Time to Burlap the Boxwood Allée
Every year around this time my farm undergoes a great transformation. It's when all the precious boxwood shrubs and hedges are covered with burlap.
I am a big supporter of "burlapping" shrubbery for the cold season. Burlap casings protect the tender branches from splaying and breaking under heavy ice and snow while shielding the foliage from strong winds. Burlap is more effective than plastic because it allows air to circulate through the plants. It is a practice I've followed for many years, and I think it also provides a cozy and pretty look to the winter landscape. Last week, the crew finished the biggest part of this project - my long Boxwood Allée.
Enjoy these photos.
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- When pipes like these are out this time of year, it can only mean one thing – it’s time to burlap. These pipes, which we keep organized in a back field where we store other supplies, are made from rolled galvanized 16 gauge industrial tubing. They are actually the metal parts of greenhouse hoop houses. I also use them for the framing needed for the protective burlap covers. In all, hundreds of ground stakes, purlin pipes, connectors, nuts, and bolts are used for the project.
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- The metal pipes and bows are brought out from storage by type and installed in a very organized manner.
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- To start, pieces are placed along the allée in a production line process. A long piece of twine is used to ensure ground pipes are positioned straight along each side of the allée.
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- Constructing the frame for the burlap takes several days, but the process is well worth the effort during cold snaps, high winds, and snowstorms.
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- Ground pipes are installed every four feet along the allée. These hollow pipes will anchor the supports.
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- These are 10-foot wide bow sections – they will last quite a while and give the boxwood a lot of room to grow. Building the frame at least a foot taller than the majority of the boxwood protects any heavy snow from weighing down onto the tender foliage.
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- Working in pairs, these bow sections are positioned on both sides of the boxwood.
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- Each end of the bow piece is inserted into the tall ground pipes.
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- Here is what it looks like once the bow pieces are in place. The boxwood has grown quite a bit in the last couple of years.
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- Long center pieces support the perpendicular bow sections.
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- Small pieces of wood are pounded into the ground next to each steel ground stake. These short wooden pieces provide points at which the burlap can be secured.
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- Because the burlap comes in 48-inch wide and 60-inch wide rolls, it’s necessary to sew lengths of burlap, so it is wide enough to cover the boxwood. Burlap is relatively inexpensive and available at garden centers.
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- The fabric is unrolled along the allée and prepared for sewing.
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- I have a portable bag closing sewing machine that works perfectly for this project and cuts manual sewing times in half. This machine is able to sew long lengths of burlap in just minutes.
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- The fabric is held taut as the machine is pulled across. It can also be done right on site, which is very convenient.
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- The machine uses white strong cotton thread and a chain stitch which is formed when the needle passes through the fabric and inter-loops with itself on the underside of the seam. It is often seen on sacks of rice.
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- Once sewn, the new cover is brought to a designated section and slowly draped over the boxwood.
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- The crew pulls the burlap over the metal framing and over the shrubs. It takes a couple of crew members to get the burlap over the frame peaks.
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- To secure the burlap cover tightly, Pete pulls down the burlap and attaches it to the ground stakes using wood strips and screws.
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- Even scraps of wood can be repurposed for various projects. Here, we cut wooden stakes into small strips. The strips are about six inches long – just long enough to accommodate two screws that will keep the burlap secure.
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- It looks very tidy once attached. Both the metal and wood stakes can be seen through the fabric.
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- At the ends, Phurba pulls the burlap snug and begins sewing it closed. For this he uses a large embroidery needle and jute twine.
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- All the sewing is done using five-inch or eight-inch long craft needles specifically made for working with jute – every member of the outdoor grounds crew has his own needle. These needles have large eyes and bent tips.
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- Here is what the end sections look like all sewn together. The fabric is pulled taut and secured – all by hand.
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- Here is one finished section of the Boxwood Allée. The burlap still allows the boxwood to “breathe”, and get sunlight, which is important even during the colder months.
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- I’ve been “burlapping” for many years and find that this is really the most reliable way to protect my hedges and shrubs. Covering this allée with burlap gives me comfort that all will survive the winter unscathed. And it is so pretty to see all done. And this is just the beginning… the crew has already started “burlapping” another part of farm – wait and see where the “cover up” happens next.
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