Pruning in a European style
While I was away in the south of France, Shaun, my gardener, decided that a very tall Carpinus (upright European hornbeam) hedge needed a good pruning. Shaun is a very skilled pruner and he wanted to give this hedge a classic European look. He enlisted Wilmer and Chhiring's help and got busy snipping away. I am very pleased with the results and not only is the hedge beautiful to look at, it also does a great job of blocking out the busy road.
Photos By Eliad Laskin
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Hi Martha,
Welcome back! I want to wish you a great summer.
I am traveling with my family for the summer this week to Lebanon then to Europe. I wish I will meet you in the near future in Europe or the Middle East. I will stay in touch on twitter.
Shaun did a great job the hedge does look so European.
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | July 8th, 2009 at 3:08 am
A truly stunning hedge once finished. The perfect plant for such a purpose.
Posted by: Ingrid, Melbourne, Australia | July 8th, 2009 at 3:50 am
That looks fantastic! It appears to have been there for 50 years or more. I had no idea hornbeam grew so quickly.
--Wayne
Posted by: Wayne M | July 8th, 2009 at 7:44 am
I signed up on Twitter. I love your gardeners and that hedge job --- fantastic. Can you send them over? Just kidding. No rain today -- don't want to say it too loud or too soon.
Posted by: Teresa Touey | July 8th, 2009 at 9:17 am
Hi! Martha!
Once upon a ledge, three men and a hedge! Shaun ,Wilmer and Chhiring certainly had their work cut out for them!
'Upright' European hornbeam, you say? Does that indicate that there is also a 'horizontal'?, European hornbeam?
A pruning job - such as that of your massive hornbeam - is one you look back at and admire...yourself, as much as the hedge! Beautiful job! Men!
Posted by: tinay | July 8th, 2009 at 9:19 am
The pruning work is absolutely stunning,fabulous,amazing..... I have not seen anything like this...great job Shaun..it is beautiful work !!!
Posted by: Lori MacRae | July 8th, 2009 at 9:27 am
Absolutely gorgeous...i am a huge fan of hedges and have mostly boxwood here. Hornbeams certainly make for an amazing hedge. Shaun is very skilled. It must have been lovely to come home to this neatly pruned new look!
Posted by: sherey | July 8th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
........and who was taking pictures? Shaun and his crew did and do very nice work. Maybe it is all the moisture that makes one think of jobs that get you up and out of the mud.
Posted by: Margie | July 8th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Every time I see your pictures, I just want to come for a visit!
Posted by: Lori | July 8th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
.
VERY HAPPY ABOUT THE BUSHES, BUT WHAT I'D REALLY LIKE TO COMMENT ON IS-----
.
http://bit.ly/i1Mnd
.
CONSIDER THE LONG DAYS, THE LATE NIGHTS, THE YEARS OF TIME TURNED OVER TO ORGANIZING, ANALYZING, NEGOTIATING, CREATING, AND TAKING THE REIGNS OF LEADERSHIP TO FULL GALLOP.
GIVE THOUGHT TO A WOMAN OF 67 YEARS, HITTING AN ALL TIME HIGH -- BREAKING SOUND BARRIERS IN ACCOMPLISHMENT, HURDLING FROM CONTINENT TO CONTINENT WITH VOLCANIC ENERGY, AND WIELDING THE CYBER GENERATION'S BRAVE NEW TECHO WORLD INTO HER OWN FIRST PLACE PRIZE!
MARTHA IS THE LONE HOLDER OF TWO NUMBER ONE WEB DISTINCTIONS WITHIN A TOP TEN MAGAZINE TITAN HONOR. HERALDED BY THE POWER GRID, MARTHA GOBBLED GOOGLE BUZZ TALLY WITH 12,800.000 BUZZIES AND SPARKLED TWITTER WITH A POPULAR NEAR ONE MILLION FOLLOWERS.
FORBES, TIME, HEARST ----- PUSH OVER, THERE'S A WHIRLWIND IN THE HOUSE!
NUMBER 7 MAGAZINE TITAN, NUMBER 11 MEDIA MOGUL-------, AND ON WE GO..... MARTHA STEWART'S LOOKING GOOD, IN PICTURES AND IN PRINT - LIVE WIRE ON THE POWER GRID, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF!
.
Posted by: andreaandweims on Twitter | July 8th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
The hedges look great! My neighbor has a tall ficus between our driveways that I think would look good trimmed in that European style. Maybe I'll drop a hint. I am impressed that Shaun used hand clippers/loppers for the job. I'd be out there all day if I didn't have my battery operated hedgers. Beautiful job Shaun! Trish
Posted by: Trish | July 8th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
wow, your gardener did a great job! I hope you had a fantastic time in France.
Posted by: Shabby chic furniture | July 8th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
I love successful people specially when it is a woman
Posted by: dilshad hassan siddiqui | July 8th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
That is so beautiful! I just love the way it looks. It's a real eye-catcher. He did great work.
