiary cloud trees, border plants for in-ground planting

Delivery

Every bundle is dispatched on a single pallet via specialist courier. Delivery window 8am-5pm—driver calls approximately 1 hour before arrival. You'll receive pre-dispatch photos of your exact topiary pair for approval before shipping. Most orders are delivered in 2–4 weeks depending on season and location. Free UK mainland delivery included.

Meet the Twins

This bundle creates an entrance designed for cold-season beauty—delivering peak interest September through March when most gardens are dormant. Delavay Privet cloud-pruned topiary provides evergreen sculptural presence whilst surrounding plants specialize in autumn-winter performance: Sarcococca's intensely fragrant winter flowers, Skimmia's glossy berries and buds, Carex's golden year-round foliage, Helleborus' winter-blooming elegance, Cyclamen's jewel-like autumn-spring flowers. This reverses typical garden seasons—offering maximum beauty when it's most appreciated and most rare.

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

Topiary Anchor:

  • 2× Delavay Privet Cloud Pruned Topiary (Ligustrum ovalifolium)
  • Form: 3-tier cloud pruning, 130-150cm total height (identical across all variants—topiary size doesn't vary)
  • Single or multi-stemmed with 3 distinct cloud pads creating floating sculptural form
  • Glossy green evergreen foliage year-round, cloud pruning creates dramatic Japanese-inspired silhouette, semi-evergreen in harsh winters (may shed some leaves), containerized and ready to position

Border Plants (quantity and size vary by variant):

Sarcococca confusa (Sweet Box)

  • Role: Winter fragrance and evergreen structure
  • Intensely fragrant small white flowers January-March (one of most fragrant winter-flowering shrubs—scent carries across garden), glossy dark green evergreen foliage, compact rounded habit 80-100cm height and spread, black berries follow flowers, shade-tolerant (actually prefers partial shade), exceptional winter-interest plant.
  • Quantity: 2 plants (Starter - 1L), 3 plants (Standard - 2L), 5 plants (Impactful - 3L)

Skimmia japonica 'Rubella' (Japanese Skimmia - Male Form)

  • Role: Autumn-winter buds and evergreen architectural foliage
  • Dark red flower buds form autumn persisting through winter (October-March providing 6 months interest before opening to fragrant white flowers April), glossy dark green evergreen foliage with red-edged leaves, compact dome habit 60-80cm, provides dramatic burgundy-red bud color throughout cold season, male form (doesn't produce berries but has superior bud display).
  • Quantity: 2 plants (Starter - 2L), 3 plants (Standard - 2L), 5 plants (Impactful - 3L)

Carex oshimensis 'Evergold' (Japanese Sedge)

  • Role: Year-round golden foliage accent
  • Evergreen arching foliage with central golden-yellow stripe edged in dark green, forms cascading mounds 20-30cm height spreading 30-40cm, provides continuous golden color through autumn-winter when most plants dormant or brown, fine texture contrasts with bold evergreen shrubs, tolerates sun to shade.
  • Quantity: 3 plants (Starter - 1L), 5 plants (Standard - 2L), 9 plants (Impactful - 2L)

Helleborus × hybridus (Lenten Rose - Mixed Colors)

  • Role: Winter-spring flowering and evergreen structure
  • Bowl-shaped flowers in whites, pinks, purples, plums January-April (winter-blooming when almost nothing else flowers), evergreen leathery foliage providing year-round structure, clump-forming 40-50cm height and spread, shade-tolerant (one of few plants flowering well in shade), extremely long-lived (decades with minimal care).
  • Quantity: 2 plants (Starter - 1L), 4 plants (Standard - 2L), 7 plants (Impactful - 2L)

Cyclamen coum (Hardy Cyclamen)

  • Role: Jewel-like autumn-winter ground cover
  • Delicate pink-magenta flowers on wiry stems December-March (flowers through winter—rare trait), heart-shaped silver-marbled leaves September-May (foliage emerges autumn, flowers winter, foliage persists spring then dies back summer dormancy), low ground cover 8-12cm height, naturalizes via seed creating expanding colonies, provides ground-level winter interest.
  • Quantity: 3 plants (Starter - P9 plug), 5 plants (Standard - P9 plug), 8 plants (Impactful - 1L)

