Planting Tilia Tomentosa Panel Trees

September 26, 2025

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.