Planting Fernspray Hinoki Cypress
The landscaped areas around my Bedford, New York farm continue to evolve.
I love planting interesting and beautiful specimens that add texture, growth and beauty at different times throughout the year. I also enjoy arranging large groups of certain plantings to create borders and appealing displays. Last week, we planted a group of large Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Filicoides' or Fernspray Hinoki cypress bushes along the carriage road just past my allée of lindens near the entrance to my Japanese Maple Woodland. I thought the space would look even prettier planted with these upright, bushy conifers - and it does.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Filicoides’, the Fernspray Hinoki cypress is a large-growing, upright, bush, with long, ascending branches. I knew several would be perfect at one end of the Linden Allée leading to my vegetable garden.
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- Once they are delivered, each bush is placed carefully where it will be planted. Each grows about six to eight inches per year.
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- Chhiring measures and marks exactly where the hole will be dug.
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- Chhiring uses white landscape paint to make a circle where the bush will be planted. These specimens should have at least four feet of space between them.
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- Fernspray Hinoki cypress ‘Filicoides’ do best with medium moisture, in well-drained soils. They also prefer full sun to part shade and some shelter from high winds. These bushes are placed in an area surrounded by other trees and a barn – I think they’ll do wonderfully.
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- Here is a closer look at the foliage which is bold, emerald-green in color with various brown highlights.
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- The team begins digging. The holes must be pretty wide – each one should be at least two to five times as wide as the root ball, but no deeper than the root ball. Once in the hole, the top of the root ball should just be slightly higher than the soil surface, much like it was planted at the nursery. The hole sides should also be slanted. Digging a proper hole helps to provide the best opportunity for roots to expand into its new growing environment.
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- Here, Pasang removes all the plastic and burlap wrapping. These wrappings help to support the root ball during loading, shipping, and transplanting.
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- Here, Pasang shows all the material that was removed from around the root ball. Some leave them in the ground, but I prefer to remove them completely, so there is nothing blocking the growing roots.
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- When moving heavy specimens, only hold it by the root ball and the base of the planting – never by its branches, which could easily break. Because these bushes are being planted along the carriage road, Chhiring is able to maneuver the Hi-Lo and position the bush in its hole. Doing it this way instead of by hand saves a lot of time. Once the cypress is in its hole it is turned so it is straight and its best side is facing the road.
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- A good fertilizer made especially for new transplanted specimens should always be used. This is Organic Bio-tone Starter with mycorrhizal fungi, which helps transplant survival and increases water and nutrient absorption.
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- A generous amount of fertilizer is mixed in with the nutrient-rich soil.
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- Finally, the crew backfills the holes until they are properly filled. And remember, don’t plant it too deeply – always leave it “bare to the flare.”
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- Each specimen is given a good drink of water – we’re not expecting any significant rain for several days.
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- Next, Chhiring brings a bucket filled with compost from our big pile. I am so glad I can make good compost right here at the farm. Chhiring is using our Kubota M62 tractor, which comes equipped with a 63 horsepower diesel engine, a front loader, and a powerful backhoe. It is among the most used pieces of equipment we have here at the farm.
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- Once a bush is completely planted and watered, Chhiring removes the protective tie.
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- It looks so beautiful after it is completely unwrapped.
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- Here is one view of the cypress bushes after they are all planted.
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- And here is a view looking northeast down the same carriage road.
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- They look great at the entrance to the Japanese Maple Tree Woodland. I am looking forward to seeing these Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Filicoides’ bushes thrive here at Cantitoe Corners.
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