May/June 2017 | The Davey Bulletin 17
same distance from each other
and from the back wall. They had to
look perfect."
All that was left for the crew to do was
fertilize and backfill the large marble
structure with soil Vater recommended
to the client. This was specific soil with
a precise organic make-up to sustain
this species of tree.
In the end, the 14 pleached hornbeams
stood as picture-perfect floating
hedges on thin, lollypop-sized trunks,
Vater said. This is exactly what the
client envisioned.
"My crew was outstanding. They
were innovative and helped me out
with logistics, which were quite
difficult," Vater said. "They really
stepped up to the challenge." This
spring, Vater is contracted to train
each of the pleached hornbeam's
branches to grow all in one unit to
reach complete symmetry. Additionally,
the crew will add more flowers to the
flourishing courtyard.
After four decades in the industry, this
project didn't disappoint Vater's thirst
for new and challenging projects.
"I love finding new things to do in my
career," Vater said.
Working in the courtyard amidst the
concrete jungle of New York proved
a worthwhile logistical challenge.
down three-quarter inch plywood
planks through a small alleyway and
out into the courtyard over the roof of
the pool to cushion machine access.
"We had to maneuver this 9,000-
pound skid steer around this tight
alleyway carrying a 3,000-pound tree,"
Vater said. This logistical and trying
aspect of the job had to be repeated
14 times, once for each tree.
The next two days were spent planting
the trees with precision and expertise
in a five-foot marble hardscape.
"The placement was tedious," Vater
said. "The trees had to be the exact
