Extending a Linden Tree Allee
It’s no secret how much I love planting trees, and because I also feel strongly about reforestation and giving back to the earth, the more trees planted, the better.
Last week, I shared photos of the 30-linden trees I recently purchased from Hardscrabble Farms in North Salem, New York. Lindens, Tilia, are medium to large shade trees that are easy to maintain and beautiful in any landscape. I currently have two linden tree allées at the farm - one near my stable and a newer one that runs from the old corn crib to my allée of boxwood. I love these linden tree allées and have always wished they were longer, so I decided to extend the newer one all the way down to the chicken coops - it will look spectacular when mature. Here are some photos of my latest tree planting project - enjoy.
And, be sure to join me LIVE on Facebook today at 1pm ET - I will be sharing holiday decorating tips using products from my collection at The Home Depot.
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- Chhiring and Ryan start by measuring where the trees should be planted. Because this is an extension, these trees will be planted using the same measurements as the already established lindens.
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- Ryan places a flag at exactly nine-feet from the fence.
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- Ryan and Chhiring also measure how far apart the trees should be and position the flags accordingly.
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- Bright colored twine is tied from the fence above the flags, so each tree can be positioned accurately in each hole.
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- My outdoor grounds crew foreman, Chhiring, is an extremely skilled and careful driver – he digs each hole perfectly.
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- When planting a tree or shrub, measure the height of the root-ball to determine approximate hole depth and measure diameter of the root ball to determine width of the hole. The hole should be no deeper than the calculated depth.
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- Here is the original allee we planted a few years ago. The new group of trees will extend it all the way to the chicken coops and the great white pines.
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- Many of you are familiar with the first linden tree allee I planted near my stable. I love how full the canopy is overhead.
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- All the holes are dug and the trees positioned – ready to be planted. When selecting a location, always consider the tree’s growth pattern, space needs, and appearance.
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- The same is done on the other side. All the holes are dug first in case the positioning of any trees needs changing.
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- “Measure twice, plant once” – Chhiring checks the distance of the tree from the fence one more time to ensure everything is lined up perfectly.
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- Always have a good quality tree fertilizer on hand to mix with the soil of the new specimen being planted. Phurba sprinkles fertilizer into and around the hole and on any soil that will be used for backfill.
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- One by one each tree is carefully rolled into its assigned space. And, rule of thumb is that the width of the hole should be a foot wider than the root-ball diameter.
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- Once the tree is placed into the hole, Chhewang takes another look to be sure the tree is perfectly aligned. It’s the small details that can make all the difference.
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- Each tree is wrapped in a sheet of burlap and fitted with a root ball wire cage – this keeps the root ball intact. Chhiring uses wire cutters to remove the cage.
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- And Chhewang cuts all the string and removes the burlap from around the root ball. The burlap can be tucked underneath and left, or removed completely, but be sure there is no remaining string or rope across the top of the root ball.
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- Once the tree is straight, Dawa and Phurba follow to backfill the hole and gently step around the root ball to ensure there aren’t any air pockets.
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- “Bare to the flare” is the general saying when planting trees – the top of the root flare should always be above ground. Phurba then rakes the soil surrounding the tree so it is neat and tidy.
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- Look how great the first section of trees looks after planting. It took two days to dig all the holes and plant all the trees.
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- My property director, Fred, took this photo. From this angle, it looks like all these trees are now one – perfectly in line.
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- The next day, the rest of the trees are planted and mulched.
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- It’s hard to see because the trees are bare of leaves, but these trees look great in their new home.
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- Here’s another look at the already established lindens. When mature, lindens reach 50 to 80 feet in height with a spread of 35 to 50 feet. Its growth rate is about 13 to 24 inches a year. I can’t wait until they catch up to these other trees – it will be a stunning allee.
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