Posted by: Sherry | July 8th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Hi Martha, Thanks for another wonderful blog featuring your magnificent garden crew at your Bedford farm. These guys are terrific, especially Shaun. They did a fantastic job of pruning that hedge. It looks absolutely stunning. I can see why you were pleased. Once again, kudos to your crew! The photos are magnificent, also. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | July 9th, 2009 at 12:21 am
This project DID turn out nicely, didn't it?! The end product is very eye-pleasing and neat-n-tidy...just what I like! You must've been pleased, Martha, when you came home, to find this tasteful upgrade there in your gardens. It seems to lend more structure, too, than originally.
I'm not at all surprised at the innovative use of the lift's platform as a guide for the pruning! To me, this was quite an undertaking, and maintaining straight lines would be a must - just HOW, tho', would've been the question. Passersby at my home often wonder, I'm sure, what I'm looking at when I'm out at the curb, looking back at my house (seeming to just stand there)...to get effective results, one HAS TO stand back and try to see thru others' eyes, and pruning definitely requires this type of activity! [giggle] [I'm a weirdo!...I know it!...]
EVERYTHING looks so beautiful there at your farm, Martha! I know you've gotten (and are sick of!) a little more rain than I, but it does work its magic. Some isolated showers are due this weekend across the northeast, and I personally will welcome them, as we've been rain-free for about a week, and my little piece of Heaven needs a little refreshment from above! Oh, things are still looking okay, but I will not allow myself to water my grass, and when it stays lush and green as a beautiful backdrop to my flowers (that I DO dote over), then I remain a happy, well-adjusted girl! [giggle]
I'm a bit delayed in posting, as I was away last week and am still playing catch-up... Let me mosey on over to today's blog about harvesting berries, and see what you have to say... Look for my post!...I'm sure I will have something to say - ALWAYS encouraging, of course!
Sunshine, my wonderful friend!
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | July 9th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Hi Martha,
I am a fan of yours, always checking your website for ideas and wonderful recipes. Your pictures on harvesting of berries are really awesome! Raspberries in colors I have never seen before. You are so lucky, you have all that land where you can plant and grow. I am from Singapore -we can only indulge in a few potted plants. Thanks for the lovely pictures!
Posted by: Pamela | July 9th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Martha:
WOW! What an undertaking, especially without "power" hedge clippers, but the results are well worth it!
I'm curious, though, is it bad for the hedge in any way to use battery or electric-powered clippers? Do they invite disease?
Shaun and the crew deserve a lot of credit.
Could you tell us a little about the vertical hornbeam and why you chose it over other hedge plantings for the site. For instance, is it particularly deer or pest resistant? Apparently, it is rather quick-growing, so that is a plus for someone wanting "instant" privacy. (You must get loads of traffic on your road throughout the summer months whenever Caramoor hosts a concert or event.)
The Hi-Lo is great for near-aerial shots. The photo of your berry patch and green house would look great in a new Martha Stewart Gardening Book picking up where the first book left off! Only you could top your original tour de force.
Many blessings to you and your family!
Posted by: Joseph Brennan | July 10th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
For Joseph Brennan - Here's what Shaun has to say regarding your questions -
No, battery or electric/gas power hedge shears would not invite any diseases that I am aware of. When using those type of shears you have to be extremely accurate. If you accidentally sneeze or move too fast you can cut a big hole into a hedge. Using the hand hedge shears allows for a lot more accuracy. If using power shears they also have to be extremely sharp other wise they will get bound on the branches. I sharpen my hand shears at least once an hour when pruning with a sharpening stone as well as using a coarse piece of steel wool to remove any sap that quickly builds up. I finish every sharpening by applying a thin layer of motor oil to the blade and spring to allow it to cut smoother and the oil protects the steel.
I do not know why Martha chose that particular hedge. My guess is that it grows very rapidly (up to 4-5 feet a year when getting established) and this can be easy shaped into almost any shape that you choose and you can create a hedge that gets very tall, up to 30' if you would like. Dan Hinkley had the same hedge and he grew it in a double arch pattern. It is very versatile. It is also easily available as whips that are inexpensive as well as easy to plant and maintain. Deer will certainly eat it but since we have the deer fence it's not a problem for us.
Posted by: Martha Stewart | July 13th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
In reading the April 2011 issue of M.S. Living Magazine I came across the article titled "A Tree Grows in Bedford". On page 28 there are multiple photos of different types of hedges and trees. In particular I am interested in photo #1 which contains Hornbeam Hedge. Can you please tell me where I may purchase them here in the USA? I did look online and did not find any place to purchase them. Thanking your for your time and a wonderful blog.
Posted by: Barbara Reed | April 2nd, 2011 at 9:15 pm
Any suggestions as to where to buy European hornbeam "whips", in the U.S., for creating a hedge?
Posted by: Clay Swisher | February 8th, 2013 at 12:18 pm