I did this for my Christmas tree one year. I sprayed it silver and hung fairy lights and ornaments from it. I hung it to the ceiling with fishing line and eye screws. It was beautiful.

I have two tortured willow trees...(sometimes I wish I didn't since they grow fast and get all tangled up in themselves...and everything else) BUT... if I harvest some of the more interestingly 'tortured' young branches, denude them of their leaves and young bark, I have the frameworks for Christmas wreaths and other interesting decorations. The young little branches, once stripped of their outer soft bark and when dry, can be painted and decorated with glitter or whatever and stood in floor vases. This year, rather than a Christmas tree, having a large mixed pot of coloured, decorated and natural tortured willow branches...and maybe a few wreaths here and there, maybe some of the sentimental tree decos that come out every year and...since this is a cat friendly house...lots of curly ribbons hanging down from the tortured willow 'tree' with the odd fluffy little toy to intrigue. I prefer to bring nature into the house for Christmas. In pagan times at Yule...branches from Fir trees were brought inside and hung with apples and oranges Use was made of dried pine cones and home made candles were an everyday thing only some special ones were made for Yuletide...and that harks back to the cold climate countries...hence the sleigh bells and snow etc. For Australia I prefer to use our native trees and leaves for adornment also for the fragrance these waft around the house. I lovely big frondy lot of gum tree leaves all tied and arranged well and sat in a metal bucket can be a lovely natural touch more in keeping with am Aussie Christmas. Personally I think the commercialisation of tree and home decorations has become rather....'ratty-looking'..fake green pine branches, gaudy baubles etc. Well in advance we go collecting dried seed pods, pine cones and any other nature-products for Christmas decos...all natural and really beautiful!

Probably best option is to consult the nursery where you purchased the topiarised plants - as you say, not an insignificant investment and they may undertake to replace the plant or at least nurse it back to health. Any potted plant requiring full sun, such as yours, which is up against a wall and not receiving sun on all sides needs to be rotated otherwise it won't grow evenly on all sides. Another thing I do with all my potted plants, numerous of which are toparised (last count I had 40 pots of 30cms or bigger) is I first plant into a plastic pot and put the plastic pot into a decorative terracotta or porcelain pot, that way it is easier to lift the plant out to repot, relocate or replace if it dies - it also affords a barrier against sun heating up the side of the decorative pot thereby drying potting mix more quickly.

I would not be inclined to plant a Murraya for your hedge. I have a Murraya hedge and am forever clipping it. The branches also become a bit thick to trim. The Indian Hawthorne pictured is in my opinion a more suitable plant. It flowers most of the year and is easy to keep in shape or can be left to grow naturally. It comes in whit or different shades of pink. The pink variety is a slower grower therefore less clipping. Go and have a look at the nursery to see if you like the foliage and flowers. I agree with the comment, not to try to keep the pines which somebody else has planted. This is your home now and you have the opportunity to design the garden. Good luck with your new garden. Jan