Planting Hornbeams and Privets in My Living Maze
My living maze is getting more "a-mazing" with each row of plantings.
I started this three-acre maze in the spring of 2022. I designed the maze with a variety of interesting trees, hedges, espaliers, and shrubs that would all grow tall enough to prevent walkers from seeing the paths ahead. Each row would branch off with pathway options and dead ends - with only one correct route to the center. So far I've planted European beech, European hornbeams, boxwood, parrotias, espaliered apple trees, American sweetgums, barberry, London planetrees, yews, hollies, and camperdown elms. This week, we added more privets and hornbeams.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
-
- My crew has been working very hard to clear the designated paths for more maze planting. This living maze is developing so nicely.
-
- Planting any row of specimens always starts with a carefully measured line. The maze is drawn out on a map, so the area is marked according to the map’s specifications.
-
- The next step is to remove the sod from the designated area. This is done with our Classen Pro HSC18 sod cutter. This sod cutter is so easy to maneuver and so sharp, Chhiring finishes one row in just minutes.
-
- The sod cutting machine cuts the sod in two strips, which are then cut and rolled into sections, so they can be removed easily.
-
- This is what the cleared area looks like once all the sod is pulled up. The exposed soil will also be tilled.
-
- These trees are all from Select Horticulture Inc. in nearby Pound Ridge, New York. These are deciduous hornbeams and privets, which are now beginning to leaf out for the season.
-
- All the trees are positioned first before any planting begins. Privets, Ligustrum ovalifolium, are also known as Korean privet, California privet, garden privet, and oval-leaved privet. It is a species of flowering plant in the olive family native to Japan and Korea. It is a dense, fast-growing, evergreen shrub or small tree.
-
- The leaves of the privet are elliptic-ovate, glossy, dark green and about two and a half inches long.
-
- Then the digging begins. Remember the rule of thumb for planting – dig a hole that is two to three times wider than the root ball, but only as deep as the height of the root ball.
-
- Using a Hori Hori knife, Arnold makes the necessary root ball cuts to stimulate and encourage root growth.
-
- Now the first privet is in place.
-
- All these are in good condition, but we always position plantings with the best side facing inward toward the walking path. Alex steps back to check that the privet is straight and facing the right direction.
-
- Once the specimen is positioned correctly, it is backfilled. A good tip is to “plant bare to the flare,” meaning do not bury the tree above its flare, where the first main roots attach to the trunk. Tree roots need oxygen to grow. By placing the root flare at or slightly above ground level when planting gives the tree the best chance for survival, growth, and development.
-
- We always save all the plastic pots for future use. This is one of my favorite ways to repurpose. These pots come in so handy.
-
- Meanwhile, the smaller hornbeams are also planted. This one is placed near the hole to check it for proper size. The hole is also sprinkled with fertilizer specially made for transplanting.
-
- Hornbeams are often confused with the common beech because of their similar leaves; however, the hornbeam leaves are actually smaller and more deeply furrowed than beech leaves. The leaves are deciduous and alternate, with serrated margins.
-
- As with all trees and plants, whenever it is transplanted, the root ball is scarified.
-
- The tree is placed into its designated hole and then turned so its best side faces the path. The hole is carefully backfilled in the same way as the privets.
-
- Finally, every newly planted row is raked neatly and watered.
-
- European hornbeams, Carpinus betulus, are fast-growing. In fact, it can grow about four to five feet per year. It is native to Western Asia and central, eastern and southern Europe, including southern England. Because of its dense foliage and tolerance to being cut back, this hornbeam is popularly used for hedges and topiaries.
-
- And here are the newly planted privets. One can see that they are all equally spaced. They will eventually grow into a nice thick hedge also, making a wall in the maze. When fully mature, these privets will grow 10 to 15 feet tall. The maze will take some time before it is complete, but I am so pleased with how well it is turning out. It gets more interesting – and more confusing – with each row of plantings.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
