Planting a New Hedge at the Farm

April 14, 2018

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.

I’ve planted thousands of trees since I purchased my Bedford, New York property. They look so pretty planted in allees, in groves, and as privacy hedges. This week, the outdoor grounds crew took on the large task of planting more than 170-trees along the new fence surrounding my pool. For this area, I chose purple columnar beech trees, Fagus sylvatica 'Dawyck Purple' - a splendid tree with deep-purple foliage that holds its color all season. Columnar beech trees reach 40 to 50 feet in height and only 10-feet wide which makes them perfect for tight spaces and as an interesting hedge.

Enjoy these photos.

: Last month, these seven-foot columnar beech trees arrived at the farm. Columnar beech trees are fastigiate meaning their branches slope upward more or less parallel to the main stem. I knew they would be perfect around the pool.

: Because it was such a large project, everyone helped to get them planted. Pete was in charge of transporting the trees to the planting area.

: Using the tractor, Pete took the trees as close as he could without disturbing the ground below, and then wheeled each tree individually on our giant hand truck.

: In spring the deep reddish-purple leaves of these beech trees emerge and darken to burgundy purple. In winter, the limbs and trunk with their smooth pale gray bark create an interesting framework. These are among of the most striking and beautiful of all columnar trees.

: The crew placed plywood on the ground next to the planting area to create a perfectly straight edge along the bed, and to help contain the soil and compost.

: Fernando stopped for a quick photo while digging the trench for the trees.

: A trench about a foot deep is dug along the fence line.

: Dawa and Chhewang carry each tree to its spot in the trench. If you look closely, you will see the tools they are using to pick up each tree – hay hooks. These make it easy to hold the tree without crushing the branches.

: Phurba looks at the positioning of the tree carefully to make sure it is straight. When selecting trees always check for signs of injury from disease or trunk damage from mishandling. All these trees are in excellent condition.

: The crew removes a little soil from under the root ball to make sure the tree is level with the others. Planting depth is one of most important factors. Planting a tree too deep can kill it. “Bare to the flare” is the rule of thumb. Look for the root collar or root flare – the bulge just above the root system where the roots begin to branch away from the trunk. This root flare should be just above the soil surface.

: A two-and-a-half foot long piece of bamboo is used to space the trees equally.

: Once the tree is perfectly placed, the twine, burlap, and any metal supports are removed. The twine covering the top of a balled and burlapped tree can cause serious harm, so it is always important to discard them.

: Once the twine and burlap are removed, Chhiring removes the top layer of soil to ensure the flare is bare.

: Here, it is easy to see where the root collar of the tree begins. Chhiring cleared enough of the soil so the flare is still above the soil line after backfilling the area.

: A good fertilizer made especially for new trees is sprinkled generously around the root ball. We use M-Roots with mycorrhizal fungi, which helps transplant survival and increases water and nutrient absorption.

: The root ball is then backfilled with composted soil.

: Because of the plywood, it is easy to shovel all the compost back into the trench without too much mess on the new lawn.

: Here are the trees all backfilled.

: These trees are planted so perfectly – all of them are well aligned and spaced just right.

: One tree had a bird’s nest resting within the branches.

: Dawa continues to dig the trench along the fence line – the crew has developed a good production process for planting the trees quickly and efficiently.

: From a distance, these trees look excellent. A newly planted beech tree needs regular watering during its first year or two. Once established, it can tolerate dry spells but should be given extra water during drought.

: Here is another view from the side. The beech tree has a naturally attractive growth habit, with one central trunk that grows straight up and through the tree’s crown. In general, it needs little pruning, but if two branches cross or rub against each other, one should be removed to prevent injury to the tree’s bark. Pruning is best done during winter, when the tree is dormant, or early in the spring before new leaves appear.