Covering My Long Boxwood Allee with Burlap
Here at my Bedford, New York farm, the outdoor grounds crew is busy "burlapping" - a term we use for covering all my winter-sensitive boxwood with burlap.
I am a big supporter of "burlapping" shrubbery for the cold season. Burlap covers protect the tender branches from splaying and breaking under heavy ice and snow while shielding the foliage from strong winds. Burlap is also more effective than plastic because it allows air to circulate through the plants. It is a practice I've followed for many years, and I think it also provides a cozy and pretty look to the winter landscape. This week, the crew finished the biggest part of this project - my long Boxwood Allee.
Enjoy these photos.
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- These pipes on our trusted Polaris Ranger EV are made from rolled galvanized 16 gauge industrial tubing. They are part of the supplies needed for our protective structures. In all, hundreds of ground stakes, purlin pipes, connectors, nuts, and bolts are used for the project. They are actually parts for greenhouse hoop houses. I knew they would be perfect for the Boxwood Allee. Growers Solution sends everything needed to complete the custom project.
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- To start, ground pipes are installed every four feet along the allee. These hollow pipes will anchor the supports. My long Boxwood Allee extends from the east paddocks and the woodland carriage road to the stone stable. It has developed beautifully over the years, growing larger every season.
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- These pieces are part of the “Dakota” greenhouse from Growers Solution. Next, Chhiring secures the taller pipes along the allee.
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- I ordered the 10-foot wide bow sections – this will last quite a while and give the boxwood a lot of room to grow. The allee is now all framed on both sides of the carriage road. Building the frame at least a foot taller than the boxwood protects any heavy snow from weighing down onto the tender foliage.
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- These are called tension purlin brackets. They connect the center piping to the bow sections.
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- Here is one being fastened to the bow section and the center peak.
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- Constructing the frame for the burlap takes several days, but the process is well worth the effort during cold snaps, high winds, and snowstorms. At the top is the center piece that supports the bow sections. Any snow that accumulates on top of the finished structures will slide down the sides.
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- Smaller stakes are pounded into the ground next to each steel ground stake. These short wooden stakes provide points at which the burlap can be secured.
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- The burlap gets reused from year to year whenever possible. When it is removed in spring, it is rolled up, labeled and then stored in the dry trailer barn until it is used again.
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- This burlap is still in great condition – it usually lasts three seasons. Here, Chhiring is unrolling it along the center of the allee.
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- Chhiring and Domi pull one end of the burlap over the metal framing and then over the large end boxwood.
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- The great “burlapping” project requires rolls and rolls of jute twine.
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- And needles – Chhiring actually made this one out of a piece of strong wire. He copied the design from needles specially designed for sewing jute. Every grounds crew member has a needle for sewing.
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- Because the burlap comes in 48-inch wide and 60-inch wide rolls, it’s necessary to sew lengths of burlap, so it is wide enough to cover the boxwood. Burlap is relatively inexpensive and available at garden centers.
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- For another section, Chhiring has to make a new cover, so he sews the long sections together by hand – five lengths of burlap for each side. Chhiring has excellent sewing skills – I’ve taught everyone on the outdoor grounds crew how to sew.
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- The burlap is then positioned along each side of the area to be draped.
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- From the end, one can see how much room the boxwood has under the burlap. This will allow for good air circulation during the season.
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- Here, Domi uses one of the long metal poles to help get the burlap over the frame peaks.
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- Building the frame at least a foot taller than the boxwood protects any heavy snow from weighing down onto the tender foliage.
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- Even scraps of wood can be repurposed for various projects. Here, we cut long wooden stakes into small strips. The strips are about six to eight inches long – just long enough to accommodate two screws that will keep the burlap secure.
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- Dawa secures two screws into each piece just enough to hold in place. Working in an assembly-line fashion saves lots of time.
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- As each piece is done, it is dropped into a bucket ready to be installed.
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- To make it taut, the burlap is pulled down and attached to the ground stakes using the strips and screws.
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- It looks very tidy once attached. Both the metal and wood stakes can be seen through the fabric.
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- At the ends, Dawa pulls the burlap taut and begins sewing it closed.
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- Domi sews the bottom tight and secure.
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- Here is one finished section of the Boxwood Allee. The burlap still allows the boxwood to “breathe”, and get sunlight, which is important even during the colder months. One can see the seams where the burlap pieces are connected.
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- These covers are done carefully, even around the horse chestnut trees at one end of the allee. These structures will provide strong protection through the winter and until everything is removed again in spring.
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- Here is one of the finished ends – all sewn. It is actually very pretty, and gives the allee a whole new look for the winter.
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- The taller boxwood shrubs are wrapped differently, with additional burlap to cover the top, following the shape of the shrub.
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- And here is the allee all finished. I’ve been “burlapping” for many years and find that this is really the most reliable way to protect my hedges and shrubs. Covering this allee with burlap gives me comfort that all will survive the winter unscathed.
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