COVERAGE & DESIGN:

  • Starter (5-7m²): Foundation cold-season garden for entrance widths 2-2.5m. Topiary provides immediate sculptural presence, winter-interest plants establish over 12-18 months creating increasingly rich cold-season display as plants mature and winter features develop.
  • Standard (7-9m²): Balanced cold-season composition for entrance widths 2.5-3.5m. Larger plant sizes (particularly Sarcococca and Skimmia in 2L) deliver better winter fragrance and bud display from first season. Increased quantities create fuller winter presence. Establishes cohesive cold-season garden within 8-12 months.
  • Impactful (9-12m²): Abundant cold-season garden for entrance widths 3.5m+. Feature shrubs (Sarcococca 5 plants in 3L, Skimmia 5 plants in 3L) provide substantial winter fragrance and dramatic red bud display. High quantities of golden foliage (9 Carex), winter flowers (7 Helleborus, 8 Cyclamen) create genuinely abundant cold-season interest. Near-mature winter-beautiful appearance within 6-9 months.

This bundle deliberately inverts typical garden priorities: peak season is October-March rather than May-August. Autumn-winter progression ensures continuous interest through cold months: September Carex golden foliage brightens, October Skimmia red buds form and darken, November-December Cyclamen flowers emerge, December-February Sarcococca fragrance intensifies, January-March Helleborus flowers open, February-April Cyclamen continues, March-April Skimmia buds finally open to white fragrant flowers. By the time conventional summer borders peak (June-August), this border transitions to foliage-focused display with evergreen structure—but its purpose is fulfilled by then. Fragrance is key cold-season feature: Sarcococca's sweet honey scent (January-March, one of most fragrant winter plants), Skimmia's lily-of-the-valley scent when buds open (April), Helleborus' subtle scent (varies by hybrid). Winter fragrance is particularly valued—rare, carries well in cold air, appreciated during approach to entrance. Evergreen dominance ensures year-round structure: cloud-pruned topiary, glossy Sarcococca and Skimmia foliage, Carex golden grass, Helleborus leathery leaves. Even when deciduous plants dormant, this border remains furnished and attractive.

Care & Maintenance
ESTABLISHMENT PHASE (First 6-12 Months):

Topiary (Delavay Privet Cloud Pruned):

  • Watering: 2-3× weekly during summer (Privet is fast-growing and vigorous, needs consistent moisture in containers). Check moisture regularly. Winter: once every 10-14 days in dry weather only.
  • Feeding: Once annually in spring (March-April) with slow-release shrub fertilizer, 50g per container. Privet responds well to feeding with vigorous growth.
  • See Complete Care Guide for cloud-pruning maintenance (specialized technique requiring knowledge of cloud-form principles—more complex than standard topiary trimming).

Border Plants:

  • Watering: 2-3× weekly during first spring/summer. Even shade-tolerant winter-interest plants need moisture during establishment. Check moisture regularly—shade often means dry due to rain shadow from buildings or tree canopies.
  • Mulching: Generous mulching essential (7-10cm leaf mold or compost). Retains moisture, suppresses weeds, adds organic matter these plants appreciate. Replenish annually spring.
  • No feeding required Year 1—planting compost contains nutrients.

ONGOING MAINTENANCE (Year 2 Onwards):

Topiary (Delavay Privet Cloud Pruned):

  • Water 2-3× weekly in summer, minimal in winter
  • Feed once annually in spring (slow-release fertilizer, 50g per container)
  • Prune 2-3× annually maintaining cloud form (Privet grows very fast—needs frequent trimming to maintain crisp cloud definition, each cloud pad trimmed individually, negative space between pads preserved)
  • See Pruning & Trimming Guide for cloud-pruning techniques (or consider professional maintenance—cloud forms require skill to maintain properly)
  • Semi-evergreen: may drop some leaves harsh winters but remains substantially evergreen mild winters

Sarcococca confusa (Sweet Box):
Very low maintenance. Tolerates dry shade once established. No feeding required. Minimal pruning needed—naturally forms neat rounded shape. Remove any dead wood spring if present. Divide clumps every 7-10 years spring only if becoming too large or to create more plants (rarely necessary—slow-growing, long-lived). Virtually pest/disease-free. Evergreen provides year-round structure. Fragrance is self-renewing—no deadheading or special care needed for flowering.

