I'm getting a lot of excellent wintertime pruning done at my farm.
Proper pruning is so important - it improves the health of the plants, prevents disease, and encourages better flowering. There are different pruning strategies for different times of the year, but overall the goals are the same - to control the height and shape, develop good limb structure, encourage growth, remove damaged or diseased branches, and to allow for better air circulation. Right now, my outdoor grounds crew is tackling four of my Sargent crabapples along the carriage road to my home.
Enjoy these photos.
The best time to prune is during the dormant season which is typically winter to early spring before new growth emerges.
These are two of four Sargent crabapple, Malus sargentii, in early April. The name of this species comes from the man who introduced it from its native Japan in 1892, C.S. Sargent. These are good trees for many different landscapes. It has a unique size and form, growing as a dense, mounded shrub rather than a tree.
Later in spring, they display fragrant white flowers.
In autumn, bright red to dark fruit can be seen among the leaves. They stay through the season and into winter.
The fruits are about a half-inch in diameter and are known to be tart and astringent in taste, attracting many birds, especially cedar waxwings, robins, grosbeaks, and mockingbirds.
Pasang Sherpa is an excellent pruner and oversees many of the smaller pruning projects around the farm. He focuses on the Ds of pruning and removes any dead, diseased, damaged, defective, or deranged branches.
All the pruning is done by hand. Pasang uses sharp hand pruners to cut low branches. It is crucial to use sharp blades to make clean, smooth cuts to reduce the risk of disease and infection.
When needed, my team also uses these STIHL loppers which feature a longer 28-inch handle made from lightweight aluminum. It is idea for cutting any tree branches up to two inches in diameter.
It is also smart and efficient to place a tarp under the work area to catch all the falling branches – it makes cleanup much faster later.
Here, one can see where the cuts were made. When pruning, the branches are always cut just above the bud or branch. This encourages new growth and helps the wounds heal more quickly.
These crabapples are pruned every year. Here are some older cuts.
Pasang also thins out crowded areas and works to maintain its balanced shape.
Alex works from the top making sure adequate light and circulation can move through the center of the specimen.
He also removes the upward growing branches called water sprouts. These are similar to root suckers that grow up from the ground – both draw nutrients and strength away from the plant and need removing.
As Alex works from the top, Pasang works from the bottom of the crabapples – it’s efficient and fast.
Look closely to see which side Alex pruned and which side he has yet to do.
Alex enjoys working with the trees and shrubs and does a great job. He and Pasang have already pruned more than a dozen different trees this week.
These Sargent crabapples have horizontal branching which helps create the dense mounded habit. Pruning them correctly will ensure they will continue to be healthy, productive, and beautiful.
No better time like the start of a new year to get everything around the farm in good order.
Whenever it's cold outside and my outdoor grounds crew is unable to work in the woods or gardens, I encourage them to take stock of the equipment, clean everything, and then organize all the tools and supplies. My Equipment Barn is about 40 by 120 feet, with a substantial amount of height. It is where I keep my mowers, blowers, tractors, and other pieces of important machinery. Recently, my team cleared the space and then inspected and organized everything. Keeping things well maintained and properly stored will always save time in the long run.
I built this structure shortly after purchasing the farm. A couple times a year when schedules allow, I like the space to be cleaned and organized.
The Equipment Barn is well lit with these big overhead lamps. I use very utilitarian lighting where I can on the farm.
The hand tools are taken off their hooks, inspected, and grouped with other like pieces.
Spreading them all out is a good way to know what is in good shape and how many of each tool we have in supply.
Once emptied, the walls are blown and power washed. We use industrial hooks that can hold up to 50-pounds each.
Then they are all returned to their designated hooks. Do you know the difference between a shovel and a spade? A shovel is longer, angled, and its blade is curved into more of a scoop with a pointed tip. Shovels are better for digging up, breaking apart, and lifting soil as well as for scooping and moving loose materials. A spade has a relatively flat blade with straight edges and the blade tends to be in line with the shaft, rather than angled forward. Spades are good for edging and cutting.
These are hard bow rakes and soft rakes. Bow rakes have a number of other names as well, including level heads, soil rakes, and ground rakes. These rakes consist of a long head that is straight with stiff, short tines that are very rigid and don’t bend or flex. They are ideal for making planting rows and breaking up hard clumps of soil. We also use them to shape our raised garden beds. A soft rake or leaf rake is a lightweight rake that is shaped like a fan with flat, springy tines radiating outward. This type of rake is designed to be light enough to glide over grass without damaging it.
