GARDENING TUTOR SERVICES
Hands-on, private lessons on how to create and maintain gardens and properties for every budget. Available services include:
PROPERTY EVALUATION
- Initial consultation, including walking property with owner(s), discussing:
- existing plants, trees, shrubs and perennials they like and dislike
- recommendations about removal or relocating of plantings
- general design ideas, such as where to dig new borders or establish focal points such as benches or containers
Followup memorandum to client, divided into three parts:
1. What to do now, with safety (dead or dying trees near house, dangerous limbs, etc.) and season in mind, including when to move or remove discussed items; maintenance pruning; dividing perennials
2. What to do next spring, such as planting new woody specimens and establishing new borders
3. What to do when the budget permits, or "wish list," including hardscape items--trellises, fences, walkways, pergolas–and unusual specimen trees
GENERAL GARDENING INFORMATION AND TECHNIQUES
- must-have gardening tools, their use and maintenance
- soil preparation, including which soil amendments, such as composted cow manure, to use and how to prepare borders
- how to assess morning and afternoon sunlight and shade on one’s property during the growing season, and how to make changes (i.e., sunnier or shadier)
- how to cut edges for borders
- dealing with drainage issues
- mulches and mulching techniques
- instant and inexpensive front yard makeovers for house sale, special events, or to enhance curb appeal of property
- division of perennials, whether fall or spring, and maintenance
- how, where and when to plant flowering bulbs
- watering tools (hoses, nozzle heads) and irrigation techniques; how to gauge soil moisture; when and when not to water
- proper tree, shrub, and perennial planting, including new installations of trees, and suggestions for shade- or drought-tolerant plants
- correct spacing for new plantings, especially trees and shrubs, bearing in mind their future size
- three-year plan for maintenance of new trees and shrubs (irrigation calendar, staking if any, when to begin pruning or fertilizing)
- suggestions for best trees and shrubs for screening
- which fertilizers to use on which plants and when
- correcting other people’s mistakes, such as plants installed too high or low or incorrectly mulched, which can lead to plant demise
- winterizing the garden, including protection (burlap and antidesiccants)
- suggestions for accent lighting, what kind and where to position
SHOPPING WITH CLIENT FOR NEW PLANTINGS
- How to select healthy specimens, including "reading" root balls, bark, branching, and wire and burlap or plastic coverings
- Where and when to get the best deals and accompanying client to nurseries and garden centers to help make selections
- Recommendations for purchases tailored to clients’ budgets
SUPERVISING PLANTING OF NEW TREES AND SHRUBS
One-time lessons to help the client learn appropriate planting methods that should be employed by nursery workers when new large trees and shrubs are delivered to client’s property and installed. This knowledge will reduce the possibility of having to replace specimens which might decline or die as a result of improper installation.
WHEN TO HIRE OUTSIDE HELP
Sometimes it’s necessary to hire a credentialed or licensed expert or crew to tackle certain jobs such as pruning or removing large trees, stump grinding, integrated pest management (i.e., tree spraying), installation of drainage or irrigation systems and exterior lighting. The names of recommended professionals can be provided.