Skimmia japonica 'Rubella':
Very low maintenance. Moderate moisture needs—water during prolonged dry spells. Light spring feed with ericaceous fertilizer (Skimmia prefers slightly acidic conditions). No pruning needed—naturally forms neat dome. Remove any all-green shoots immediately if they appear (reversion). Virtually pest/disease-free. Evergreen glossy foliage year-round. Red buds form naturally autumn—no special care required. Male form doesn't produce berries (doesn't need pollination partner).

Carex oshimensis 'Evergold':
Very low maintenance. Moderate drought tolerance established. No feeding required. Comb out dead foliage spring with fingers or rake—minimal grooming needed. Divide every 4-5 years spring if centers dying out or clumps becoming too large. Virtually pest/disease-free. Evergreen provides continuous golden colour year-round—particularly valuable autumn-winter.

Helleborus × hybridus (Lenten Rose):
Low maintenance. Drought-tolerant shade established (deep roots access moisture). Light spring feed (balanced fertilizer) after flowering. Remove old tatty leaves late winter (January-February) just before flowers emerge—makes flowers more visible, improves appearance. Deadhead spent flowers if preventing self-seeding (though seedlings take 3-4 years to flower so not aggressive). Never disturb established plants (dislikes root disturbance—extremely long-lived undisturbed). Watch for aphids on flower buds winter (spray off with water). Evergreen year-round structure.

Cyclamen coum (Hardy Cyclamen):
Very low maintenance. Drought-tolerant during summer dormancy (corms dormant June-September—no water needed). Water moderately autumn-spring when in growth. No feeding required. Allow to self-seed naturally—seedlings create expanding colonies over years (takes 2-3 years for seedlings to flower but creates naturalized effect). Never disturb established corms (dislikes disturbance). Summer dormant period (June-September, foliage dies back completely)—don't assume dead, corms underground resting. Virtually pest/disease-free. Winter-flowering provides rare ground-level color December-March.

COMPREHENSIVE CARE GUIDES:

For detailed care covering all seasons, pests, diseases, and troubleshooting:
→ Complete Care Guide
→ Seasonal Care Calendar
→ Pruning & Trimming Guide
→ Container Care & Repotting Guide
→ Pest & Disease Management Guide
→ Winter Protection Guide

GETTING HELP:

Lifetime email support: hello@topiarytwins.co.uk (24-hour typical response). No time limit, no cost. Species-specific guidance for all plants in your bundle available forever.

Botanical Specifications
SITE REQUIREMENTS:

Light: Full sun to partial shade. Topiary (Delavay Privet) thrives in full sun to partial shade—very adaptable. Sarcococca actually prefers partial shade (tolerates full shade—rare for flowering plant). Skimmia prefers partial shade (leaf scorch possible in hot afternoon sun). Carex tolerates sun to shade. Helleborus and Cyclamen prefer partial shade. This bundle is particularly suitable for positions receiving morning sun and afternoon shade—common for many entrances.

Soil: Well-drained, moisture-retentive, rich in organic matter. Sarcococca, Skimmia, Helleborus, and Cyclamen all prefer humus-rich soil. Amend generously with compost/leaf mold before planting (at least 30% by volume). Avoid waterlogged positions particularly for Cyclamen (corms rot in winter wet). Neutral to slightly acidic soil ideal (pH 6.0-7.0) though all plants tolerate typical garden conditions.

Space: Minimum 2m width for Starter, 2.5m for Standard, 3.5m for Impactful. Allow 70-80cm clearance from topiary container edge to door frame (see Placement Guide).

POSITIONING LAYOUT:

Step 1: Position Topiary Cloud Trees
Place containers 140-160cm apart (center to center) depending on entrance width. Cloud-pruned form is sculptural—position where three-dimensional form can be appreciated from multiple angles. Ensure containers sit level.

