Caring for the Plantings Behind My Tennis Court

February 10, 2022

Caring for the Plantings Behind My Tennis Court

Another outdoor chore is checked off the list - my crew is getting so much done.

My Bedford, New York farm sits on 153 acres of pastures, woodlands, and gardens. Every day, I tour the entire property to visit my animals and to make sure everything is in excellent working order. I also assess the many groves and allees, and discuss with my gardeners and outdoor grounds crew what needs to be done. It's an important part of my day and an important part of maintaining this working farm. One day this week, the team tackled the area behind my tennis court. They pruned the hydrangeas and "limbed up" the spruce trees.

Here are some photos, enjoy.

: In late summer, the area behind my tennis court is filled with blooming white hydrangeas – the flowers are so big, they can be seen from the carriage road.

: This is how it looks from a distance. This photo was taken last August. I started planting hydrangea shrubs many years ago and they’ve always bloomed so profusely from year to year.

: The following photos were taken when these stunning hydrangeas were in bloom. Hydrangea is a genus of at least 70-species of flowering plants native to southern and eastern Asia and the Americas. The Hydrangea “flower” is really a cluster of flowers called a corymb.

: Panicle hydrangeas are known for their cone shaped flower heads. These large blooms typically start white and may turn a slight pink. All the paniculatas are very cold hardy.

: And here is a hydrangea that blooms with lovely lacecaps. The lacecap is very similar to the mophead, but instead of growing round clusters of showy blossoms, this hydrangea grows flowers that resemble flat caps with frilly edges.

: This time of year, the hydrangea flower heads that don’t fall off are dry and brown and can remain through the season if not removed.

: Hydrangeas should be pruned in late winter or early spring, before the shrub begins any active growth. Here, one can see one side pruned and the other still to be done.

: Domi snips off spent blooms just below the flower head and removes any wayward or straggly canes.

: As with any pruning job, it is important to remove any dead, diseased, damaged or crossing stems. These hydrangeas are quite tall, so Chhiring uses a a long-reach pole pruner.

: To maintain a tidy appearance, Chhiring cuts everything at the same level so there is consistent shape to the shrubs.

: Here, the cut in the center was made last year, resulting in more vigorous growth. The outer cuts were just done.

: After a few hours, all of them were pruned. The hydrangeas look so good and level. With proper care, they will continue to bloom profusely for many years.

: Behind the hydrangeas and the tennis court is a grove of spruce trees. Some of these trees were actually moved from the other side of the tennis court some years ago to create a privacy barrier. Over the years, they’ve grown so much and look so beautiful.

: Evergreens such as these don’t need a lot of pruning at all, and their sweeping lower branches can be left alone, but I wanted some to be “limbed-up” for better light to the plantings below, a better view under the trees, and easier access for my off-road Polaris vehicles and mowers.

: The best time to prune evergreens is from late winter to early spring, well before any new growth will take off for the new season. Here, Pasang uses this telescoping pole pruner from STIHL. It has a quiet, zero-exhaust emission, and is very lightweight. Plus, with an adjustable shaft, the telescoping pole pruner can cut branches up to 16 feet above the ground.

: It is important to always use sharp tools whenever pruning so that the cuts are clean. Dull tools are difficult to use and could even damage the tree. A straight, clean-cut promotes quick healing of the wound and reduces stress on the specimen.

: All the branches are collected and neatly piled. They will be loaded onto the dump truck and taken to our collection area for the chipper.

: After the spruce trees were done, there is ample light through the trees and a clear view.

: Here is a view of my tennis court in winter – everything is covered with snow and ice. Today’s temperatures are expected to be in the high 40s – good for melting.