The Big Burlap Removal Process Begins at My Farm

March 29, 2023

The Big Burlap Removal Process Begins at My Farm

And just like clockwork, this time every year my outdoor grounds crew begins the process of removing all the burlap around the farm, exposing the lush green boxwood that has been covered all winter long.

Every autumn for as long as I’ve been gardening I’ve covered all my boxwood shrubs, various winter-sensitive plants, and outdoor ornamental urns to protect them from the season’s heavy snowfall, freezing temperatures, and damaging winds. Then, every spring when the ground begins to thaw, it’s all removed and stored away. The entire process is a big undertaking; however, knowing my plants are protected in the cold is a great comfort. And seeing all the healthy, intact shrubbery and foliage at the start of a new season is an even greater delight.

Enjoy these photos.

: During winter, all the boxwood shrubs and hedges are covered in this natural colored fabric. Fortunately, the weather here has been pretty mild these last couple of weeks – perfect timing to start our burlap removal project.

: We remove the burlap once the temperatures are consistently above freezing and before Easter. All of the coverings are custom wrapped and sewn to fit each individual shrub, hedge, or bush. These are the boxwood shrubs and hedges outside my Winter House.

: One of the first steps is to remove the wooden strips that help sandwich and secure the burlap.

: The strips are collected and stored for next year. We keep all the pieces grouped separately and neatly.

: The crew also removes the wooden stakes that hold up the framing. These stakes, which are an inch-and-a-half by an inch-and-a-half, were milled right here at the farm. These wooden stakes are also gathered and stored for later use. It is important to me that nothing is wasted.

: All the rolls of burlap must be kept dry when not in use. One of the few downsides to this fabric is that it will start to fray and disintegrate after time, especially if exposed to moisture. Here is one roll of fabric. It may not look it, but this roll is quite heavy.

: Here, some of the fabric is removed from the steel piping in front of my Winter House porch. The shrubs look so green.

: And here is another section of the parterre. It’s always so nice to see the boxwood once the burlap is removed. For the frames we use the same metal used to make hoop houses – strong industrial steel ground uprights and purlin pipes. These materials not only provide the necessary support frames for the burlap but also accommodate any growth.

: These fasteners are called tension purlin brackets. They connect the center piping to the bow sections of the frame. All the purlin brackets and pipes are saved from year to year.

: After they are properly dismantled, each piece of framing is carried carefully to the truck and hauled away for storage. These pipes are made from rolled galvanized 16 gauge industrial tubing. The top pieces are 10-foot wide bow sections – these frames will last quite a while, I hope.

: I also wrap all my ornamental urns in winter. It is much easier to cover them than to carry them in and and out of storage.

: Here is Phurba uncovering the urn, which was also enveloped with protective plastic. The crew has been doing this for years – they have streamlined the process and everyone works swiftly and efficiently.

: We use industrial burlap that’s available in giant rolls of 40-inches or 60-inches wide. These covers are used for two or three seasons before being replaced. Here, Moises is rolling up one of the burlap covers, which is still in good condition and will be used again next year.

: The sections of burlap are tied with jute twine – we use this natural twine for many projects at the farm.

: Phurba labels each roll of burlap indicating what it covers and where. The label will make it easy to identify next fall when the boxwood is covered again.

: Once the crew finishes removing the burlap, the materials are loaded onto the truck and taken to the Stable Barn for storage. Taking down the burlap is a much faster process than putting the burlap up, but still time-consuming.

: All the greenery was well-preserved under the protective winter coverings.

: This low hedge is outside my Winter House servery.

: Removing the burlap changes the entire appearance of the area and reveals what we hope for every year – green, healthy boxwood. The lighter hedge seen here is golden barberry.