Step 2: Plant Sarcococca (Sweet Box)
Position where winter fragrance will be appreciated—near pathways, close to door, where you'll pass regularly January-March. Space 80-100cm apart (becomes 80-100cm width at maturity). Prefers partial shade—ideal beneath cloud topiary or in corners receiving less sun.

Step 3: Plant Skimmia
Position prominently where autumn-winter red buds will be visible from house windows (buds provide 6 months interest October-March). Space 70-90cm apart. Glossy foliage and red buds create focal points—don't hide behind other plants.

Step 4: Plant Helleborus
Position where winter-spring flowers will be visible from frequently used views (flowers January-April when garden viewing from windows more common than outdoor visits). Space 50-60cm apart. Evergreen foliage provides year-round structure—use strategically.

Step 5: Plant Carex 'Evergold'
Scatter throughout for golden accent. Space 35-40cm apart. Evergreen golden foliage particularly valuable autumn-winter when most foliage brown or dormant—provides continuous brightness. Use in clusters rather than single specimens for greater impact.

Step 6: Plant Cyclamen coum
Use as ground cover beneath shrubs and around topiary bases. Space 20-25cm apart. Naturalizes via self-seeding creating expanding colonies over years—plant where natural spreading is desired. Flowers emerge winter providing ground-level jewel-like colour.

DETAILED LAYOUT PLANS:

For comprehensive positioning diagrams showing exact plant placement for your entrance dimensions and variant-specific layouts, see our Bundle Planting Guide.

[View Bundle Planting Guide →]

ESTABLISHMENT CARE (First 6 Months):

Topiary: Water 2-3× weekly during first summer. Privet is fast-growing and vigorous, benefits from consistent moisture. Feed once in spring. See Complete Care Guide for cloud-pruning maintenance techniques.

Border Plants: Water 2-3× weekly first growing season. Winter-interest plants still need moisture during establishment (common myth that shade means wet—often means dry due to rain shadow). Mulch generously 7-10cm with leaf mold or compost (retains moisture, adds organic matter these plants appreciate). No feeding Year 1.

By 6 months: Starter plants rooted and establishing winter interest developing (30-40% mature, Skimmia forming first buds autumn). Standard plants established with noticeable cold-season features (50-70% mature, good winter fragrance and bud display). Impactful plants quickly established with substantial winter presence (70-90% mature, impressive cold-season interest from first winter).

Guides to Help You Plan
The Autumn & Winter Bundle — Entrance Transformation with Cloud Pruned Privet Pair £845.50
With Every Scheme

Bought as a scheme.Planted as one.

What a whole front garden arrives as.

N° 01

Structure, then the border

Every tier is built the same way: two topiary specimens plus the border designed around them. Starter is 14 plants (2 topiary and 12 border), Standard 22 (2 and 20), Impactful 36 (2 and 34) — covering roughly 5–7, 7–9 and 9–12 square metres of planted ground.

N° 02

The flanking topiary pair

At the heart of the scheme sit two hand-matched topiary plants, chosen and grown side by side rather than picked off a bench on dispatch day. They are the permanent architecture — clipped, evergreen, and identical in January and July, when the border is asleep.

N° 03

One palette, not a plant list

The border isn't a bag of leftovers around a pair. Species, quantities and the ratio of structure to seasonal colour are settled together, in drifts and repeats rather than singles, so the frontage reads as one idea from the pavement.

N° 04

A layout for where each plant goes

Your scheme travels with a layout showing where each plant goes and at what spacing. No design brief to write, no plan to commission, nothing further to specify — the judgement about which plants, how many and where is the thing you're buying.

N° 05

You see the plants first

Your scheme's plants — photographed before dispatch · 24 hours to review. The pictures reach you before the pallet is built, with the topiary pair shown side by side at our UK depot, so nothing about the plants is a surprise on delivery day.

N° 06

One pallet, and backing after it

The whole scheme travels together, kerbside, free, UK-wide — then six months of backing on every plant in it, and unlimited grower support long after that. The full terms, numbers and exclusions are set out immediately below — no asterisks.

Guaranteed Twice, Supported Forever

Promises withnumbers attached.

The terms, in full — no asterisks a lawyer would love.

