It's so much fun to watch the gardens, groves, and allées evolve and expand around my farm.
Over the last couple of weeks, my gardeners and outdoor grounds crew have been very busy planting 80-trees from Select Horticulture, Inc. in nearby Pound Ridge, New York. The selection of 15-foot trees includes London plane cylinder and parasol trees, a Chinese Elm, hornbeams, panel lindens, cylinder lindens, and parasol lindens. Many of them were planted in my maze, but others were spread out around the property. One area was outside my peafowl pen, where I already had similar trees growing and thriving. The team planted a group of Tilia tomentosa panel trees before some expected heavy rains.
Enjoy these photos.
Because my peacocks and peahens have grown up here at the farm, they are very accustomed to all the sights and sounds. In fact, they are very curious to watch the projects that go on around their enclosures. On this day, it was the planting of several linden trees.
This peahen is standing on top of a shelter watching all the activity. I am glad these birds are so stable around noise. My birds are also extremely friendly.
This space along the fence of the peafowl pen is perfect for the six linden tomentosa panel trees. Eventually, they will offer some good shade to my fowl and add some nice foliage color to this space. Landscape marking flags are placed where each tree will go.
The area is narrow, so the holes have to be dug manually. Pasang and Alex are very strong and very fast at digging.
When planting any tree, the hole should be twice the width of the root ball and equal in depth. This allows the tree’s roots to spread easily and get the oxygen it needs. The sides should also be at an angle to help the roots get properly established.
Once the holes are dug, Alex begins removing all the plastic and burlap wrapping from around the root ball. This is not done until the tree is ready for planting. These root balls should never be left to dry out. The wrapping protects the roots from dehydration and sunburn and allows trees to be safely moved.
Alex also pries off the strong wiring cage used to contain the root ball until it is properly planted.
Then, the tree is carefully rolled and placed into its designated hole. This is done slowly and carefully, so the root ball stays intact.
A crucial step in growing healthy trees is to plant them at the proper depth. Planting a tree too deep can kill it. Plant it only at its flare – the bulge just above the root system where the roots begin to branch away from the trunk. Digging a wide planting hole helps to provide the best opportunity for roots to expand into its new growing environment.
Alex rotates the tree until it is perfectly level and in line with the others. Tilia tomentosa, commonly called silver linden or European white linden, is native to Europe and Asia. It is noted for its attractive foliage, which is glossy green above and silvery-white below.
Alex assess the placement of the tree. Look closely and see he guiding landscape twine – the tree should be planted so its trunk is just barely touching it.
Phurba sprinkles a generous amount of fertilizer into the hole and the surrounding soil. I use Miracle-Gro Organic All Purpose Plant Food. It’s full of essential nutrients and won’t burn the plants.
These granules can feed plants for up to three months building strong roots and improving soil quality.
The hole is backfilled and tamped down lightly to establish good contact between the soil and the tree’s root ball.
Phurba continues with some raking until the soil is neat and tidy.
How many trees do you see? It looks like just one, but the crew planted six – and they are perfectly lined up. The best light for thee trees is full sun to partial shade.
Fall color is pale green to pale yellow. Many of the trees here at the farm, both young and mature specimens, are already beginning to show their autumn colors.
The trunk has smooth, gray bark when young, becoming more ridged with age.
This entire row is done. They will get a good watering from the expected showers.
These trees will do very well in this location. The crew has planted a good number of trees, but there are still more to do. Next, the planting of two dozen hornbeams. Stay tuned and find out where.
My garden maze is becoming more and more beautiful with the planting of each tree.
I designed my maze to have a variety of different specimens. I wanted every turn to be both beautiful and interesting. These last couple of weeks, I've focused on the last third of the three-acre space, planting sizable linden trees, Tilia cordata ‘Greenspire’ Cylinder, along two sides and then Tilia Euchlora Parasol in the center surrounding my eagle. Then I planted a row of Platanus acerifolia 'Bloodgood' cylinders, London planetrees, along the north end of the maze. These large, hardy deciduous trees, also from Select Horticulture, Inc. in Pound Ridge, New York, are known for their striking appearance and adaptability. They will thrive here.
Enjoy these photos.
The London planetree, Platanus acerifolia ‘Bloodgood,’ is a relative of the mighty sycamore. It is actually a cross between two sycamore species – Platanus occidentalis, the American sycamore, and Platanus orientalis, the Oriental plane. Right now, these trees are about 15-feet tall, but they are fast growing and will reach up to 75 to 100-feet at full maturity with beautiful cylindrical habits.
Here’s Ryan measuring the area multiple times to ensure the placement of the trees is accurate. The trees will be perpendicular to the lindens seen behind him.
Chhiring uses the trusted Kubota and its forklift to transport each tree to its designated location.
Alex uses a shovel to help shape the proper hole and ensure it is deep enough for the trees. The holes must be pretty wide – at least two to five times as wide as the root ball.
Digging a wide planting hole helps to provide the best opportunity for roots to expand and develop.
Appropriate fertilizer is added to the hole and the surrounding soil. It is very important to feed the plants and trees. I always say, “if you eat, your plants should eat.” I use an organic all-purpose food from Miracle-Gro.
Phurba removes the protective wrapping and any wire or rope from the root ball. If left untouched, these wrapping materials could reduce the ability of a tree’s roots to grow out into the surrounding soil.
