Covering the Ornamental Urns with Burlap for Winter
You know winter is just around the corner when various ornamental vessels around my farm are covered in burlap.
I’ve been covering my shrubs and hedges with burlap for many years - since I first started to garden. This practice protects branches from splaying and even breaking from the weight of snow and ice. I feel it is equally important to protect all my outdoor garden ornaments from the harsh winter elements. A winter freeze, alternating with thaws, could crack or crumble any kind of stone or cement. Every year, all the outdoor containers, planters and birdbaths, are drained, covered, and then wrapped in the same burlap used for my live specimens.
Here is a look at our process. Enjoy these photos.
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- This time of year, it is not unusual to see at least one of our Polaris vehicles filled with “burlapping” supplies. I have many outdoor containers and garden ornaments on the farm. Many of them are large and very heavy, so they are covered and protected with burlap and kept in their respected locations for the duration of the cold season.
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- To sew the burlap, we use jute twine. It is all natural and the same color as the burlap. The needles are specially designed for sewing jute. These five-inch long needles have large eyes and bent tips. Everyone on the crew has his own needle.
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- Here is Domi working on one of the two stately Kenneth Lynch garden urns flanking the entrance to the flower cutting garden. They are more than 500-pounds each. Because stone and cement can crack from exposure to the winter elements, Domi covers it with heavy duty plastic first. Rolls of this plastic can be ordered online or purchased at a local hardware and home supply store. This plastic will protect the vessels and keep them dry.
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- Domi secures the plastic around the bottom and the top with twine. Now it is ready for its burlap shroud.
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- Next, Domi cuts the burlap fabric to fit – one long piece that can completely wrap around the urn.
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- When we can, we reuse burlap from seasons past; however, it is also available in giant rolls of 40-inches or 60-inches wide. Also called hessian, burlap is made in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India from jute, a tall, grass-like plant grown for its strong fibrous stalks.
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- Starting from the bottom, Phurba makes small stitches and knots to keep the burlap in place. He also makes sure the burlap protects as much of the bottom as possible.
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- Here is one of the quick stitch knots that secures the burlap. The ends at the top are tucked under in the same way a gift is wrapped.
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- Once the burlap is secured and the ends are tucked, Phurba begins stitching the fabric together and pulling the burlap snug.
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- Here are the two large planters when done. They are completely enveloped in their burlap covers and ready for the cold season ahead.
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- Here is another giant planter in front of my Winter House. The burlap is sewn tightly, but with some space for air circulation.
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- And underneath all the vessels are small wooden shims, which keep the urns raised and away from any water or melting snow on the ground.
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- Depending on the size of the vessel and how much sewing is needed, each piece takes about 20 to 30 minutes to complete. Burlap is so useful for many gardening projects – it is inexpensive, biodegradable, and the color and texture of burlap is so pretty to use. These planters are in front of my Summer House.
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- On the terrace behind my Summer House is where I keep several smaller and very heavy planters as well as a group of seven faux bois containers that also need covering this time of year. This burlap remains on the stone objects until early spring, so it must be done very carefully to withstand strong winds and heavy snowfall.
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- The crew moves down to the stable courtyard to cover these items. Before wrapping this birdbath, it is first completely emptied of water and then covered with a piece of plywood. The plywood is cut to fit the top opening, and can be used from year to year. It is also painted in my signature “Bedford Gray.”
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- Here they are all done. The covered birdbaths and planters sit outside the stable office where my business manager, property director and operations manager work.
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- The burlap nearly conforms to the shape of the garden ornaments atop the pillars flanking the gate to my Winter House courtyard.
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- Here are two covered urns inside the courtyard. The crew knows where every stone container is located – and never miss a single one.
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- Here’s another big birdbath. The burlap can be reused about three times before it needs replacing. In spring, we remove the covers and carefully label each piece before storing, so we know what it fits the next fall. Always store burlap fabric in a cool dry place. It will attract moisture and this can cause it to start molding even in a space with low humidity. If possible, don’t fold burlap because it will get creases and wrinkles that are very difficult to remove. The best option is to roll the it.
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- Here are two smaller covered urns on the terrace parterre outside my Winter House kitchen. Look closely and see four more in the distance.
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- Here’s Phurba wrapping burlap around these air conditioner units outside my studio.
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- We also cover the stone faux bois support for the sundial. There is still so much “burlapping” to do around the farm. The project continues with all the many boxwood shrubs and hedges that will be covered in the weeks ahead. Do you wrap any of your outdoor vessels? And what do you think about my process? Let me know in the comments section below.
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