Planting Carpinus betulus ‘Frans Fontaine’
I have many hornbeam hedges around my farm. They’re hardy and provide changing texture and color during the year – green foliage in summer, golden yellow leaves in fall, and natural gray bare branches in winter.
Last week, I decided to plant 22 hornbeams, Carpinus betulus ‘Frans Fontaine,’ in my orchard, just outside the north end of my pool – two rows, 11 on each side, creating an allée all the way to the carriage road fence. All the hornbeams are from Select Horticulture, Inc. in Pound Ridge, New York. My gardeners and outdoor grounds crew worked quickly – the area was measured, the holes were dug, and then the trees were transported, positioned, fed, and planted.
The handsome European hornbeam, Carpinus betulus ‘Frans Fontaine,’ is slow-growing and has an upright oval form and lush green foliage that provides multi-season interest.
There Is So Much to “Burlap” at the Farm
The season’s burlap project at my Bedford, New York farm continues in front of and around my Winter House.
It’s a race to get all the “burlapping” done around the boxwood and the ornamental urns – winter officially begins in less than a week and the days and nights are getting much colder. I’ve been covering these shrubs and hedges with burlap for many years to protect the branches from splaying and even breaking from the snow and ice. I also feel it is important to protect the stone planters that are out in the elements all season long. Every year, our wrapping methods become easier and more streamlined, giving me peace of mind during the cold weather months. This week, my outdoor grounds crew covered the boxwood surrounding my herbaceous peony bed and all the ornamental containers around my home.