Here is the pile of wrapping from just one tree.
The crew rotates the tree on its root ball closer to the hole and then into it. When moving heavy trees, only hold it by the root ball and the base of the trunk – never by its branches, which could easily break.
Alex and Pasang are very strong, so they are able to easily maneuver the tree.
Pasang uses a large piece of wood as leverage to turn the tree until it is stable in the hole and sitting at the proper depth.
Here, Alex makes a few adjustments. Remember, it is crucial to “plant bare to the flare,” meaning do not bury above its flare, where the first main roots attach to the trunk. The roots need oxygen to grow. By placing the root flare at or slightly above ground level when planting gives the specimen the best chance for survival, growth, and development.
The crew knows each tree is planted properly when lined up like this. It looks like only one, but there are several in their designated holes.
Phurba backfills the trees, tamps down to establish good contact between the root ball and the soil, and then rakes the area, so it is neat and tidy.
The leaves of the London planetree are simple and alternate. They grow six to seven inches wide and are leathery leaves that have three to five lobes each, similar to the maple. The leaf color is bright green and the margins are predominantly un-toothed.
In autumn, the leaves turn yellowish-brown before falling off.
The tree’s bark sheds in thin strips, revealing a cream colored mottled inner bark.
Platanus acerifolia ‘Bloodgood’ trees do best in an area that receives full sun. It should be watered regularly after planting to encourage a healthy root system, but then watering frequency can be reduced once established except during periods of extreme heat. Although the ‘Bloodgood” is not considered a drought-tolerant plant, this variety can tolerate short periods without water.
Thee trees will grow nicely here. Behind them is a row of Lynwood Gold Forsythia. And behind that is my great Boxwood Allée.
We got a lot of trees planted just in time – we’re expecting a good amount of rain here today.
My garden maze continues to evolve with each group of interesting plantings.
Recently, I received a large delivery of trees from Select Horticulture Inc. in Pound Ridge, New York. Many of the specimens are linden trees, which I decided would look good in my maze. Last week, my crew planted a number of Tilia cordata ‘Greenspire’ Cylinder trees along the two sides of the maze. The next phase was to plant a group of Tilia Euchlora Parasols, commonly called Caucasian linden or Crimean linden. This linden variety is a medium deciduous tree that grows up to 60 feet tall and 30 feet wide with a rounded pyramidal shape. The trees were planted in a square surrounding my eagle.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
It’s always exciting when a delivery of trees arrives. These are two of 80 from Select Horticulture, Inc. – a great source for large, interesting, and beautifully maintained specimen trees and shrubs.
The trees include London plane cylinder and parasol trees, a Chinese Elm, hornbeams, and variety of lindens – panel lindens, cylinder lindens, and parasol lindens. They’re all in excellent condition.
Ryan and Chhiring review the exact location for the lindens. The maze is drawn out on a map I designed, so it is very important to refer to it every time something new is added.
The area is measured multiple times before the actual sod is cut and removed.
Landscape twine and flags indicate the areas to be stripped and the exact locations where each tree will be placed.
Chhiring goes over the designated beds with the Classen Pro HSC18 sod cutter. The sod cutter goes over the area smoothly and deeply. Everything must be done as precisely as possible for the maze.
This is what the cleared area looks like once all the two-inch thick sod is pulled up.
Next, Chhiring maneuvers my Kubota M62 tractor loader and backhoe to dig each of the holes.
Backhoes are extremely versatile. I am fortunate to have this attachment for our tractor. Backhoes come with a bucket and digging arm that can perform many different tasks.
Each hole is manually smoothed out and prepared to ensure it is deep enough for each specimen. The hole sides are slanted. Digging a wide planting hole helps to provide the best opportunity for roots to expand into its new growing environment.
The entire area is sprinkled with fertilizer. The crew uses an organic all purpose plant food from Miracle-Gro.
The protective wrapping and any wire or rope are removed from the root ball. If left untouched, these wrapping materials could reduce the ability of a tree’s roots to grow out into the surrounding soil. Some gardeners leave them in the ground, but I prefer to remove everything, so there is nothing blocking the root growth.
As it is removed, all the protective cages and coverings are placed by each tree, so we are sure it was taken off.
Pasang and Alex slowly roll the root ball into position. Only hold it by the root ball and the base of the trunk – never by its branches, which could easily break.
All the trees look great, but I always ask the crew to position plantings with the best side facing the walking path or area where guests see them most.
Pasang adjusts the bottom of the hole, so the tree sits straight level. A good tip is to “plant bare to the flare,” meaning do not bury above its flare, where the first main roots attach to the trunk. The roots need oxygen to grow. By placing the root flare at or slightly above ground level when planting gives the specimen the best chance for survival, growth and development. Once in place, the rest of the hole is backfilled.
Here is one side of the space all planted, raked and tidy.
The leaves of the Tilia euchlora measure about two to three-and-a-half inches in length and width. They are green and turn a bright yellow in fall.
The tree’s bark is initially smooth and grayish-brown, but as it matures, it will develop fissures, giving it more texture and appeal.
Here’s another side all planted. Once they’re all in the ground, they are given a very deep and thorough drink. It’s been warm and humid here this week – we’ve been watering quite a bit around the farm.
This view from the center shows the eagle atop its pedestal surrounded by the newly planted lindens. I think it looks excellent. I am so pleased with how well my maze is turning out. What do you think?
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