Ladders of various sizes rest against one wall close to one set of large barn doors.
Among the power tools we use and depend on all year long are those from STIHL. This company is a global leader in outdoor power equipment and offers more than 80 different tools including professional-grade chainsaws, blowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, brush cutters, pruners, saws, and so much more. All of our STIHL long handled hedge trimmers, and weed-whackers are hung in this section, ready to use.
Nearby are the STIHL blowers. These blowers are powerful, easy to handle, and fuel-efficient.
We have my fleet of Kubota mowers. They are used almost daily during the warmer months. Here, they are parked in a designated spot, where they can easily be driven out when needed.
This barn also accommodates my large farm vehicles. The tractors and trucks are parked neatly inside at the end of each day.
In this corner, I have a bank of lockers for the crew. Everyone has their own set of lockers where they can store safety equipment, extra shoes, clothing, and other personal items.
I removed some unused lockers along this wall and replaced them with long tables and bins for things found or things needing to be returned to their rightful locations.
Do you recognize this? It was my old Martha by Mail truck that was repainted a few years ago to be our Martha.com truck. It originally was a postal delivery truck from the 80s, which I bought years ago.
Hung on these hooks are spreaders for seed and fertilizer.
Chemicals and oils are always kept in this storage cabinet specifically designed for flammables.
All the smaller tools, such as these large combination wrenches are also organized and hung over the workbench.
Lastly, the floors are blown, power washed, and left bare to dry for several hours.
And this is a vintage Allis-Chalmers tractor from the 1940s. It reminds us all how much these farm pieces have evolved over the years. At the end of a day, it’s always very refreshing to see a clean and well-organized space.
Winter is such a good time to tackle those indoor houseplant chores.
I love container plants, and over the years I have amassed quite a collection of potted specimens. To keep them looking their best, it is important to check their condition regularly, feed and water according to their needs, and repot those that have outgrown their current vessels. My head gardener, Ryan McCallister, has been repotting a group of Chinese money plants, Pilea peperomioides - low-maintenance perennials with interesting coin-shaped foliage.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
These are the interesting leaves of the Chinese money plant, Pilea peperomioides. The round leaves can grow up to four inches in diameter, with the plant itself capable of reaching up to 15 inches wide.
The main woody stems of Pilea peperomioides are thick with an upright growth habit. They show nodes where leaves, buds, and branches emerge, and internodes which are the spaces between these nodes.
I have many Pilea peperomioides plants in my greenhouse. These plants are grown primarily for their interesting foliage and easy-to-care-for nature. With proper lighting, it can also double in size within a year. These plants were potted up a few years ago and need repotting to give the plants more room to thrive.
Ryan inspects the plant and removes any dead or yellowing leaves.
Removing leaves is easy – just snap off close to the main stem.
The leaf and stem will quickly disconnect from the plant.
Next, Ryan carefully removes the plant from the pot.
Look at all the roots surrounding the root ball. When roots become tightly packed and confined within the container, it is called root bound – a condition that hinders the plant’s ability to grow and expand.
Ryan divides the plants so they could be repotted. This is a good time to check for any signs of disease, rot, or pest infestation.
Some of the money plants will be repotted in the same vessel, but with much more room to grow.
Ryan places a clay shard over the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot to help with drainage and to prevent any soil from falling out.
For repotting, Ryan uses Miracle-Gro Tropical Potting Mix. It is packed with nutrients that feed for up to six months and includes lava rock for added drainage that tropical plants and the Pilea peperomioides need. He wets it down first so it is more supportive for the plants.
He fills the pot to just under the rim.
And then adds some fertilizer. I use Osmocote. The beige shell on each prill coats a core of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Next, Ryan dips the divided plant into some water, so it is well-hydrated.
Dipping the root ball at this stage allows the roots to absorb water and nutrients and become more resilient and better prepared for its new environment.
Ryan places the plant in the pot at the same height it was previously.
In this shallow container, it is easy to give the plants some needed space. Ryan makes sure the arrangement is balanced and attractive.
Here, Ryan sprays the leaves with some leaf shine, which livens up any dull foliage.
Finally, Ryan brings the plant into the greenhouse for a good drink of water. Allow money plants to almost dry out between waterings and then water well. The leaves will droop slightly when dry. Newly repotted, this plant will continue to flourish.
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