Most gardeners for hire charge on an hourly basis. Prices tend to range from $40 – $50 per hour. For gardeners who charge toward the higher side, you should make sure they can identify your garden plants and the various types of weeds. Gardeners who have cheaper prices tend to have less experience, such as high schoolers or college students. If you decide to go the cheap route, you should keep a close eye on the kids and be very clear about what you want. Tell the gardeners what weeds you need pulled, where you want the bulbs planted, how to split the hostas and when to water your garden beds. Don’t just assume they will know these things. Gardening services usually include planting bulbs, pulling weeds and watering the garden.

From late October through mid November is the best time to winterize your garden. There are several components involved in this process so it’s important to do your research before starting your project. Since most plants will be dead, you will need a shovel to dig out the plants and a yard waste bin to remove the debris. Some plants won’t need to be entirely removed, so you should grab a shears to prune back the overgrowth and deadhead the hostas. This would also be a good time to divide hostas, split them into batches, and transplant them in new spots. Don’t forget to protect sensitive plants by wrapping them in frost blankets or burlap for the colder winter season. To learn more, read my article about Preparing your Garden for Winter.

Starting in late March and going through mid April, that’s your ideal timeframe to prep your garden for spring. Without a vision the garden perishes, so plan ahead by thinking about how you want your garden to look for the upcoming season. Think about plant variety, color arrangement, big vs. small sizes, sun vs. shade, water drainage, location distribution and bloom times. Once you have a concrete plan, it’s time to purchase plants and flowers. Having sharp and relevant garden tools is essential for installing plants so don’t forget to buy those from your local hardware store. Are you still curious about spring garden prep? Then read my blog which offers 4 Tips for Preparing your Garden for Spring.

Spring is typically the best time to begin a new garden though plants can be added in spring or fall, depending on the specific type of plant. Plants that flourish in cold temperatures, such as kale and pansies, can be planted in fall or winter. Annuals and tomatoes can be planted when temperatures warm up and after the last frost of the season. Feel free to plant perennials in mid-spring or mid-fall. If you want to start seeds indoors, then most annuals and vegetables can be planted in early March. Annuals such as begonias and impatiens shouldn’t be planted outdoors until May to avoid colder temperatures.

Soil that is rich with nutrients is key for having a flourishing garden, so it’s worth investing in premium grade soil. Peat moss enhances the ability of soil to retain nutrients and moisture. Compost like manure will boost fertility and enrich soil. Potting moss contains nutrients that help plants grow in containers. The most common blend of soil for plant growth has been described as loam. Often referred to as topsoil or black dirt by landscape companies, loam is a mixture of sand, clay, and silt. The estimated mixture is roughly 40% sand, 40% silt and 20% clay. Loamy soil has high water retention capacity and preserves nutrients needed for plant growth.

The garden location should be level and free of large roots as well as landscape rocks. It’s important to put your garden in a place you can see from multiple angles. This location should have plenty of sunlight if you are planting edible things. Most fruits and vegetables do best in full sun, and there should be 6+ hours of direct sunlight per day. Avoid low-lying areas because plant roots need oxygen, and vegetables are quite sensitive to being submerged under water. Therefore, you should avoid putting a vegetable garden in a spot where the water accumulates after a rainstorm. That said, since gardeners will need to regularly water their garden bed, don’t forget to put your garden close to a water source such as a hose spigot.

There are two general guidelines to follow when arranging plants in your garden beds. First, space the plants so that they barely touch each other when they reach their mature size. Second, overlap the clusters of plants and connect them so that they flow without space between them. Try to limit gaps or wide open areas between plant clusters. In terms of placement, grouping plants together in odd numbers is the most visually pleasing. If you are planting flowers, aim for a blend of annuals and perennials. Try to blend colors that look good together by staggering them every other. In order to provide good visibility, shorter flowers should go in the front and taller plants toward the back.

Here is a brief summary of our blog post titled 12 Most Popular Perennials to Plant in your Garden. Lavender has been used for its medicinal properties for centuries. Hostas can be known for their shade tolerance. Peonies make excellent cut flowers. Coneflowers are known for their ability to attract a variety of pollinators. Daylilies are renowned for their low-maintenance nature. Salvia plants are known for their attractive flowers. Black-Eyed Susans are known for their adaptability and ease of cultivation. Russian Sage is prized for its aromatic foliage. Sedums are generally low-maintenance plants. Coreopsis is known for providing continuous blooms. Bee Balm is renowned for its ability to attract a variety of pollinators. Shasta Daisies are known for their classic appearance.

Spring is the best time to plant tender bulbs like dahlias and caladium. Fall is the best time to plant hardy bulbs like irises and tulips. Plant tender bulbs 6-8 inches apart and hardy bulbs 4-5 inches apart. You should dig the hole 2-3 times the depth of the bulb height. If you bury bulbs any deeper, then it will either bloom late or won’t bloom at all. Put the bulb in the hole you’ve dug nose up and root down. After that, you should surround the bulb with some nutrient rich soil so that it’s properly fertilized. Finally, you should bury the bulb with the original dirt you dug to make the hole in the first place. This procedure is the best way to plant bulbs in your garden bed.

Arborvitae need full sun or partial shade for optimal growth. Arborvitae are fairly versatile but can suffer in extremely dry conditions. Arborvitae should be planted 10 feet apart. This will leave space for them to fully mature to their normal size. Arborvitae can grow 40 – 60 feet tall so avoid planting them under power lines or other structures. Plant your arborvitae in a straight line to form a hedge if you’d like them to function like a privacy fence. Homeowners often plant arborvitae way too close together. As they grow the competition for root space, light, water and nutrients mean the plants invariably suffer and sometimes even die prematurely.

Here is a list of 9 questions you should ask a gardener before you decide to pull the trigger and officially hire them by signing on the dotted line. 1. Do you help with garden design or just the planting labor? 2. Do you purchase the plants or is that the homeowners responsibility? 3. Is there a warranty if the plants die? If so, how many years are covered under the warranty. 4. What type of soil do you use? 5. Where can I find your planting reviews online? 6. Do you charge by the hour or by the job? 7. Do you offer discounts for senior citizens or military? 8. Do you have employees or independent contractors? 9. How soon can you get started on my gardening project? Click here to get a free estimate on plant installation from His Workmanship.