10cm

The Matching Guarantee

This one is scoped to the topiary pair at the scheme's heart: your two topiary plants will never differ in height by more than 10cm. That is the whole promise, and it is measurable on the doorstep with a tape.

If the pair that arrives isn't matched, email hello@topiarytwins.co.uk within 7 days of delivery, subject line “Matching Guarantee Claim – [order number]”, with a photograph of the two plants together. Claims are resolved within 24 hours, and the remedy is your choice: a replacement pair, or a refund.

6 mo

The 6-Month Thrive Guarantee

This one covers every plant in the scheme, topiary and border alike. If a plant fails to thrive in its first six months despite reasonable care, we replace it at 50% of that plant's single price — half what the plant on its own costs, whether that's one of the topiary or one perennial out of thirty-four. Eligibility is reviewed within 48 hours of your email — subject line “Thrive Guarantee Claim – [order number]”.

One honest exclusion, carried over from the pairs: if both topiary plants fail, the guarantee doesn't apply to them. Two identical failures point at the site rather than the stock — drainage, wind, a buried rubble layer — and swapping the plants would only repeat the problem. That is exactly the conversation Lifetime Care Support exists to have, and we'd rather fix the ground than sell you the same outcome twice.

Life

Lifetime Care Support

Unlimited email guidance from the people who grew your topiary and specified your border, answered within 24 hours, free, forever. Send a photograph of a worrying patch, a question about when to cut the border back, or a picture of the shears you're about to use — there is no expiry date and no limit on how often you ask.

How to claim, step by step → in the questions below.

Placing The Scheme

Three decisionsthe frontage makes.

Three decisions. One pinned frame. Scroll.

Complete front garden planting scheme laid out before planting, topiary pair with its border plants
Shade-tolerant front garden planting scheme with a yew ball pair and woodland border
Front garden planting scheme being installed, topiary pair positioned and border going in
01 / 03
01

Read the frontage before the palette

Stand at the pavement, not the doorstep, and read two things. First the light: a shaded or north-facing frontage rules out the hot and drought palettes entirely — they survive there and look sullen — while a baking south-facing strip of gravel wants the plants that were bred for it. Aspect decides, palette follows; get that order the wrong way round and no amount of design saves it. Second the elevation: ball and cube pairs at 50–60cm suit low frontages and cottage doors, while 80–100cm clear-stem lollipops and 110–130cm spirals hold their own against tall Georgian and Victorian fronts. If the approach is mostly driveway rather than garden, the same thinking scales along it in our driveways and pathways collection.

02

The pair sets the geometry, the border answers it

Set the two topiary plants first, one each side of the door, centred on the width you have and clear of the door swing — then walk to the gate and check them before anything else goes in the ground. Everything in the scheme is proportioned to that pair, so it is the only decision worth being slow about. Then lay the border out still in its pots, following the layout, and shuffle it until the drifts read from the street rather than from above. If you want only the two plants either side of the door and no border at all, that's a different purchase — our front door plants are sold as pairs on their own. And if the structure is already in and it's only the ground layer you're missing, buy that by the metre from border by the metre instead.

03

Which tier, and when to size up

Pace out the part of the plot you actually intend to plant — not the whole frontage, the planted part. Under 7m² takes Starter, 14 plants. Between 7 and 9m² takes Standard, 22 plants. Anything beyond that wants Impactful, 36 plants, or the drifts thin out and the bare soil between them is all anyone sees. If you fall between two tiers, take the larger: buying a size down is the one economy in a front garden that always shows, and it shows in the first season rather than the fifth. An awkward, narrow run can also be planted at Starter density over a longer length without changing the plant list at all.

After The Pallet Leaves

What clients noticea season in.

The pair softened the entrance without losing the architecture. It still reads as a designed front — just a kinder one.

Elena · Surrey

They grow into the house. Every year the structure looks a little more like it was always meant to be there.

David · The Cotswolds

Neighbours stop to ask about them. We've handed your name over the fence more times than we can count.

James & Priya · Kent

Drag · Scroll

Once your scheme is in, share it with #TopiaryTwins or tag @topiarytwins — and if you film it, our referral programme pays 20% of your order back, rising to 100% if two friends order with your code.

