I am always on the lookout for innovative, sensible, and easy-to-operate tools and supplies to use around my Bedford, New York farm. It's important that my gardeners and outdoor grounds crew have “the right tool for the right job.”
I've been using STIHL products for many years. STIHL is recognized as a worldwide leader in outdoor power equipment and offers an extensive lineup of more than 80 different pieces including professional-grade chainsaws, blowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, pruners, and more. Not long ago, I received one of STIHL's new push mowers. It's great for using in between the raised beds in my vegetable garden, under the pergola, along the various allées, and any other flat, narrow spaces around my home. It gets into tight areas and provides good, precise cuts.
Enjoy these photos.
It’s officially summer and that means it’s mowing season! And while I have replaced many grassy areas with mulch to reduce the amount of mowing around my farm, there is still a lot of mowing to do. This open space is what I call the “soccer field” or “party lawn” where my grandson loves to play when he visits. It is adjacent to my long and winding clematis pergola on the left.
Here is the narrow path between my herbaceous peony garden and my fenced in living maze.
This narrow path heads toward my Boxwood Allée.
This view looks south from the Boxwood Allée through the allée of lindens between my paddocks.
And here’s another view of lawn between the horse pastures with the tall eastern white pines in the distance. I have a fleet of ride-on mowers to mow the large open spaces, but they cannot access the more narrow areas…
For those places, such as between my raised garden beds, we use this STIHL RM 655 VS push mower. A push mower is a walk behind unit that an operator pushes forward or backward to mow the lawn.
This 21-inch gas powered mower provides really sharp, accurate cutting and easy bagging.
The controls are easy to access and use…
…And there is a mono-comfort handlebar, which is sturdy and secure.
Adan Morales is my resident mower. He knows exactly which mowers are best for every area of the farm. Here he is mowing the narrow strips of grass next to my pergola. Another benefit of this mower is that it is equipped with a blade brake clutch system that allows one to stop the blade without restarting the engine to remove obstacles in the path.
This machine has a cutting height range from .98 to 3.35 inches to accommodate a variety of different grass types, terrains, seasons, and weather conditions.
The polymer grass bag also helps to direct air and dust away from the operator.
When mowing, remember to avoid scalping the grass, which means cutting it too short. A scalped lawn is vulnerable to grass burn, diseases, and weed infestation. Scalped turf also tends to be more weak and sparse.
Adan is careful to always adjust the cutting height accordingly. Grass that’s consistently cut too short will have a poorly developed root system, which makes the lawn more susceptible to serious damage from drought or high temperatures.
Another tip is to adjust the mower height throughout the growing season. Shift higher in summer and allow the grass to grow longer. Taller grass helps shade the soil, which prevents weed growth and slows water evaporation. Taller grass also develops deeper roots, which help the lawn to withstand drought better. In late autumn lower the cutting deck for the last mowing of the season to help prevent snow mold from forming on the grass.
And try to always mow when the grass is dry. We only mow dry grass at the farm. Mowing a wet lawn doesn’t harm the grass, but it can fill and clog a mower, and make the cut look uneven. Mid-morning mowing is the healthiest for your grass – it’s cooler, drier and allows time for the grass to recover after cutting.
On this STIHL RM 655 VS mower, the Vario Drive self-propel system also enables one to select the proper ground speed. On a push mower, 3mph is the average speed. Going too fast can actually result in an uneven cut.
This mower is lightweight – just a little more than 100-pounds, making it easy to maneuver. And the controls are built to be ergonomic in design, so it is comfortable to use all day. And don’t forget safety equipment – gloves, hat, eye and ear protection.
Here, Adan can get close to the vegetable bed without hurting any plants or the wooden bed frame.
When it’s time, Adan simply lifts the polymer grass bag out of the mower and empties it onto a nearby tarp, so it is easy to load onto the dump truck.
Having the right tool, the right push mower, for the job… it’s a good thing.
I am always thinking of ways to enhance the gardens here at my Bedford, New York farm. Developing them takes time, patience, and knowledge about what grows best in a specific location.
I love hydrangeas and have been collecting them for years. Hydrangeas are popular ornamental plants grown for their large flower heads, which are excellent in cut arrangements and for drying. I recently decided to plant BloomStruck® Bigleaf Hydrangeas around my peafowl and goose pens outside my stable. These flowering plants are from the Endless Summer Hydrangeas Collection. I know they will flourish here with their large blue-purple to vivid rose-pink blooms.
Enjoy these photos.
Recently, we received a large delivery of beautiful hydrangea varieties from Endless Summer Hydrangeas, part of the fifth-generation, family and wholesale brand owner Bailey Nurseries in St. Paul, Minnesota. I was so excited to plant these big, blue, re-blooming specimens.
I decided to put these BloomStruck® Bigleaf Hydrangeas around two sides of my peafowl and goose enclosure, where they could be seen from the carriage road.
Before planting, two feet wide strips of sod are removed from the area directly in front of the bird fencing.
The hydrangeas are lined up perfectly and spaced evenly.
These plants are 2.5 feet apart, which will allow branches to grow together and create a nice hedge.
It’s always important to do research before planting. Make sure to consider the plant’s mature size and light needs when selecting a space. And remember, perennials grow slowly the first year, faster the second year, and then usually reach full size in the third year.
Because most of my peacocks and peahens were hatched here at the farm, they are very curious and comfortable around all the noises and activity. Here’s one of my “blue boys” coming to the fence to see what’s going on.
