Hiring Tips for Gardener - Private Residence

Many people like the idea of having a beautiful garden but find that the weekly maintenance is too much work especially if they are working out of the home.  Deadheading the plants, checking for pests, weeding and watering is time that must be spent in the garden weekly.  If you are short on time then it is wise to hire a gardener. 

Choosing the right service provider for your garden will take some time as you will need to determine which candidate meets your garden's needs.  You will want a gardener that has reports to work on time, has a good work appearance, manages time well, and is self-motivated. 

Hire a gardener that is dedicated and knowledgeable in their profession.

Determine your garden's needs. Make up a checklist and then you will know if you will need a gardener once or twice a week or an estate gardener that works five days a week.

Basic Gardener's Checklist

1. Weeding; pull weeds from all of the gardens.
2. Deadhead all spent blooms. 
3. Put the seed in an envelope, and mark the outside of the envelope the type of seed.  File seed in the garden shed.
4. Check all gardens for pests.  
5. Remove garden pests by treating the area with Diatomaceous earth food-grade dusting.
6. Fertilize flowers monthly during the blooming season
7. Prune dead branches from shrubs and plants.
8. Apply mulch to the gardens, around the shrubs, and the trees.
9. Water the lawn and gardens once a week with 1 inch of water.
10. Water all flowers, coleus and hosta, and container gardens so that soil is evenly moist.

Network Your Community for Reliable Gardeners.

Ask your neighbors and friends about their gardeners.  It is always best to hire a gardener that comes highly recommended.  Another way to find a reliable gardener is to contact the master gardeners in your area.  If you have a lawn service provider you could ask them if they know of a skilled gardener.  They may work with a gardener or know of one.

Tips:

• Meet with the gardener face to face and walk through your yard.  Ask them for their work background and for three references.  Call all references to discuss the gardener’s performance.  
• Decide if you want to hire the gardener with a contract.  Hire them for a specific job and agree on the costs or pay them hourly. 

Climbing Roses - How to Grow

photo by morguefile

Climbing roses feature large fragrant flowers that will bloom continually from June until frost.  They grow quickly up a trellis support or a chain link fence and within three years the climbing rose will cover the trellis. The climbing rose bush will be a feature area in your yard that will be admired by all.

Photo by: Johnston The Gardeners Dirt ncsu-edu

Climbing roses are easy to grow provided that you plant them in full sun, rich well drained soil, hydration and fertilizer in the early spring.

Grow climbing roses on a garden arbor in a viewing area.  The roses vine will add curb appeal of your home.

When to plant climbing roses

The best time to plant is in early spring.  Plant a bare root climbing rose bush as soon as the soil is warm enough that you can dig up the soil.   It is best to plant directly after the threat of spring frost has past.

Where to plant roses

Roses need sun to grow so choose a garden site that has a minimum of six hours of direct dun.  The soil needs to be well drained and fertile.  If your soil is poor or medium amend the soil with compost or manure. 

Climbing roses put out trailing stems that can grow upward or they can grow across and be used as a ground cover.  Trailing rose stems with a profusion of flowers looks lovely when grown down a sunny slope.  

How to plant bare root roses

Soak the bare root rose bush over night in a bucket of water.  Fill the bucket so the root of the bush is emerged.  Loosen the soil with a shovel and work the soil so that the texture is fine and lofty.  Amend the soil with organic matter; compost or manure will enrich the soil.   

 Plant the rose bush so that the bud union is half buried in the soil.  If you are planting more than one climbing rose bush then allow a three food space between rose bushes.  Plant the climbing roses in front of a support.

Care for Roses

1. Water well after planting the rose bushes and then monitor the soil so that the soil stays evenly moist during the growing season.   If the soil should dry out then this will cause the roses to wilt and to have stress.  Plan to water the climbing roses deeply once a week; 1 inch of water is better than watering them lightly throughout the week.  The inch of water will get to the roots and will keep the rose bushes hydrated.  
2. If your summers are very hot then you will need to water the rose bushes more frequently.  Test the soil with your finger.  Stick your index finger into the upper soil and if the soil is dry at two to three inches then water the rose bushes.
3. Apply three inches organic mulch; shredded leaves, pine needles, grass clippings or chipped wood around the rose bush but do not set the mulch on the stems of the rose bush. The mulch is to help retain moisture and to deter weed growth.  
4. Fertilize when the leaf buds appear.  A time released fertilizer is preferred for growing climbing roses.
5. Prune climbing roses in the spring to remove dead or damaged branches. Otherwise let your rose bush mature and become established in your garden.  A climbing rose bush is considered mature in two years.

