Martha Just Planted New Crabapple Trees in Her Garden Maze—Take a Look

 

A prominent feature of European gardens and estates for centuries, mazes bring a magical element to landscape design.

Martha started her three-acre course on her Bedford farm in the spring of 2022. Located in a pasture that extends from outside her winter house all the way down to her long boxwood allée, the maze is now near completion, with her gardeners and outdoor grounds crew having just planted the last section.

"Over the last couple of weeks, we've been working hard to mark the last rows, remove the sod, rototill the soil, select the plants, and get them into the ground. Everything is done according to a very precise map I created," she shared in a recent blog post, adding that "it's looking fantastic."

"I am very proud of how my maze is growing. And yes, like a true maze, there is only one right way from the entrance to the goal location," our founder explained.

Recently, her team planted some Green Wall Spire Crabapple trees from First Editions Shrubs and Trees. They are narrow, columnar trees that are great options for smaller spaces. They prefer full sun and are drought-tolerant, and will grow to about 20 feet tall and five feet wide. "Remember, when planting, always consider the climate zone, growth rate of the specimen, size at full maturity, and lighting needs," Martha notes.

Courtesy of The Martha Blog

A rule of thumb when planting is to dig the hole twice as wide as the root ball and no deeper than the bottom of it, similar to its depth in the pot. Once the tree is removed from the pot, the root ball is scarified. "I teach all my outdoor grounds crew members how to scarify and make intentional cuts to stimulate new growth," Martha says.

The trees are then placed into the holes; the top of the root ball should be level with the top of the hole. Plant food is then sprinkled onto the root ball and the surrounding soil.

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"I use Miracle-Gro Shake'n Feed Flowering Trees & Shrubs plant food, which has done so well for my plants," she says. "It contains natural ingredients such as kelp, earthworm castings, bone meal, and feather meal, which will feed the plant and maintain its deep, lush green foliage throughout the season."

Once the trees are placed, Martha's team first fills the holes with water before backfilling. This technique helps improve root establishment, reduce transplant shock, and increase the chances of survival, she explains.

Courtesy of The Martha Blog

The tree's foliage is glossy and green in the summer, bronze in the fall, and in spring, the tree is covered in white flowers. "I wanted the maze to be filled with a large variety of interesting specimens, so there is something different at every turn," Martha says.

Next up, Martha and her team will add some evergreens.