The Scheme Family

Ten schemes.Every frontage covered.

Same three tiers on every one — swap the palette, keep the method. Complete-scheme prices, including VAT.

The Warm Summer entrance transformation scheme, photinia Red Robin lollipop pair with a hot-toned border

N° 01

The Warm Summer

Photinia lollipop pair over rudbeckia, helenium and crocosmia. Full sun; peaks July–October.

Scheme £545 – £905 · 14–36 plants

The White Evening Garden entrance transformation scheme, Portuguese laurel lollipop pair with a white border

N° 02

The White Evening Garden

Portuguese laurel lollipop pair with ‘Annabelle’ hydrangea, white astrantia and digitalis. Glows at dusk.

Scheme £710 – £1,190 · 14–36 plants

The Formal Welcome entrance transformation scheme, bay laurel lollipop pair with lavender and allium border

N° 03

The Formal Welcome

Bay laurel lollipop pair over lavender, salvia, allium and nepeta. Purple, violet and silver.

Scheme £755 – £1,085 · 14–36 plants

The Naturalistic Prairie entrance transformation scheme, Ilex crenata cube pair with prairie grasses

N° 04

The Naturalistic Prairie

Ilex crenata cube pair with pennisetum, echinacea ‘White Swan’ and molinia. Movement, and real winter structure.

Scheme £765 – £1,205 · 14–36 plants

The Woodland Edge entrance transformation scheme, English yew ball pair with a shade-tolerant woodland border

N° 05

The Woodland Edge

English yew ball pair over astilbe, brunnera ‘Jack Frost’, tiarella and ferns. Partial to full shade.

Scheme £785 – £1,125 · 14–36 plants

The Soft Romantic entrance transformation scheme, bay laurel lollipop pair with roses and nepeta

N° 06

The Soft Romantic

Bay laurel lollipop pair with David Austin roses, nepeta and geranium ‘Rozanne’. Blush, lilac and lime.

Scheme £860 – £1,190 · 14–36 plants

The Autumn and Winter entrance transformation scheme, cloud-pruned privet pair with sarcococca and hellebore

N° 07

The Autumn & Winter

Cloud-pruned Delavay privet pair with sarcococca, skimmia and hellebore. Peaks November–March.

Scheme £890 – £1,260 · 14–36 plants

The Contemporary Monochrome entrance transformation scheme, bay laurel lollipop pair with black and white planting

N° 08

The Contemporary Monochrome

Bay laurel lollipop pair with black ophiopogon, ‘Annabelle’ hydrangea and golden carex. Black, white, green, gold.

Scheme £1,110 – £1,460 · 14–36 plants

The Silver and Blue entrance transformation scheme, English yew spiral pair with festuca and perovskia

N° 09

The Silver & Blue

English yew spiral pair with festuca ‘Elijah Blue’, perovskia and echinops. Exceptional drought tolerance.

Scheme £1,350 – £1,600 · 14–36 plants

The Fragrant Entrance transformation scheme, English yew spiral pair with lavender and scented roses

N° 10

The Fragrant Entrance

English yew spiral pair with lavender ‘Vera’, ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ roses and philadelphus. Scent from winter to summer.

Scheme £1,470 – £1,790 · 14–36 plants

Prefer to compare the palettes side by side? The whole scheme collection.

Front door framed by clipped bay standards with low box hedging along the path

Your scheme's plants · photographed before dispatch · 24 hours to review

Before You Order

Your whole frontage.Straight answers.

Starter, Standard or Impactful — which tier do I need?

Measure the ground you actually intend to plant, not the whole plot, and let the square metreage choose for you. Starter is 14 plants (2 topiary and 12 border) for 5–7m²; Standard is 22 plants (2 and 20) for 7–9m²; Impactful is 36 plants (2 and 34) for 9–12m². Fall between two and you should take the larger one: bare soil between thin drifts is exactly what makes a new front garden look unfinished, and it looks unfinished in the first season rather than the fifth. A long, narrow run is the one exception — the same plant list can be spread at Starter density over more length without any change to what's supplied.

What actually arrives when I order a scheme?