Learn more about pruning a climbing rose bush by viewing this YouTube video:

 

Container Garden for All-Seasons

Container gardening is not limited to one season.  With a little creativity, you can feature eye-appealing plants and greenery for all seasons. 

If you have a small yard or live in an apartment with a balcony, terrace, or deck then a container will allow you to enjoy gardening. Containers come in a variety of sizes and shapes, some large and others are small, there is a perfect size container for your gardening needs.  

I like to plant container gardens that will last more than one season.  In the fall I will plant an assortment of spring bulbs and then on top of the bulbs I will plant close to the soil surface an assortment of winter hardy pansies, with Baltic ivy cascading down the sides.

This autumn container will provide color and interest at the entrance of my home and will look good until the weather turns bitter cold.  

When winter comes I will add cut branches of balsam greenery for filler, red holly berries for color, eucalyptus branches and branches of wild nandina berries for interest.  Sometimes I use honeysuckle vines, and pine cones. I fill the containers up with evergreens so that I can look out and see beautiful greenery during the winter season. The possibilities are endless for creating a  seasonal container garden.  All you need is to think outside the box and be creative.

Photographs of Container Gardens: 

A container garden will add color, and interest to your home, patio, and garden.  Here are some tips for planting and growing container gardens.  If you have any additional questions please leave me a comment.

Seasonal Container Gardening Questions and Answers:

When is the best time to plant a container garden?

Plant your container garden after the danger of a spring frost has passed or plant it 6 weeks before a hard frost. 

What seasonal plants are best for container gardens?

Choose from a variety of annual and perennial plants that have the same growing requirements.  In spring you may want to grow bulbs; crocus, hyacinths, daffodils, or tulips, in summer perennial and annual flowers, herbs, or vegetables.  

In the fall season, I like copper or dark chocolate coleus, bayberry, ornamental grass, ornamental purple cabbage, dwarf yellow lantana, or purple or coral heuchera.

Choose plants that tell a color story.  Look for flowers that are a contrast to your container.  If your container is black then you may want to choose a green plant like the sweet potato vine that will cascade down the sides of the container, dwarf yellow lantana, and pink variegated coleus. These plants will make a black container pop.

There are many plants that you can grow in a container, choose plants that will complement each other and are eye appealing.

Are drainage holes important?

Check your container for proper drainage holes. Turn the pot over and look for holes.  Proper drainage is important because your plants will die if the roots are in wet soil.  If you do not have drainage holes then you need to make them.  For plastic or wood window boxes use a drill to make drainage holes.

How to get containers ready for planning?
If you are reusing a container then you must clean it to protect the new plants from disease.  Remove the soil, then clean the container by mixing equal parts of bleach and hot water.  Dip a wire brush into the cleaning solution and then scrub the inside of the container.  Rinse the container with water from your garden hose and allow it to dry well before using it.

What soil is best for a container garden?

Fill the container with Miracle-Gro moisture control potting soil.  This special formula soil is perfect for container gardens because it protects the plants from overwatering and underwatering.

Container garden design tips:

Keep the containers bright and cheerful and use no more than 4 types of plants in a container.  Choose a feature plant for the center, this plant is a tall plant like fountain grass, then add medium-sized plants around the fountain grass, the medium plants are the filler plants, you can add a few vines that will cascade down the sides; sweet potato or ivy are nice and will add interest to the container.  

Caring for Container Plants

• Water your container plants in the early evening by watering at the soil line.  Water until it drains out the bottom of the pot.  Container plants dry out quickly and if the soil is dry the plant will wilt. A wilting plant is a sign of stress.  It is best to keep the soil in the container evenly moist, not wet.  Watch your container gardens and if they need water, or the soil feels dry then water them.
• Stop watering when the water drains from the bottom of the container as this is an indication that the water has reached all of the roots.
• Fertilize your gardens once a week with a liquid fertilizer that will boost the blooms.
• Apply a layer of mulch or moss around the plants to help to retain moisture.
• Use a saucer under your container to protect your patio or deck from water stains.  

January is a good time to plan an indoor container garden.  You can grow any plant indoors as long as you provide the plants with sun, heat, and water.  If you have a southern exposure window then set your container close to this heat source.  If not then buy an artificial grow light. An indoor container garden is a perfect size for vegetables, flowers, or greenery.  View this YouTube video for some ideas: