Covering the Boxwood Allee with Burlap
The great “burlapping project” continues at the farm.
As many of you know, I am a big supporter of burlapping shrubbery for the winter. The burlap insulates the plantings, keeping them safe from damaging winds, heavy snows, and freezing temperatures. Earlier this week, I shared photos of some of the boxwood being covered around my Winter House, but the biggest burlapping project is down by the stable, at my long Boxwood Allee.
Enjoy these photos.
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- For the long Boxwood Allee, we start by positioning all the wooden stakes and metal supports that are needed to secure the burlap covers. Everything is placed strategically around the specimens.
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- A length of twine is used to create a guide, so all the uprights are straight and level. The twine is attached to two taller metal rods over the boxwood. The frames are built using eight to 10-foot tall wooden stakes planted securely into the ground.
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- Chhewang uses a steel post pounder to drive the metal supports into the soil below.
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- This takes a lot of elbow grease, but our outdoor grounds crew is very strong.
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- Here is a row of vertical stakes placed every few feet in between the shrubs.
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- Chhewang then screws in a horizontal piece of wood across several uprights.
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- Metal rods are also used as horizontal supports for added strength.
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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 snow storms.
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- Diagonal stakes a also screwed into the uprights for additional support.
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- These short wooden stakes are pounded into the ground along the Allee to provide points at which the burlap can be fastened.
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- Once the frames are built, it’s time to drape the fabric over the boxwood. Building the frame at least a foot taller than the boxwood protects any heavy snow from weighing down onto the tender foliage.
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- The heavy burlap is placed by hand over the frames, one section at a time.
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- All the wooden stakes, strips and shims are milled at the farm and get reused from year to year whenever possible. Even scraps of wood can be repurposed for various projects.
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- All the sewing is done using five-inch long craft needles specifically made for working with jute. When we can, we also use burlap covers from previous years. Here, Chhiring repairs a hole in the burlap from a past season.
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- Burlap deteriorates after time, so every year, we inspect the fabric for any holes or rips that need repair.
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- As with all the burlap projects on the farm, everything is sewn together with jute twine.
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- Here is the needle we use – every member of the outdoor grounds crew has their own.
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- When it isn’t possible to use older pieces, we create new covers. 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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- Here, you can see the seams where the burlap pieces were connected.
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- To make it taut, the burlap is pulled down and attached to the ground stakes with screws.
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- The burlap is sandwiched between the stake and a wooden strip.
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- At the ends, any extra burlap is gathered, pulled taut, neatly tucked in at the bottom, sewn together and then secured with more stakes, and strips.
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- The taller boxwoods are wrapped separately, with additional burlap to cover the top.
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- Here is one finished edge of the Boxwood Allee. The burlap still allows the boxwood to “breathe”, and get sunlight, which is important even during the colder months.
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- And here is the finished Allee after our recent snowfall over the weekend, 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 allee with burlap gives me comfort that all will survive the coming winter unscathed.
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- Here is the view looking toward the woodlands. As you can see, the snow sits on top of the burlap, and is not weighed down on the plantings.
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- Next, the crew moves to the boxwood surrounding my herbaceous peony bed. Here is a piece of burlap draped over the boxwood before it is secured tightly at the base.
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- A red-tailed hawk watches the burlapping process from above. The red-tailed hawk is one of three species colloquially known in the US as the “chickenhawk,” though it rarely preys on standard-sized chickens. It is so beautiful – watched for about 15-minutes and then flew away.
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- Here’s Pete securing wooden slats over the boxwood cover around my peony bed.
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- These coverings are very functional but also very pretty when complete.
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- Here is my finished boxwood hedge at the long and winding pergola – everything is tucked away for the winter.
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- Here’s a view of the finished Boxwood Allee from above – taken with a drone. How do you protect your precious outdoor shrubs and hedges? I love hearing from you, so please let me know in the comments section below.
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