Mulching the Pinetum at My Farm
As many of you know I am very fond of trees. Since I purchased my Bedford farm, I’ve planted thousands and thousands of them, and I am so happy most of them have thrived.
Behind my Equipment Barn and near a grove of weeping willows is my pinetum, an arboretum of pine trees and other conifers I developed about 12-years ago. This pinetum collection has grown extremely well, and I continue to plant additional specimens every spring. Recently, I decided to replace the grass surrounding these trees with mulch. Doing this better regulates the soil temperature - keeping it cooler in summer and warmer in winter, adds nutrients to the soil as it breaks down, and helps prevent the growth of weeds. Mulched areas also don’t need regular watering or mowing like lawns do. Fortunately, we are able to make lots of mulch, and compost, right here at my farm. The new layer of mulch has transformed the pinetum, and it looks great.
Here are some photos - enjoy.
-
- This is a photo from last June. Here you can see the many sizes of trees I’ve planted in my pinetum. All these specimens were planted in a grassy area, which was always well-maintained, but it took a lot of time to mow around the trees and weed the pits underneath them.
-
- Depending on the size of each planting, its pit can be three to six feet in diameter or even larger for very old, very large trunked specimens – they require a lot of work to keep nicely manicured.
-
- Most of this collection includes pine trees, but I have also included spruces and firs, as well as other evergreens.
-
- Last December, I decided to fill the grassy areas with mulch to cut down on maintenance.
-
- So, while the ground was still frozen, the outdoor grounds crew brought in lots of mulch and spread it all around the pinetum. Do you know the difference between compost and mulch? Compost is organic matter that has been decomposed over time, while mulch is the layer of organic materials used as a protective cover.
-
- Here is Phurba spreading a three to four inch layer of mulch on one end of the pinetum. Over time, it will suppress weed germination, retain moisture, and insulate the soil.
-
- The entire area looks so different covered with mulch.
-
- The crew works as a team – transporting the mulch from our back field, dropping the mulch in various areas, and spreading it evenly under and around the trees.
-
- Mulch varies in composition but is most commonly made from organic material such as leaves, wood chips, grass clippings, peat moss, pine straw, or bark chips – I love the rich brown color.
-
- With this organic mulch, heavy soils are better equipped to hold water and resist compaction – reducing erosion and runoff.
-
- Here is one side already well covered with mulch – what a transformation.
-
- Using these materials is a wonderful way to beautify the gardens and to give back to the earth.
-
- Once trees are mature, they need little maintenance except for regular mulching and removal of dead or diseased branches.
-
- This is a Pinus wallichiana, which was planted about five years ago. It is a slow growing dwarf Himalayan pine with long, thin needles. The six to eight-inch long needles form downward clusters that give the tree a feathery effect.
-
- This short shrub is Pinus strobus ‘Blue Shag’, commonly known as an eastern white pine cultivar. It is a dense, globose form that typically only grows to about four feet tall. Its short, blue-green needles in bundles of five are quite soft to the touch.
-
- Callitropsis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’ or weeping Alaskan cedar, is a slender, strongly weeping form that grows to as much as 35-feet tall. It has widely spaced ascending to horizontal branches with flattened sprays of blue-green leaves.
-
- I add more specimens to this collection every year – some are very rare and slow growing, but I love the variety of plantings I’ve amassed.
-
- Others have grown quickly and have added such nice texture to this ever-evolving space.
-
- Picea orientalis is a medium to large tree that commonly grows up to 50-feet tall. It has a dense narrowly conical form, and horizontal to upward sweeping branches and drooping lateral branches.
-
- I am so pleased with how it looks – these simple changes can make such huge impacts on growing trees and plants, while reducing water use and labor. How do you top-dress your gardens? Share your comments with me in the section below – I always love reading them.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
