Removing the Burlap Around My Winter House
Despite these trying times, there is still so much beauty to enjoy outdoors - spring officially begins in two days.
At my Bedford, New York farm, we are all heeding national guidelines to keep our distance from colleagues, wash our hands frequently, and remain at home if not feeling well. We are also taking advantage of the mild weather and working outdoors in the fresh air as much as possible. Yesterday, the crew began removing all the burlap around the farm, exposing the lush green boxwood that has been covered all winter long. The entire process is a big undertaking; however, knowing my plants are protected in the cold is a great comfort. And, seeing all the healthy, intact shrubbery and foliage at the start of a new season is an even greater delight.
Enjoy these photos and please stay in good health.
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- Yesterday, I held a staff meeting for the crew outside my Equipment Barn where we could all remain at least six feet apart. This novel COVID-19 is a pandemic, a global outbreak of a serious new illness, and we must all try hard to distance ourselves, slow the spread of the disease, and to #flattenthecurve.
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- Fortunately, the weather here in the Northeast has been mild and the crew is getting a lot done outside in the fresh air. One of our annual outdoor spring chores includes removing all the burlap that surrounds my precious boxwood shrubs during winter. Every autumn for as long as I’ve been gardening I’ve covered my boxwood shrubs and outdoor ornamental urns to protect them from the season’s heavy snowfall, freezing temperatures, and damaging winds. Then, every spring when the ground begins to thaw, it’s all removed and stored away. Here’s Pete working on one section on my upper terrace parterre in front of my Winter House.
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- And here’s Fernando removing the burlap from the opposite side – several feet away. We remove the burlap once the temperatures are consistently above freezing and before Easter. All of the coverings are custom wrapped and sewn to fit each individual shrub, hedge, or bush.
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- This year, for the bigger boxwood and down at the Boxwood Allee, I decided to use the same metal used to make hoop houses – strong industrial steel ground uprights and purlin pipes. These materials not only provide the necessary support frames for the burlap but also accommodate any growth. I ordered all the piping from Growers Solution, a family-owned business in Cookeville, Tennessee.
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- Any snow that accumulates on top of the finished structures is meant to slide down the sides. Additional horizontal supports are available if using these structures as greenhouses.
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- The burlap and all the supplies are removed gently, so as to preserve as much burlap as possible.
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- We use industrial burlap that’s available in giant rolls of 40-inches or 60-inches wide. These covers are used for about three seasons before being replaced.
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- Pete removes the wooden strips that help to sandwich and to secure the burlap around the specimens. These strips are at the bottom of the metal frames.
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- Fernando stands at the opposite side to catch and hold the burlap as Pete unfastens it.
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- These pipes are made from rolled galvanized 16 gauge industrial tubing. The ground piping is pounded into the ground – each one about four to five feet from the next. The top pieces are 10-foot wide bow sections – these frames will last quite a while, I hope.
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- Here, Pete dismantles the middle crossbar of this frame.
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- Pete uses a socket bit on the drill to remove the metal fasteners.
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- These fasteners are called tension purlin brackets. They connect the center piping to the bow sections of the frame.
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- The frames are built at least one foot above the tallest hedge so even the heaviest snow doesn’t weigh the burlap down and crush the tender foliage. The metal poles are also buried at least eight to 10 inches into the ground, so they are secure. Here’s Fernando removing them one by one, ever so carefully.
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- In tighter areas, we build burlap frames using metal supports and wooden stakes milled right here at the farm.
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- This section on the lower parterre in front of my Winter House kitchen is made using wood and metal supports. In general, burlap is very strong and can withstand weathering and repeated wetting and drying with minimal loss of durability. I also like the natural tan color.
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- Pete removes the wooden stakes and separates all the wood from the metal, so it can be stored properly for the season.
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- And then once again, Fernando carefully lifts the burlap showing the beautiful green boxwood underneath. Some question whether covering plantings each winter really helps, but look how lush and intact the plantings are when uncovered – I definitely feel it is worth the time and effort.
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- All these rolls of fabric will be placed in our storage shed where it can be kept dry. One of the few downsides to this fabric is that it will start to fray and disintegrate after time, especially if exposed to moisture. Pete rolls up a section of burlap and then leaves it in place until it can be properly tied and labeled for storage. My crew has been doing this for years – they have streamlined the process.
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- While Pete rolls up the burlap, Fernando carries the materials to the truck. Taking down the burlap is a much faster process than putting the burlap up, but still quite time-consuming.
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- All the wood used is stacked and saved for the next winter season.
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- Once the burlap is off, whatever is reusable gets labeled for easy identification next fall and brought to my Stable Barn.
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- Here is my upper terrace parterre once all the burlap is gone – removing the burlap changes the entire appearance of the area.
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- Here is a view looking up at the terrace and my Winter House. The burlap removal reveals what we hope for every year – green, healthy boxwood.
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- Meanwhile, there’s so much popping up around the farm – here is just one section of my long daffodil border. I can’t wait until the entire area is filled with gorgeous and colorful flowers.
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- More crocuses are pushing through the soil around my Winter House. Crocus is among the first flowers to appear in spring, usually in shades of white, yellow and purple.
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- Here’s more purple crocus along the length of the winding pergola. In spring, this area also displays a colorful palette of alliums, lilies, camassia, and fritillaria.
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- These lavender-blue blooms are so beautiful. The cup-shaped, solitary flowers taper off into a narrow tube with bold orange centers.
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- The iris are also emerging. Irises are a gorgeous variety of flowering plants. There are more than 300 species of Iris flowers around the world, making them not only beautiful but also incredibly diverse. I love the deep blue-purple of these blooms.
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- During these times, try to find joy in the new season – fresh air and nature can be great medicine. And it’s a perfect time to get those outdoor chores done around the house. I wish you all good luck and good health – stay safe. And please visit the CDC web site for the latest information on COVID-19.
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