One consignment holding the entire scheme: the two hand-matched topiary plants that give the frontage its permanent structure, the border planting composed around them as a single palette, and a layout showing where each plant goes and at what spacing. Nothing else is needed and nothing else is billed — there is no design fee, and the plant counts are fixed per tier at 14, 22 or 36. Schemes start at £545 including VAT, with free UK delivery, and the range across the ten palettes runs to £1,790 at Impactful size.

Can I change the topiary species inside a scheme?

The species choice is made by choosing the scheme rather than by swapping parts inside one — each border palette was composed around that particular topiary form, which is why the schemes look resolved. Between the ten there is a form and a species for most tastes: English yew balls in The Woodland Edge, English yew spirals in The Silver & Blue and The Fragrant Entrance, Ilex crenata cubes in The Naturalistic Prairie, cloud-pruned Delavay privet in The Autumn & Winter, bay laurel lollipops in The Formal Welcome, The Soft Romantic and The Contemporary Monochrome, Portuguese laurel in The White Evening Garden and photinia in The Warm Summer. If you have a particular pairing in mind, email hello@topiarytwins.co.uk before you order and we'll tell you honestly whether it works.

How are the topiary pair and the border arranged at a door?

Pair first, always. Set the two topiary plants one each side of the door, centred on the width you have and clear of the door swing, then walk out to the gate and judge them from the pavement rather than the doorstep — that is the only viewing distance that matters on a frontage. Everything else in the scheme is proportioned to that pair. Then lay the border out still in its pots, following the supplied layout, taller material to the back and the drifts running in threes, fives and sevens rather than one of everything. Shuffle the pots until the repeats read from the street, and only then plant, water in properly and mulch. It is an afternoon's work in most front gardens.

When should I plant it out, and what does it need afterwards?

Plant as soon as you can after the pallet lands — the plants are pot-grown, so any month with workable, unfrozen ground is fine, and autumn or spring is kindest because the roots move while the soil is warm and damp. Water in properly rather than lightly, mulch once the whole scheme is in, and keep watering through the first dry spell of the first season; that first summer is the whole of establishment. After that the upkeep is modest: one trim a year on the topiary and one cut-back on the border. The step-by-step for planting day is in our planting guide, and the clipping detail is in the topiary care guide.

How is a whole scheme of 14 to 36 plants delivered?

Together, on one pallet, kerbside, by a specialist plant haulier, anywhere in mainland UK — and delivery is free. The topiary pair travels standing upright, the border plants travel in their pots alongside it, the consignment is fully tracked, and the driver phones about an hour ahead so you can be there. Allow 14–21 working days from order: your plants are being selected, photographed and documented during that window, not sitting in a warehouse. Kerbside means the pallet is left at the boundary rather than carried through the house, so line up a second pair of hands and somewhere to stage 36 pots before the lorry turns in. Full terms live on our delivery and returns page.

What if a plant in the scheme doesn't thrive?

Tell us early. The 6-Month Thrive Guarantee covers every plant in the scheme, topiary and border alike: a plant that fails to thrive in its first six months despite reasonable care is replaced at 50% of that plant's single price — half what that plant costs on its own, so a struggling perennial and a struggling topiary are each treated on their own terms. Email hello@topiarytwins.co.uk with the subject “Thrive Guarantee Claim – [order number]” and we review eligibility within 48 hours. One honest exclusion: if both topiary plants fail, the guarantee doesn't apply to them, because two identical failures point at the site rather than the stock and a straight swap would only repeat it. That is precisely what Lifetime Care Support is for — unlimited email guidance from the growers, answered within 24 hours, free, forever, so we can fix the conditions instead.

The Topiary Twins Difference

Designed as one.Delivered as one.

Structure, palette, quantities and spacings settled together — and the two topiary plants your whole scheme hangs on selected side by side in Tuscany, so that part is grown rather than approximate.

Designed as one palette

Structure, colour, quantities and spacings settled together, before anything is picked.

Guaranteed twice

7-day Matching Guarantee on the topiary pair, then the 6-month Thrive Guarantee across the scheme.

Growers for life

Lifetime Care Support — a photo gets grower answers for as long as you own the planting.