These mophead blooms measure 3.5 to five inches across. They bloom in rose-pink or violet blue, depending on pH of the soil. Hydrangeas are long-lived, and extremely vigorous specimens that offer lavish and varied blooms. The most common garden hydrangea shrub is the bigleaf mophead variety, Hydrangea macrophylla. The name hydrangea originates from two Greek words – “hydro” meaning “water” and “angeion” meaning “vessel” or “container.” Together, the rough translation is “water vessel” which refers to their exceptional thirst for water.
This variety also has burgundy stems and handsome dark green foliage.
Hydrangea leaves are opposite, simple, stalked, pinnate, and four to eight inches long. They are also toothed, and sometimes lobed.
Here’s a flower still waiting to bloom. Blooms appear all summer long on both old wood and new growth.
Josh digs a hole appropriately sized for the potted plant. The rule of thumb in gardening is to make a hole two to three times wider than the original pot and slightly deeper.
Josh sprinkles fertilizer into the hole and mixes it with the existing and surrounding soil.
Josh and the crew work in an assembly line process, which is fast and efficient when planting in large quantities.
As with any plant, the root ball is teased with beneficial cuts on the side and bottom to stimulate growth.
Josh uses a Japanese hori hori knife. A hori hori is a Japanese gardening tool with a sharp, serrated, multi-purpose steel blade. It’s also known as a “soil knife” or “weeding knife” and is designed to be used as a trowel, knife, and saw.
Josh places the hydrangea into the hole facing its best side out. In the ground, the plant should sit at the same depth it was in the pot.
And then he backfills carefully, tamping the soil lightly at the end to ensure good contact.
Here’s another “blue boy” watching all the planting from his perch made from a downed tree here at my farm.
Many of the potted hydrangeas are blooming right now. When mature, these hydrangeas will reach two to four feet tall and three to five feet wide.
Once they are all planted, they’re given a deep drink of water. When established, hydrangeas should be watered about one inch per week, spread across three watering sessions. And always water evenly at the base, and never over the top of the plant.
In time, these gorgeous hydrangeas will develop into a nice hedge. And don’t worry, the peafowl and geese will still have great views of the farm from their enclosures.
Most of the garden tours at my farm are conducted in the spring and early summer. Late last week, I welcomed a group from Hortulus, a member of the Garden Club of America based in nearby Greenwich, Connecticut. Founded in 1930, the group's mission is to stimulate the knowledge and passion for gardening and creative design and to protect, restore, and improve the environment through education and conservation. I was very happy to have this group from Hortulus at my farm. I walked them through my gardens and allées, showed them my pool and fruit orchard, and introduced them all to my horses, geese, and peafowl.
Enjoy these photos.
I like to walk through the gardens in the morning before it gets too warm for my guests. This day was just perfect. My beautiful Rosa ‘Veilchenblau’ – the violet rambler also known as ‘Bleu-Violet’, ‘Blue Rambler’, ‘Blue Rosalie’ and ‘Violet Blue’ is still blooming so excellently.
I welcomed the group of 25 and started with a little introduction about the history of the farm and how it has evolved over the years. I also gave them a brief rundown of what they would see during a guided tour. I am glad everyone wore comfortable, cool clothing – there’s always a lot of walking during my tours.
I led the group behind my main greenhouse to see all the growing berries – raspberries, gooseberries, currants, and strawberries. The tree is one of two almond trees, which are thriving here at the farm. We harvest so many flavorful almonds every year.
Here is my long strawberry patch – we’ve already picked so many wonderful fruits from this bed.
At the back of this field is a formal rose garden filled with more than a 120-rose plants. I redesigned the 68-foot by 30-foot rose garden last year for three types – floribunda, hybrid tea, and shrub roses – all with gorgeous color, form, and fragrance.
This garden includes a variety of different colors from yellow and cream to dark pink, apricot and lavender.
Garden roses are mostly grown as ornamental plants and bloom for several weeks. Here at the farm, I often see roses flowering through summer and sometimes even into fall.
We walked through my perennial flower cutting garden – also brimming with beautiful blooms. Look at this purple iris.
And the poppies are so plentiful this season.
As we left the flower garden, the group admired my stand of bald cypress trees along this carriage road. Taxodium distichum is a deciduous conifer. Though it’s native to swampy areas, the bald cypress is also able to withstand dry, sunny weather and is hardy in USDA climate zones 5 through 10. These trees do so well here at the farm.
Across from the bald cypress is my long pergola underplanted with bulbs and perennials that bloom at different times throughout the season.
On the upright granite posts, I planted clematis, in a palette of blue-flowering cultivars. Every year they give a vivid floral display.
Another interesting stop is my Basket House, where I store my basket collection. I have hundreds of baskets – some are rare and antique, some are vintage, and some are more contemporary.
Many stopped to peer in the window. Perhaps they also saw some of the baskets I used during my early catering days – they’re in there.
Here at the farm, I have four miles of carriage road that meander around my homes, my gardens, my pastures, and through the expansive woodland. They are 12-feet wide and covered with native washed stone.
Here’s Enma ready with our refreshments. I always like to offer my guests a snack and cool beverage during these guided tours.
For this tour, I made currant scones from “The Martha Stewart Cookbook: Collected Recipes for Every Day.”
Enma also made tea – this time, raspberry pomegranate. The roses were picked early in the morning from my garden.
Then the group walked through my giant half-acre vegetable garden. Every day, there is something ready to harvest.
This is the first year for this asparagus. Typically, one should wait three years before picking asparagus, so the plants have time to develop properly; however, these have been so productive, I’ve already enjoyed fresh, delicious stalks of asparagus this season.
And here I am with the Hortulus group. We stopped here for a quick snapshot before heading to the stable and pool. What a wonderful and fun tour. Thank you Hortulus, for visiting Cantitoe Corners.
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